DISNEY ‘S HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL: THE ICE TOUR

DISNEY ‘S HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL: THE ICE TOUR

MENAMBAH KERANCAKAN FENOMENA MUZIK POPULAR!

Secara Langsung di Malaysia Ogos ini!

Persembahan sensasi “High School Musical” kini mencapai tahap baru bersama Disney’s High School Musical: The Ice Tour. Persembahan hebat ini akan meluncur ke Malaysia pada bulan Ogos ini, selepas persembahan yang mendapat sambutan hangat di Amerika Syarikat, Eropah dan Australia.

Persembahan ais tersebut ini menampilkan gabungan lagu, tarian dan keseronokan semangat berkumpulan secara langsung bagi meraikan muzik filem Disney Channel asal yang memenangi Anugerah Emmy, dan sambungannya “High School Musical 2”. Disney’s High School Musical: The Ice Tour diterbitkan oleh Feld Entertainment dan Kenny Ortega serta dipentaskan dengan kerjasama Disney Theatrical Productions.

Thomas Schumacher, Presiden Disney Theatrical Productions berkata, “High School Musical mendapat sambutan hangat di hampir semua bidang spektrum hiburan dari televisyen dan hiburan di rumah kepada runut bunyi, dan persembahan konsert secara langsung. Persembahan ais ini meraikan kemeriahan dan muzik dengan cara baru dan menarik. Feld Entertainment adalah pakar yang begitu dihormati dalam bidangnya, dan kami bekerja dengan akrab bersama mereka dan pencipta asal filem ini bagi menghasilkan pengalaman yang menakjubkan buat para penonton semua peringkat umur.”

Kenneth Feld, Pengarah yang pernah meraih Anugerah Tony, berkata, ”Kami membawa bersama pasukan impian kreatif yang bakal memberikan penerbitan hebat yang meraikan detik-detik asal dari filem di persembahan ais luar biasa yang bakal memenuhkan pentas dengan cahaya, muzik, tarian dan jiwa. Kenny Ortega menyemarakkan produksi ini dengan kepintarannya dan kami teruja dapat bekerjasama dengannya.”

Lawatan persembahan global ini telah dipentaskan di lebih 100 buah bandar pada 2007, termasuk tayangan perdana seluruh dunia di Madison Square Garden, Amerika Syarikat dan ke bandar-bandar di Eropah, Kanada, Mexico dan Australia. Selain Malaysia, lawatan persembahan ini turut dipentaskan di Manila dan Singapura. Malaysia adalah persinggahan terakhirnya di Asia.

“Lawatan persembahan ais ini adalah satu-satunya gabungan secara langsung lagu, tarian dan keseronokan berkumpulan yang diinspirasikan oleh filem asal Disney Channel, High School Musical dan High School Musical 2. Jadi, ini adalah cara yang menarik buat peminat di Malaysia untuk menikmati pertunjukan ini di tahap yang baru dan menarik, di samping memperkenalkan muzik dan keajaiban pementasan ini kepada penonton baru,” jelas Kenneth Teo, Pengurus Besar Big Events Sdn Bhd, subsidiari Media Prima Bhd dan penganjur bagi High School Musical: The Ice Tour di Malaysia.

“Pertunjukan ini dihasilkan oleh pasukan impian yang berjaya mencipta pementasan yang meraikan detik-detik dalam filem di pertunjukan ais yang bakal memenuhi stadium dengan cahaya, muzik, tarian dan kerancakan. Penonton boleh menjangkakan dapat menikmati keseronokan yang menakjubkan sepanjang ekstravaganza 90 minit itu,” tambah Teo di sidang akhbar di Hotel Equatorial Kuala Lumpur hari ini.

