| Public invited to two RWMF preview shows KUCHING: The public is invited to attend two free Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) preview shows at three venues next week. DON’T MISS THE RWMF 2008: (From left) RWMF president Benedict Jimbau, Hamden and Geikie promoting RWMF 2008. Assistant Minister of Tourism Hamden Ahmad in a press conference yesterday said the first preview show would be held on July 8 at Amphitheatre starting 7pm. The show will be two groups, Pinikpikan from Philippines and Sheldon Blackman and The Love Circle from Trinidad and Tobago. “While the second show will be held simultaneously at two venues on July 9. They are tHe Spring Shopping Mall and Boulevard Shopping Mall. Shows will start at 7pm as well,” he said. Oikotaan from India, Kasai Masai from Congo and Kan’id, an all-girl Kelabit sape band will be performing at tHe Spring, while Yakande from Guinea-Gambia and Beltaine from Poland and Anak Jati Bisaya Orkestra the Boulevard Shopping Mal, said Hamden. RWMF co-organsing president Gracie Geikie said the preview shows were opportunities for the public to have of what they can expect from RMWF on July 11 to 13. “Apart from that these shows are also to provide opportunities to those with special needs who cannot attend RWMF to have a good two hour viewing of the music performances,” she said. Reporting on the preparation of the festival which will be held soon, she said setting up of the stage and equipment is taking place and additional giant screens will be put up for the festival. “We have also opened up more space for food stalls,” she added. Geikie said the expenditure to support RWMF had increased to RM1.9 million as compared to RM1.6 million last year. She pointed out that many of the performers came from exotic destinations and with the recent price hike in oil price, flight, food and many other services had became more expensive. “We have requested for a grant from the federal government and hope that the request for grants to support the festival will be given as this year had been a trial year,” she said. Geikie revealed that apart from RWMF, there were about 60 other big and small events in the state and all needed funding. She was pleased with the support from Tourism Malaysia for bringing 110 international media and tour operators to RWMF as a step to promote the festival on a larger scale. This would enable the local authority and foreign representatives to discuss and develop special packages for RWMF 2009, she said. “We cannot be famous without the media and tour operators,” she added. Hamden, meanwhile, was confident that the three-day music festival would draw some 24,000 festival goers and generate a revenue of RM4 million. He said the festival had received very good response since it was first introduced and this year 14 internationally talented bands would be performing. “Out of 450 bands and music groups who applied to participate in this event, only 14 who met the criteria were selected.” He said unlike previously when the organisers had to look for participants, this year, many came “knocking on the door”. Written by:
Vijaya Menon
The Borneo Post | 
