The 2013
Edition of the Penang World Music Festival (PWMF) has been confirmed to take
place from March 30 to 31, 2013 and the list of bands performing at the
festival is nothing less than impressive.
The venue will
once again be the Quarry Park at the Penang Botanic Gardens. It is a tranquil
and nature-inspired setting to showcase the diverse range of musicians that
will be making Penang home in the last week of March this year.
A total of 12
bands will be featured at the festival during the two days. Among them are Mu
from Portugal, Kimi Djabate (Guinea- Bissau), Nasout (Iran), Alp Bora Quartet
(Turkey), Saharadja (Indonesia), Inka Marka (South America), Kalayo
(Philippines) and Malaysian bands.
Each of the
bands will showcase their unique music and instruments and together they will
create a world tune that will rock the Pearl of the Orient. Mu will present the
upbeat Portuguese folk tune using the bazouki and hurdy gurdy, cello and
percussion while Kimi and his talented musicians will serenade the audience
with the sound of Africa on the balafon.
Inka Marka
will be making their second appearance at the festival, having performed once
in 2007. This South American band will showcase the tunes of the Andes.
Kalayo which
means fire is expected to put the heat on at the festival with their melodic
traditional folk music infused with pop rock beat.
All the bands
will be performing at the concert at night and in addition daily workshop
sessions with the musicians will take place in the afternoon prior to the
concert. This workshop allows the public and audience to participate and learn
the unique music making processes of the international artists. The event will
be held in the open air and will proceed through any weather conditions.
This
encourages an atmosphere of openness and will enrich the visitors’ experience
as opposed to conventional concert venues. From the traditional to the
avant garde, the rich spectrum that is World Music will be represented over two
exciting days and nights of music and friendship.
This annual
festival is organized by the Penang State Tourism Development and Culture
Office and it is aim at attracting visitors to the island state. Tickets to the
festival are priced at RM80 per day for adult and RM30 per day for a child
between five and 12 years old. Tickets can be purchase online at
www.ticketxpress.com.my
Penang the
city-island state in northern Peninsular Malaysia has a long rich history of
cultural significance and has thrived as being a melting pot for all of its
history. From from being a 15th Century trading port with Ming Dynasty to a
British colonial port in the 1700's, Penang has developed into a rich
multi-cultural state within the Federation of Malaysia.
With the
listing of Georgetown, the capital of Penang as one of UNESCO's World Heritage
Sites in 2008, the significance of the island state on the world map was
cemented. Given this reputation, it is only fitting that the music of the world
is celebrated and presented in this melting pot of a city.
There are
several direct flights flying into Penang.
