Going to a concert during monsoon season
As a long-time The Weeknd fan, my jaw practically dropped when the Asia tour dates were announced, especially when I saw Malaysia on the list. I’ve been waiting for this moment since 2022, when he first kicked off his After Hours Til Dawn Tour, so seeing him perform here felt like a dream come true.
I didn’t manage to secure tickets during the first day of presale, but thankfully, I got lucky on the second day and even managed to snag tickets for my friend and me. Little did I know that I would be attending not just my first-ever The Weeknd concert, but also the final show of his entire tour. With reports that he may be moving on from his The Weeknd persona, it made the experience feel even more special.
However, attending the concert during a rainy day was not on my bingo card. And the challenges that came with it had me wishing I was better prepared.
It’s not always sunny in Malaysia
On the day of the concert, at around 3.30pm, the skies started turning dark, and I could only hope that the rain would stop before the opening act, Yousuke Yukimatsu, took the stage. He was another artist I was really looking forward to seeing, so the thought of potentially missing his set was not something I wanted to entertain.
By 5pm, the heavy rain had finally stopped, but just as I was making my way to the venue, it started pouring again. The rain was so heavy that you could even hear it inside the LRT. Despite the weather, everyone was dressed to the nines, with many concertgoers showing up in outfits that matched the concert’s colour theme.
Things only got worse when we arrived at TM Stadium Nasional, formerly known as Bukit Jalil National Stadium. The rain was probably some of the heaviest we’d seen in a long time, and the LRT station was packed with concertgoers who, like us, weren’t exactly prepared for the weather.
If there’s one thing I learned from the experience, it’s that hoping for the rain to stop is not exactly a reliable concert survival plan. So, here are some things I’d recommend doing – and avoiding – if you’re attending an outdoor concert during the rainy season, so you don’t end up shedding Tears In The Rain.
Advice for anyone attending a concert in KL on a rainy day
Bring your own raincoat
This was probably the biggest rookie mistake my friend and I made. We were so convinced that the rain would stop by the time we arrived that neither of us thought to pack a raincoat.
Well, let’s just say that hope did not get us very far.
Thankfully, there were plenty of vendors selling raincoats around the LRT station and along the way to the stadium. However, finding one that was actually worth the money was another story.
We came across a vendor selling raincoats for RM10, which seemed like a reasonable deal at first. Unfortunately, the raincoat tore almost immediately after we put it on, making it feel like we had paid RM10 for something barely worth RM1.
To avoid ending up in the same situation, you should definitely bring your own raincoat to the concert. Not only will you save yourself from having to hunt for one at the last minute, but you can also choose a better-quality one that won’t fall apart halfway through the walk to your gate. Plus, raincoats are generally allowed into the stadium, making them a much more practical option.
Avoid bringing your own umbrella
While plenty of vendors do sell umbrellas outside the venue, do note that umbrellas are not allowed into the stadium. This means you’ll either have to surrender yours at the entrance or find a locker to store it in, which is honestly quite troublesome when all you want to do is get inside and enjoy the concert.
We ended up buying an umbrella for RM20 after our raincoats failed us, as we still had quite a distance to cover to reach Gate C – which happened to be one of the furthest gates from the LRT station. Unfortunately, we had to say goodbye to our newly bought umbrella once we reached the entrance.
So, save yourself the extra on-site expenses and bring a decent raincoat from home instead.
Download your e-tickets beforehand
I’m not sure if it was due to the large crowd gathering around the stadium or the heavy rain, but my phone suddenly had no signal, and I couldn’t even open the app to retrieve our e-tickets. At that point, I was practically about to crash out, especially with so many people waiting to enter the venue.
Thankfully, things worked out in the end, but I was this close to asking a stranger for hotspot WiFi just to get our tickets loaded.
To avoid going through the same panic, make sure to download your e-tickets beforehand, preferably before even heading to Bukit Jalil. You wouldn’t want to be stuck outside the entrance just trying to get a signal while everyone else is making their way in – all while the rain is soaking through your clothes.
Bring tissues and a portable fan
If there’s one thing you should not leave home without when heading to a potentially rainy concert, it’s a pack of tissues. Whether it’s to wipe down your wet seats, dry yourself off after getting caught in the rain, or clean up any unexpected spills, you’ll be surprised by how useful they can be.
And in Malaysia, where the weather can switch from heavy rain to scorching heat in a matter of minutes, you might find yourself sweating buckets not long after the rain stops. That’s where a portable fan comes in handy too.
At The Weeknd’s concert, there were also fire effects going off throughout the show, which made the stadium feel even hotter. Even though we were seated in one of the highest rows, we could still feel the heat from the flames. So, having a portable fan was definitely a lifesaver, and it even doubled up as a hairdryer to help dry my rain-soaked hair.
Ask, don’t assume
With the entire concert setup being so big, navigating the venue was already confusing enough, and the heavy rain certainly didn’t make things any easier. My advice? Don’t be afraid to ask around!
Most of the concertgoers we met were really helpful and friendly – except for one lady who scolded us because she thought we were cutting her queue – so there’s no harm in approaching someone if you’re unsure where to go. Whether you’re looking for the entrance, toilets, food stalls or even your seating section, asking someone nearby could save you quite a bit of time.
We also had trouble figuring out where to collect the special The Weeknd wristbands, as they weren’t handed out when we first entered the venue. After asking some kind strangers, we eventually managed to locate a person distributing them. So, if you’re unsure about anything, just ask instead of wandering around aimlessly.
Wear the right shoes
Whether you’re in the standing or seated zone, wearing the right shoes can make a huge difference when attending a concert in the rain.
The walk to our gate was particularly sloppy, with rainwater reaching up to our ankles at certain points. My friend even lost the sole of her shoe along the way, which was definitely not something we expected to happen at a concert.
I also spotted plenty of baddies showing up in heels, but given the weather conditions, it might not have been the best choice of footwear. The stairs leading up to the stadium were incredibly slippery, and walking through puddles and muddy patches in heels could have easily led to an accident.
I’d recommend a pair of comfortable, closed-toe shoes with a good grip, preferably ones that you don’t mind getting wet. Leave your favourite sneakers and heels at home for this one!
The cold (rain) never bothered me anyways
If you asked me whether I’d go through all of this again, my answer would be a definite yes. For The Weeknd, it was an experience worth going through at least once in a lifetime. As chaotic as the rain was, it somehow made the entire concert even more memorable, giving us a story to look back on long after the night was over.
So, if you’re heading to an outdoor concert and the forecast isn’t looking too promising, don’t let the rain put you off too much. Just come prepared, embrace the chaos with Open Hearts, and make the most of the night.
After all, despite getting drenched from head to toe, I still managed to enjoy the entire concert, feeling like One Of The Girls.
Cover image adapted from: TheSmartLocal Malaysia
Photography by Ming-Xuan.