Effendy Shahul Hamid, Ketua Komunikasi Korporat Kumpulan, CIMB Group menjelaskan bahawa pihaknya komited untuk membawakan persembahan bertaraf dunia untuk dinikmati oleh masyarakat Malaysia. Kami berbesar hati dapat menjadi penaja utama satu lagi penerbitan sensasi dari Disney ,”High School Musical : The Ice Tour.” The High School Musical : The Ice Tour adalah persembahan popular yang dapat menarik minat kanak-kanak di seluruh dunia terhadap seni pentas. Kami amat berbesar hati dapat dikaitkan dengan pembawaan pementasan ini ke Malaysia.

“Feld Entertainment begitu teruja untuk membawakan High School Musical: The Ice Tour ke Malaysia. Gubahan muzik, tarian, kostum, reka bentuk set dan pertunjukan bunga apinya benar-benar mengagumkan. Semua unsur dalam pementasan ini berpadu dan menghasilkan persembahan hebat yang begitu bertenaga dan beremosi. Mesej positif yang terangkum dalam jalan ceritanya memberi inspirasi. Para peminat High School Musical pastinya TIDAK akan hampa,” jelas Eric Gravelle, Pengarah Pemasaran SEA, Feld Entertainment.

“High School Musical: The Ice Tour mencapi kejayaan yang luar biasa semasa lawatan persembahan dunianya yang pertama. Peminat setianya telah lama menanti peluang menyaksikan persembahan luar biasa ini di atas ais. Malaysia bakal menyaksikan apa yang diheboh-hebohkan selama ini. Gabungan muzik tulen dan gerak tari yang digandingkan dengan luncur ais berkelajuan tinggi selama 90 minit adalah hiburan tanpa henti buat seluruh keluarga. Bersedialah untuk menggegarkan gelanggang ais!” Tambah Gravelle lagi.

Pasukan kreatif dari Feld Entertainment yang pernah meraih anugerah ini dianggotai beberapa orang bakat utama yang terlibat dengan filem dan lawatan persembahan konsert “High School Musical” asal:

o Kenny Ortega (Penerbit) pengarah dan koreografer penyandang anugerah Emmy^®, Disney’s High School Musical, High School Musical 2, 2002 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremonies, Dirty Dancing, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

o Jeff Calhoun (Pengarah) pengarah yang mendapat pencalonan Anugerah Tony^®, Brooklyn the Musical, Grease, Annie Get Your Gun dan penerbitan Big River dari Deaf West serta penerbitan Theatre of the Stars’ bagi "High School Musical" di Atlanta

o Peter Barsocchini (Penulis) Disney’s High School Musical, Disney’s High School Musical 2, Drop Zone, The Merv Griffin Show

o Jeremy Railton (Pereka Bentuk Penerbitan) pereka yang memenangi Anugerah Emmy^® Award-winning, 2002 Winter Olympics Opening and Closing Ceremonies, Billboard Music Award, Miss Universe / Miss USA Beauty Pageant

o Patrick Woodroffe (Pereka Bentuk Cahaya) the Rolling Stones, Elton John, Genesis, Bob Dylan dan High School Musical: The Concert

o Erin “Topaz” Lareau (Pereka Kostum) pereka yang merangkul Anugerah Emmy^®, Disney’s High School Musical: The Concert, Benise: Nights of Fire, Gwyneth Paltrow, John Mayer, Brad Pitt

o Charles Klapow (Koreografer) koreografer penyandang Anugerah Emmy^®, Disney’s High School Musical, Disney’s High School Musical 2, Cheetah Girls 2

o Cindy Stuart (Koreografer Luncur) Disney On Ice, Olympic Gold Medalists Jamie Sale and David Pelletier, Six-time Canadian National Champion Jennifer Robinson, Stars On Ice with Olympic Gold Medalist Christopher Dean, Co-Choreographer with Olympic Gold Medalist Robin Cousins

“Kami mengambil beberapa orang peluncur ais paling berbakat di dunia bagi menjayakan watak Troy, Gabriella, Ryan, Sharpay, Chad dan Taylor dalam East High School’,” kata Nicole Feld. Mereka bakal memeriahkan nada yang diminati ramai dan koreografi unik dalam persembahan ais ini. Dengan tarian yang berlantaikan ais, acara ini bakal menjadi kegemaran peminat.”

Disney’s High School Musical: The Ice Tour menampilkan lagu-lagu popular dari “High School Musical”, termasuk “We’re All in This Together,” “Get’cha Head in the Game,” “Start of Something New,” “Stick to the Status Quo,” disertai muzik dari “High School Musical 2.” seperti “What Time Is It,” “Gotta Go My Own Way” dan “You Are The Music In Me”.

Rich Ross, Presiden, Disney Channel Worldwide, menyatakan, "Kami amat berbangga kerana dapat memperkenalkan ‘High School Musical’ ke seluruh dunia dan menyaksikan popularitinya semakin meningkat dalam pelbagai cara. Lawatan persembahan ais ini adalah kaedah yang menakjubkan untuk memberi pengalaman menarik buat jutaan peminat di seluruh dunia di samping memperkenalkan muzik dan tariannya kepada penonton baru.”

Tayangan perdana "High School Musical," filem Original Disney Channel yang meraih Anugerah Emmy, ditayangkan pada Januari 2006 di A.S. dan sepanjang tahun tersebut, ianya juga di 25 saluran Disney dan penyiar siaran percuma, disiarkan di lebih 100 buah negara dengan lebih 100 juta penonton di seluruh dunia. Di A.S., album runut bunyinya merupakan album #1 tahunan pada tahun 2006 dan memecahkan rekod carta Billboard di mana sembilan lagu originalnya, buat pertama kalinya dalam sejarah menjadi "Hot 100." Ia menjadi filem TV DVD #1 bagi tahun itu di mana sebanyak 7.2 juta unit terjual di seluruh dunia. Ia juga turut memenangi dua Anugerah Emmy pada tahun 2006 bagi kategori Outstanding Children’s Program dan Outstanding Choreography. Di Singapura, High School Musical dan High School Musical 2 merupakan program paling banyak ditonton di semua kalangan demografi penonton.

Selain dari kejayaan tersebut, “High School Musical” turut mendapat tempat sebagai buku #1 terlaris New York Times di mana “High School Musical – The Novel,”, yang terjual lebih 1.2 juta naskhah. “High School Musical” juga merupakan filem TV pertama yang ditawarkan di iTunes Music Store. Persembahan bertema “High School Musical” turut terbukti popular di Taman Tema dan Resort Disney termasuk Disneyland Resort di Anaheim, Walt Disney World Resort di Florida, Disneyland Paris dan Disneyland Hong Kong.

Sunrise Jazz & Rhythm Festival 2008

Sunrise Jazz & Rhythm Festival 2008

July 25, 26 and August 1 & 2, 8:00 PM - 00:30 AM

Price : Admission is FREE

Sunrise Jazz & Rhythm Festival 2008 is back at Plaza Mont''Kiara fountain courtyard for 2 consecutive weekends this coming July 25, 26 and August 1 & 2, from 8pm till 12.30am.

This LIVE entertainment will showcase Malaysian talents that includes jazz "giant" Lewis Pragasam and Friends with back-up by Diana Liu, Mia Palencia, Farid Ali, Karen Nunis Blackstone, Hunny Madu, Dennis Lau, Bassgroove 100 and Phunk Mob.Do arrive early to enjoy alfresco dining while reserving a good seat.

Check out Mia Palencia on the 25th July (Fri) from 10pm to 10.45pm and 26th July (Sat) from 11pm to 11.45pm

Lewis Pragasam & Friends featuring Diana Liu - Friday, 25 July

Hunny Madu - Friday, 25 July & Saturday, 2 August

Phunk Mob - Saturday, 26 July & Saturday, 2 August

Bassgroove 100 - Saturday, 26 July & Friday, 1 August

Farid Ali - Friday, 1 August

Karen Nunis Blackstone - Friday, 1 August & Saturday, 2 August

For more information, log on to www.sunrisebhd.com

July 25, 26 and August 1 & 2, 8:00 PM - 00:30 AM

Vr1 Compilation Album & Charity

Friday, June 20, 2008 at 8:00pm
Vr1 Cafe Lot G-09,Block A Damansara Intan
Petaling Jaya, Malaysia

Contact 0377294255
email: vr1cafe@yahoo.com

In Conjunction with Superbikers Club Malaysia & Women Aid's Organisation,Vr1 Cafe is proud to announce the official launch of Vr1 Compilation Album(Vol1) feat Ivan (Edge Of Fire), Sufiah Noor (M'sian Idol Finalist) Lah (VE), Mia Palencia & James Baum with 8 original tracks. Part of the proceeds for the Cd or merchandise sales will be donated to WAO.

Help support a good cause for both WAO and the survival of our local music artists. Ivan & Sufiah Noor will be performing live with Jaya Sapetar, Iskandar and the band. Don't be surprised if you find other guest artists in the house performing too.

Retro Reggae

No Black Tie May/June 08

click to enlarge june calendar

May 26 ~ Monday
Acoustic evening with Isaac Henry

9.30pm No cover

May 27 ~ Tuesday
Rachel Guerzo Trio

9.30pm rm30 ( 1 drink)

Rachel Guerzo, a third generation jazz vocalist and pianist from a long line of musicians, has been performing professionally since the young age of 16. Lauded for her ability to command pitch and dynamics on the piano as well as vocals, Rachel is KL’s only female jazz pianist/vocalist.

May 28 ~ Wednesday
Melissa Indot

10pm rm40

May 29 ~ Thursday
Brazilian Sambas and Bossa Novas with Cheong on guitar and vocals, Nizam on percussion

9.30pm rm20

May 30 & 31 ~ Friday & Saturday World Percussion Ensemble with Lewis Pragasam (d), Eric Li (p), Zailan Razak (b) & special guest Valtinho Anastacio (perc/v)

rm40 10.30pm

Valtinho Anastacio continues to carry on the legacy of his fellow Brazilian percussionists, his individual dynamics as a musician and vocalist put him in a category of his own.

He began working with major Brazilian artists, including the legendary Elis Regina, who selected him from more than 700 candidates to perform with her in the highly acclaimed musical Saudade do Brazil, as well as to record the show's top-selling double album on Warner Bros.

After a successful tour of Europe and Japan with his own group that culminated with his electrifying performance at the All That Jazz Festival in Tokyo, Valtinho moved to New York City, where he still resides and continues to captivate and thrill audiences with his unique vocal and percussive skills and his charismatic stage presence.

For reservation please call 21423737 9after 5pm) or email noblacktie2003@yahoo.com

Report on the XLive Festival

all images by Johan Nasir

X Marks The Spot

With the festival site opening much later than advertised, XLive took a little time to warm up. But, the reward was a rocking party that carried on into the wee hours of the morning, 4:00 am to be exact.

XLive did experience some teething problems but then again which new festival doesn’t? With the weather holding out nicely and the crowd in good spirits, an excellent time was had by the 15,000 partygoers who made the effort to attend.

Organised by Pervert Music and Xpax Celcom, the Genting Outdoor Theme Park was divided into three open-air arenas, the XLive Main Stage, XL-TRONIC and XLR8. Each arena saw international, regional and local artists, deejays and live acts sharing the stage.

Besides being the first outdoor music festival to be held at Genting since 2004, XLive festival was also historical in that it was the first time that a music event of such magnitude was held in its outdoor theme park.

The XLive Main Stage located at The Avenue of the Stars, was the place to hang with the irresistible Missy Elliot promising a distinct hip-hop and R ’n’B flavour.

Opening for Elliot were two local hip-hop attractions, turntablists Stylustiks and Spaceship, featuring DJ Goldfish, Soul-funk band Maliq & D’Essentials and nu-jazz/pop progenitors Parkdrive.But really, the night was all about Elliot and thankfully she did not disappoint.

