Kuching to stage Rainforest World Music Festival again this year

By Magdalene Rogers

KUCHING - The annual Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) would be staged here once again where some 16 local and international musicians would showcase their music in the interiors of the Borneo jungle.

The three-day festival, which begins on July 8, is held at the tourism award-winning Sarawak Cultural Village which lies at the foothills of Mount Santubong.

Here, the renowned musicians would conduct interactive workshops, ethno-musical lectures, jamming sessions and mini concerts in the afternoons while at night, they would take centre stage with their unique blend of music.

Amongst the musicians that would enthralled the audience - comprising mostly tourists and local music enthusiasts alike - are the Foghorn Stringband from the United States, The Old Rope String Band from the United Kingdom, Tuku Kame from Sarawak, Petrona Martinez from Colombia, Florencio Mess and the Maya Kek'Chi Strings from Belize and Diamel Laroussi from Algeria.

Many of those who have witnessed the festival for themselves have given thumbs-up to its uniqueness and one of them, Hanitra Rosoanaivo, said "after 14 years touring festivals worldwide, the RWMF is equal to the ones held in Canada."

"The festival ground that boasts a lake, a mountain nearby and loads of green is the best possible setting to experience music," he commented.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin