Sunday, July 01, 2012

Run up to RWMF 2012 - up close with Oreka TX


For the first time in Rainforest Festival history, a Basque band from Spain will be performing. And for the first time also, the amazing sound of the mythical txalarpartas – an instrument made from long wooden boards and was nearly extinct in the 1950s will be heard.

The band just won an award for their documentary Nomadak TX where they took their txalaparta and rhythms and travelled to exotic countries to collaborate with the musicians. This cultural journey is the programme that they are bringing to the Rainforest. A moving and exciting Adventure of Encounters. 

Oreka TX will be performing on Sunday, 15 July at Sarawak Cultural Village. The festival that has been voted for the third consecutive year as one of the Top 25 International Festivals by Songlines Magazine in UK, will be held from the 13 to 15 July 2012. 

Other international act for this year’s festival will be Hata-The One (Malaysia/Korean/Turkey/Taiwan), Mamadou Diabate (Mali/ Burkina Faso), Danyel Waro (Reunion Islands), Kanda Bongo Man (Congo), Khusugtun (Mongolia), Le Trio Joubran (Palestine), La Zikabilo (France), Raiz De Cafezal (Brazil), String Sisters (Scotland/Ireland/Sweden/Norway/USA) and Cankisou (Czech Republic). Not forgeting the Malaysian act on stage will be Zee Avi (Malaysia/USA), The Diplomats of Drum (Kuala Lumpur), Rhythm of Borneo (Sarawak), Samuel Dass & Prakash (Kuala Lumpur) and The Music of Sarawak (Sarawak).

Tickets to the festival is availabe from the Visitors Information Centre (VIC) in Kuching, Sibu and Miri and also online at www.rwmf.net . The ticket are priced at RM110 for one-day pass and RM300 for three-day pass each for adult while tickets for children between three and 12 years old is priced at RM55 for one-day pass and RM150 for a  three-day pass each. If you want to watch the performance in style and comfort, you may do so by getting the ‘corporate seats’ at RM90 only.

Run up to RWMF 2012 - up close with Le Trio Joubran


Le Trio Joubran, three Palestinian brothers descending from a family of  Oud makers and players since four generations. The great grand-father, the grand-father, the father and now, Samir, Wissam and Adnan with their deft fingers and dazzling display of mastery have transformed this instrument into a passion, a skill, a life. 

In their music and their performance, you see the cry of Palestine and the love of Life. They perform with percussionist master, Youssef Hbeisch who enriches the Trio’s compositions by enchanting rhythms and notes. Totally mesmerizing. Absolutely enveloping.

Le Trio Joubran will be on stage on Friday, 13 July at the annual Rainforest World Music. Voted as the top 25  international festivals, the event will be held from the 13 to 15 July 2012 at the Sarawak Cultural Village and apart from the wonderful music and bands that you will see and listen to, there will also be their CDs and other festival memorabilia for sale. 

Tickets to the Rainforest World Music Festival 2012 are available at the Visitors Information Centre (VIC) in Kuching, Miri and Sibu and online at www.rwmf.net . The ticket are priced at RM110 for one-day pass and RM300 for three-day pass each for adult while tickets for children between three and 12 years old is priced at RM55 for one-day pass and RM150 for a  three-day pass each.

Rainforest World Music Festival 2012 Launch Party


The Sarawak Tourism Board is for the first time ticketing the launch of the Rainforest World Music Festival. The launch which will be held on the 12 July 2012 (Thursday) at the Sarawak Cultural Village is a chance for festival goers to meet in person or to have an autograph with the International and Malaysian band or that once in a lifetime photo opportunity. 

Tickets for the night are priced at RM80 for dinner. However, for those who just wish to watch the opening show, tickets are priced at RM30. The launching ceremony and dinner will be held at Dewan Lagenda, Sarawak Cultural Village, followed by the opening act by Raiz De Cafezal from Brazil and Rhythm of Borneo from Sarawak. 

The overall lineup for RWMF this year will be Oreka TX (Spain) Hata  (Malaysia/Korean/Turkey/Taiwan), Mamadou Diabate (Mali/ Burkina Faso), Danyel Waro (Reunion Islands), Kanda Bongo Man (Congo), Khusugtun (Mongolia), Le Trio Joubran (Palestine), La Zikabilo (France), Raiz De Cafezal (Brazil), String Sisters (Scotland/Ireland/Sweden/Norway/USA), Cankisou (Czech Republic) Zee Avi (Malaysia/USA), The Diplomats of Drum (Malaysia), Rhythm of Borneo (Malaysia), Samuel Dass & Prakash (Malaysia) and The Music of Sarawak (Sarawak).

The Rainforest World Craft Bazaar (RWCB) will also be held alongside the Rainforest World Music Festival at the Sarawak Cultural Village and will feature prominently as an  important fringe event . RWCB 2012 promises to be even better than in previous years with a greater variety of arts and crafts with participation from Sabah, Terengganu, Selangor as well as from countries as far as Uzbezkistan and Indonesia.

15th anniversary of the Rainforest World Music Festival will be held from 13-15 July 2012. More information and tickets for the festival available on www.rwmf.net .