Missy Elliott (born Melissa Arnette Elliott on July 1, 1971), is a five-time Grammy Award-winning American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. With record sales of 7.6 million in the US, she is the only female rapper to have six platinum albums, including one double platinum plaque.

Elliott is known for a series of hits and diverse music videos including "The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)", "Hot Boyz", "Get Ur Freak On", "One Minute Man", "Work It", "Gossip Folks", "Pass That Dutch", "Lose Control" and "Ching-a-Ling." In addition, Elliott has worked extensively as a songwriter and producer for other artists, both alone and with her producer and childhood friend Timbaland.

Elliott's songwriting and production credits include work for a number of other female artists, among them Aaliyah, Monica, Destiny's Child, Mýa, Whitney Houston, Trina, Nicole Wray, Fantasia, Ciara, Raven Symone, Keyshia Cole, Mariah Carey, Janet Jackson, and Lil' Mo.

The energy-sapping wait for her punctuated by listening to trippy music instantly vanished the minute Elliot made her attention-grabbing appearance on stage sporting an 80s fringe bob hair do and decked out in regulation bling, sports wear and black hoodie.

Suddenly appearing from behind a red curtain carried on stage atop a covered sedan chair, the quirky performer wasted no time in working the crowd with mischievous glee, all while executing her precision rhymes with effortless ease.

As subtle as a sledgehammer, her live act combined all the thrills and adrenaline rush of a slickly choreographed rap party with elements of magic, comedy, theatre, music and dance making for an aural and visual extravaganza.

Her dancers busting moves everywhere on stage, illusionists, plenty of audience interaction, deafening pyrotechnics, confetti, fire sticks, props, costume changes all within the opening few songs!

Her in-your-face approach proved hugely popular with the audience as they turned the The Arena of the Stars into a heaving mass of grooving bodies. Elliott stuck to her hits, so we got infectiously catchy reworked versions of Work It, Get Ur Freak On and Pass The Dutch.

At regular intervals, her deejay ground the music to a halt, allowing Elliott to take centerstage and indulge in some audience antics.

Taking off her snazzy, blinged out sneakers she offered them as a prize for the audience member who could jump the highest managing to conjure up some wild scenes on the dance floor, although in the end she only threw a sweat soaked towel into the crowd.

All too soon, despite chants of encore! encore! and Missy! Missy! she disappeared. I mean literally disappeared. The red curtain went up, fireworks flashed and she was gone in a flash.

There were plenty of sonic thrills to be had over at the XLR8 stage where progressive, experimental and edgy dance music was very much the order of the day and the vibe in the crowd extremely cordial, to say the least.

Twilight Actiongirl set the ball rolling with an adventurous set that attempted to fuse hard-hitting electro grooves with the odd indie anthem thrown in for good measure.

Indonesian trio Goodnight Electric also proved that their love for kitschy electro indie melodies were a winner, with their look, their songs as well as the attitude. In the end, their anthemic Depeche Mode-meets-New Order sound succeeded in drawing more party people to the arena.

Local deejay B4C, whose wicked funky combination of clean breakbeats and funky techno turned out to be another winner. Nu-rave duo LapSap, featuring Mr Puah and 5ft, turned in a set of thumping techno and electro.

Over at the XL-TRONIC stage trance guru DJ Yoji seemed to have things well in control with his hypnotic beat. Hello thumping bass!

The only downside was that when the party ended, the festival areas were heavily strewn with litter. Tsk tsk Malaysians! When will you ever learn?

Journey - Bondage to Freedom

Journey is a three-in-one album. It has two CDs and one DVD. The first CD features ten songs, nine of which are taken from the “Buddhist Hymns” book compiled by Datuk Dr Victor Wee. The tenth song, “Chief”, written by Nathan, is a moving tribute to his late Chief, Venerable Dr K. Sri Dhammananda Nayaka Maha Thera, who passed away on August 31st, 2006.

