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Jakartans can no longer complain about being left behind when it comes to music. Just a few years ago it felt like the city was invisible to international musicians, but these days Jakarta seems to be constantly inundated with acts of stardom past and present.

The only thing the city’s music-lovers can complain about now is having to make the difficult decision of which concert ticket to spend their hard-earned money on. In the first two weeks of October alone, a number of international artists will take to the stage in Jakarta.

Here are four shows to watch out for next month:

A Whiff of Nostalgia

Girls, get ready for some hysterical screaming. Remember Westlife, one of the most successful boy bands of all time? The Irish boys — now fully grown men — are returning to Indonesia as part of their Gravity World Tour.

Founded in 1998, Westlife followed in the footsteps of similar acts such as Take That and the Backstreet Boys, wooing mostly female fans with heartfelt ballads like “Swear It Again,” “My Love” and “Mandy,” as well as catchy pop tunes such as “World of Our Own” and a cover of Billy Joel’s “Uptown Girl.” Thirteen years and 11 studio albums later, Westlife is still holding strong, despite the departure of former member Brian McFadden in 2004, a one-year hiatus in 2008 and constant breakup rumors circulating to this day.

Westlife’s latest album, “Gravity,” was released in November 2010. Produced by John Shanks, who had previously worked with stars such as Bon Jovi, Sheryl Crow and Alanis Morissette, the album received mixed reviews from critics. But the band’s loyal fans don’t mind, so long as Westlife stays true to its sound. When the group takes the stage in Jakarta, the audience can be sure it won’t forget to deliver some of its greatest hits as a thank you to all those fans who have remained faithful for more than a decade.

Westlife
Oct. 5
Tennis Indoor Senayan
Rp 750,000 ($84)
Tribune seats already sold out

Rock and Mosh Pits

More often than not, patience and determination can take you a long way. Such was the case with American rock band Story of the Year.

The band’s own story started in Missouri in 1995, when its members first assembled to play some music together. Despite working at it for a number of years, it took Story of the Year a long time to land a record deal, but the band’s debut album, “Page Avenue,” was finally released in 2003, spawning the singles “Until the Day I Die” and “Anthem of Our Dying Day.”

After touring with Linkin Park and attracting a fan base along the way, the band was back in the studio to record its sophomore album. “In the Wake of Determination” (2005) offered a heavier sound, as did “The Black Swan” (2008) and “The Constant” (2010).

“Music is the constant thing in life for us,” frontman Dan Marsala said in an interview about the band’s latest release. “When I go to bed I think about music and when I wake up it’s the first thing on my mind. ‘The Constant’ can mean anything — hopefully our band will go on forever and we want music to remain a constant thing in our lives no matter what.”

This promise is something fans here will hold on to in the hope that Story of the Year’s first concert in Jakarta isn’t its last.

Story of the Year
Oct. 6
Plaza Selatan Senayan
Pre-sale tickets for Rp 150,000 until Oct. 4
Rp 200,000 at the door

Hip-Hop Hurray

Curtis Jackson, better known by his stage name 50 Cent, is easily one of the biggest stars in mainstream rap, and soon he will perform at Epicentrum Walk in South Jakarta. Organizer Indika Productions predicts the concert will attract more than 5,000 fans.

Having led a troubled life — the rapper survived a broken home, as well as several shootings and stabbings — the “urban gangsta” entered the spotlight in 2003 with his album “Get Rich or Die Tryin’.” The record featured the hit single “In Da Club,” which made 50 Cent an overnight star, and for a long time he remained a fixture on the hip-hop scene.

The rapper has collaborated with big names like Eminem and Snoop Dogg, but he has also had his fair share of highly publicized feuds with other MCs, most prominently Ja Rule, Sean “P. Diddy” Combs and Lil Wayne. He is also known for including a lot of female skin and booty-shaking in his music videos.

The bad-boy image certainly hasn’t hurt 50 Cent’s popularity, or record sales. After his debut, he followed with “The Massacre” (2005), “Curtis” (2007) and “Before I Self Destruct” (2009). A fifth studio album is scheduled for release later this year.

50 Cent
Oct. 8
Epicentrum Walk
VIP tickets Rp 2 million
Front row Rp 1.5 million
Festival Rp 800,000

Rendezvous With the Past

Pull out those high-cut jeans — English band Level 42’s concert on Oct. 11 looks set to be a Gen-X affair. The pop and jazz-funk band enjoyed its biggest success in the 1980s and has now embarked on a world tour to celebrate its 30th anniversary, with stops scheduled in Jakarta and Surabaya.

Over the years, Level 42 has changed its musical direction almost as often as its lineup. Now in its seventh formation, the band has reformed with Mark King as frontman, after the singer unsuccessfully tried his luck as a solo artist during the band’s hiatus between 1994 and 2001. In 2006, Level 42 released its 11th studio album, “Retroglide,” following hit albums from the 1980s such as “Standing in the Light” (1983), “World Machine” (1985) and “Staring at the Sun” (1988).

Unlike the other acts coming to Jakarta in October, this one promises to be of a calmer and more mature nature — but don’t be mistaken: back in the day, Level 42 was known for its energetic live performances. And who knows? With a 1980s revival in full swing in today’s music and fashion, the members of Level 42 may just be kicking back into gear.

Level 42
Oct. 11
Gran Melia Hotel Ballroom
Tickets from Rp 450,000 to Rp 2 million

Oct. 13
JW Marriott Hotel Surabaya
Tickets from Rp 350,000 to Rp 1.5 million