| RWMF this year ‘an event with a blast’ KUCHING: Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) promises that this year’s Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) will be ‘an event with a blast’, to coincide with its 10th anniversary.  | | BACK AGAIN: Black Umfolosi from Zimbabwe will be among groups making a third appearance. | In keeping with its promise, STB has come up with an impressive list of performers, and interestingly all the 20 bands listed have also performed in past festivals. While most of the bands are making their second appearance, bands like Inka Marka from Peru, Black Umfolosi (Zimbabwe), Shooglenifty (Scotland) and Aseana Percussion Unit (Kuala Lumpur) will be making their third appearance this year. When they finally assemble at the Sarawak Cultural Village in July, it would be a reunion of sort for these big names in world music. Other bands in the line-up are Huun Huur Tu and Malerji from Tuva and Russia, Khac Chi (Vietnam), Ensemble Kaboul (Afghanistan), Shannon (Poland), Garifuna Allstars (Belize), Foghorn Stringband (USA), Tarika Be (Madagascar), Tammora (Italy), Mas Y Mas (UK), Doghouse Skiffle Band (UK), Mah Meri (Kuala Lumpur) and the “maestro of world music” Randy Raine Reusch (Canada). It will definitely be a proud and memorable moment for Reusch to return and perform on the RWMF stage, after a six-year absence. As consultant of the festival in the early years, Reusch was instrumental in demarcating the direction of the festival at that time. Local groups such as Anak A’dik Rurum, Jerry Kamit, Taboh Pak Ainal and Lun Bawang Bamboo Band are also ready to share the stage with their international counterparts. Together, the bands are expected to give their best both during the workshop sessions and the night concerts. Meanwhile, STB pointed out that the RWMF had enjoyed a steady increase in crowd turnout each year, since its inception in 1998. STB is confident of achieving its target of attracting 24,000 people this year, particularly since tickets for the festival are now available online. Ticketcharge Sdn Bhd had been entrusted to handle the ticket sales on its website www.ticketcharge.com.my. Tickets are priced RM80 per day for adult and RM40 per day for children between six and 12 years old. A three-day pass is priced at RM200 for adult and RM100 for children between six and 12 years old. Apart from online ticketing, STB has also embarked on an extensive media and marketing campaign since last year. Among the notable venues where RWMF has been promoted included the World Music Expo (WOMEX) in Seville, Spain, Internationale Tourismus Bourse (ITB) in Berlin, MATTA Fair in Kuala Lumpur and NATAS Fair in Singapore. STB is also publishing a special RWMF book this year marking its 10th anniversary.The 206-page book charts the chronology of the festival and numerous pictures from the past festivals. It will be available in July. To ensure the success of this year’s festival, STB also roped in many working partners. HSBC is the official bank and Maxis Communications Bhd is the official telco. Shell is the corporate partner and Astro the official media while fRoots is the media partner. Heineken also comes in to sponsor the festival. It also has the support of the Tourism Ministry of Malaysia and Ministry of Urban Development and Tourism Malaysia. Tourism Malaysia’s support comes in a big way as the RWMF has been listed as one of the top 50 Malaysian events under the Visit Malaysia Year 2007 campaign. Written By:
Alexius Barieng
The Borneo Post
05th March 2007
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