Most of the singers featured in this first CD are experienced singers and musicians. The second CD is a recital of the “Maha Mangala Sutta” (Sutta of the Highest Blessings) by Venerable K. Nanda, who unhesitantly said yes to Bro Nathan’s invitation and flew from the US to record the Maha Mangala Sutta even though the Venerable was not feeling well at the time of recording.

The DVD is a bonus feature on this album. It is a video portrayal of the late Chief, Venerable Dr K. Sri Dhammananda, as a personal tribute from Nathan, who regards the late Chief as his mentor and spiritual teacher. As Nathan says, many people in the Buddhist community would have felt a glaring vacuum left by their late Chief.

Proceeds from the sales of the album will go to the respective temples and buddhist centres that sell the album. For more info click here.

The Making of…The Penang World Music Festival 2008

The Penang World Music Festival had its second run this year and frigglive was there to witness the action. Instead of taking the lazy way out and rewording the press release into an article as most journalists are prone to do (click here for a perfect example of that) or writing the standard yadda yadda review (click here for an example) we decided to work hard to give you something different.

Yes folks, for three days Johan and myself stalked the various people behind the festival, sweated in the humid heat with the army of people working in the background, partied until morning with the bands and interviewed just about everybody to bring you…

The Making of…The Penang World Music Festival 2008

Part 1. The technical components behind the concert:

The set consisted of two huge stages side by side to facilitate the smooth transition of performances, with bands performing on alternate stages to avoid the delay caused by equipment set-ups. Equally huge screens ensured that no one in the audience missed out on the action happening on stage.

Artistic Director Ms Yeoh Jun-Lin informed me that her crew was careful not to disturb or destroy the natural flora and fauna of the Botanical Gardens and on closer inspection I found her claim to be perfectly true.

For sound power, there are clusters or rows of baffles of 4, 6 and 8 speakers
mounted in towers and on both sides of the scene. These reach till 250,000 sound watts. The mixer boasts a massive 124 channels.

Light power: The light show is equal to the sound with 300,000 light watts, which was really astonishing in its variety. The numbers included: intelligent lights like Gobos, Martins, 500 static lights, 170 varilites, 80 icons, filters with more than 70 colors in the stroboscopic lights, and so on.

The screens reached 10 m (30 feet) in diameter and can complete the show with many types of video clips and projections.

The montage: After setting the basic frame, the light console tables are installed. After that, the sound equipments are installed. The whole process can last 12 and a half hours.

Set against a perfect backdrop of rustic lush green hills the scene’s dimensions varied greatly. The height oscillated between 5 and 25 m (15 to 75 feet). This is an engineering marvel, a piece of work that can spin, hide in smoke, has flying platforms, telescopic bridges and even a crane.

The neuralgic center of the concert was situated in a control called "house", where illumination and sound are tuned through an expanded computerized control table, fundamental for the sound to perfectly reach all the audience.

To EQ the sound for 1 band is difficult enough. Imagine 15 bands from all over the world armed with a plethora of ethnic instruments. Although the concert was held in an open air venue, the sound was remarkably true and consistent, a testimony to the expertise of Scotsman Niall Macaulay, producer and sound engineer extraordinaire.

In order to avoid energy cuts during the concert, two or more three-phase generators of 500 kW each are used. A hose, called a snake, connects the central console table with the scene. Almost 8 km of cable are employed.

Publicity and awareness for the festival were undertaken by the Penang Tourism Action Council. There were banners and signages all over the island, and a couple of newspaper ads in the weeks preceding the event.

This being a Penang state-owned event, security was the responsibility of the Royal Malaysian Police and they were present in considerable numbers, directing traffic and ensuring that there were no untoward incidents to mar the smooth flow of the festival.

Trailers and transport consisted of caravan trailers, buses, private cars and vans, the identity marks of big tours. Revelers were ferried in shuttles from the car parks to the concert venue. The concert itself moved more than 50 trucks and 350 material tonnes of equipment.

Behind the scene, a small complex is hidden, including dressing rooms, dining room, a rest room, a make-up room, bathrooms, storage area and a host of other requirements for the musicians.

For a busybody press person like me, there was an air-conditioned media center equipped with 10 wifi connected laptops, an interview area with a casual café table and chair set-up, free mineral water, hot beverages, instant noodles, biscuits and burgers, run by the good people of Smascom PR.

All images above by kind courtesy of Niall Macaulay http://onlocationrecordings.co.uk/

Dave Avran interviewing Niall Macaulay

image credit: Johan Nasir

Part 2. Interview with Ms Yeoh Jun-Lin, Artistic Director of the PWMF

updated June 27th, 2008

Part 2. Interview with Ms Yeoh Jun-Lin, Artistic Director of the PWMF

I have been familiar with Ms Yeoh Jun-Lin’s work as the prime mover and driving force behind the highly successful Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF), now into its 11^th year and the equally popular Miri International Jazz Festival (MIJF).

At the outset, let me state clearly that I am a big fan and have tremendous admiration for this lady who has put Malaysia on the international map for well organized world class music festivals. Click here to read more.

Jun-Lin has since moved on from both RWMF and MIJF to explore further opportunities and thus initiated the Genting International Jazz Festival (GIJF), where I finally got a chance to meet her. She brings much needed street cred to the PWMF.

Asked for the secret to her success, Jun-Lin casually shrugs it off to her obsessive-compulsive nature, the need to be involved in every single stage of preparation and to give “600%” to ensure not only success but to strive for perfection.

To give you an indication of how hard this lady works, she starts preparing a year in advance (2 years would be better, she says) scouring for the ideal venue and traveling worldwide attending music expos, workshops and other festivals, and then sifting through an average of 500 music CDs and band biographies to short-list the finalists that will appear in her shows.

To make things even more complicated, she has to ensure that each band is truly unique and thus it is difficult to compare apple to apple as there is no standard benchmark. This is where Jun-Lin scores as her expertise and experience kick in to guide her in her final selections. Those who have attended any of her events know that she has consistently delivered world class entertainment.

Throughout the interview, Jun-Lin very politely and steadfastly deflected my recognition of her considerable achievements, preferring instead to highlight her crew and praised them for the sheer amount of work put into each event that she organizes.

She also credited her family as her inspiration, bemoaning the fact that she works “horrendous hours” and doesn’t get to spend as much time with them as she would like to. To relax, she enjoys dancing.

Jun-Lin is on the ball all the time, flitting around the site to oversee every single aspect of the daily set-up, sharing the heat, rain, minor emergencies and other difficulties endured by her crew. She sleeps as little as them while on the job, and earned my respect when she politely declined my offer to pack “Penang’s best Nasi Kandar” for her, stating that she would eat the same food as her team did.

Emcee Hendrick Foh said he was amazed by her professionalism. “I don’t know where she finds all that energy”.

Interviews with some of her staff (who shall remain nameless as promised) revealed that they too have a great amount of respect for her. “She pushes herself so hard so how can we let her down?” said one muscular and bare - chested roadie.

When I asked another guy about discipline problems and the possibility of “recreational medicine” being used among them, he paid Jun-Lin the highest compliment. “Boss work so hard to make this. She is one of us. No way we are going to make her “kecewa” (Bahasa Malaysia for "to let her down").

images by Johan Nasir

PWMF Part 3. A Pictorial of The Festival

The Finale


The Crowds


Lo Cor De La Plana (France) & Afenginn (Denmark)


Kenge Kenge (Kenya)



Kries (Croatia) & Diplomats of Drums (Malaysia)



Afenginn (Denmark) & Galant, Tu Perds Ton Temps (Canada)



Galant, Tu Perds Ton Temps (Canada) & Lo Cor De La Plana (France)

more info on the bands here.

all images by Johan Nasir