Rainforest World Music Festival 2012

Rainforest World Music Festival 2012 is back again for the 15th year from the 13-15 July and held at the Sarawak Cultural Village near Kuching. This years line up promises something different as local Malaysian star Zee Awi makes her debut here for the first time.This is one of the biggest and longest running unique concert in the history of Malaysia and held in the heavily cultured state of Sarawak. A show not to be missed, many international performers make their way here to showcase some of the best cultural music in the world.

Every year in mid July, thousands of music lovers travel across the globe to the Land of the Hornbill otherwise known as Sarawak on the island of Borneo. Converging at Santubong, a 45 minute drive from Kuching, the capital city of Sarawak, it is like an annual pilgrimage for these music lovers who come to attend the Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF), which has been voted by Songlines, a renowned world music magazine for 3 consecutive years as the top 25 international festivals. This annual event, now in its 15th year, is organized by the Sarawak Tourism Board and is a three day celebration of daytime music workshops and action-packed nightly shows.

RWMF 2011 Workshop - Photo Credit to: Parochial Sarawakian

This festival is a not-to-be-missed occasion in the heart of the Borneo Jungle. This is where people regardless of their ethnicity, cultural backgrounds and music interests come together for three magical days for a fun filled, wholesome festival experience with a country fair atmosphere amidst lush greenery. Below are the list of performers for the Rainforest World Music Festival 2012.

RWMF Performers 2012

Zee Avi - Malaysia

Malaysian singer-songwriter, guitarist and ukulele player who was born in Miri, Sarawak but lives in the United States now. She was first discovered from a song she had posted up on YouTube for a friend. Zee Avi has since then released several albums and is making a special appearance at the festival.

The Music of Sarawak - Malaysia 

The music and instruments of Sarawak are as diverse and lush and poly-layered as its rainforests. Gongs, from the large hanging ones that represent the standing of the owner to the small melodically tuned ones; huge log drums to the hand-held frame ones; all kinds of innovative bamboo instruments; and of course the majestic sape,

   

Hata – The One - Malaysia, Korea, Turkey, Taiwan

They encapsulate the many facets of Asia – capturing, molding, fusing, and coming up with a unique sound yet completely enchantingly Eastern. Usually a 24 member group, they are coming as a 9 piece with musicians from Malaysia, Korea, Taiwan and Turkey. 

 

Rhythm of Borneo - Malaysia

Between the years of 1998-2008, Ainal Johari joined several well-established bands from Sarawak such as TUKU’ KAME’, TABUH PAK AINAL and JERRY KAMIT & FRIENDS to perform in the world-class Rainforest World Music Festivals.

Mamadou Diabate - Mali / Burkina Faso

I was born in 1973 into a West African “Jeli” family in Burkina Faso. In my family there is a long tradition of practising the profession of story telling and music making  (playing the balafon). 

Le Trio Joubran - Palestine

Three brothers descending from a family of « Oud » makers and players since four generations… the grand grand-father, the grand-father, the father and now, Samir, Wissam and Adnan have transformed this instrument into a passion, a skill, a life.

 

Samuel Dass & Prakash - Malaysia 

Samuel J. Dass, or Sam as he is fondly known in the music circle, was born on the 16th of March, and started his love affair with the Sitar at the tender age of 7. His first guru was his father, Mr. Jabamalai Dass, who drilled in him the basics of sitar playing. 

 

Khusugtun - Mongolia

The meaning of the name ‘Khusugtun’ The word khusug mean a cart of pastoral nomads. ‘Khusugtun’ means nomads, or more precisely people who move with carts. 

 

Diplomats Of Drum - Malaysia

Spreading the love for beats and rhythms across international shores, The Diplomats of Drum has received universal acclaim as Malaysia’s chief world music percussion troupe.

Raiz De Cafezal - Brazilian Amazonian Indians

The Carimbó is one of the rhythms from the Brazilian Amazonian Indians, however, as diverse other Brazilian cultural manifestations, it was mixed and received other influences, mainly African. 

 

La Zikabilo - France

 

This energetic brass band from France handles many musical styles with ease and infectious joy. Since their Beginning back in 1999, LA ZIKABILO transports through multiple horizons such as Jazz, Gypsy music, French chanson, Latino music, Rock’n’roll, Reggae rhythms.

Oreka Tx - Spain

Nömadak Tx is a project by Harkaitz Mtez, De San Vicente and Igor Otxoa, Oreka Tx. These Basque txalapartaris had a dream: they thought up a project that was to mark a turning point in the history of thisunique musical percussion instrument.

String Sisters - Celtic music from Scotland, Norway, Sweden, Ireland, USA 

Featuring some of the traditional music world’s top female fiddlers, the members of the String Sisters gather together for a concert Annbjørg Lien from Norway joins Catriona Macdonald from Shetland, Liz Carroll and Liz Knowles from America, Mairead ni Mhaonaigh (Altan) from Ireland and Emma Härdelin from Sweden. 

Kanda Bongo Man - Congo - UK Based

The man who single-handedly gave the world the infectious Kwasa Kwasa dance; Kanda Bongo Man is one of the most well known stars of world music, and one of the first pioneers of he African Soukous music.  

Cankisou - Czech Republic

No. 17th in the World music chart Europe in November 2011, performance at Sziget 2010 (world music stage). One of the top world music bands in the Czech republic which has already made audience in 14 countries dance with its original ethnic fusion full of wild rhythms and spiced with rock roots. 

Danyel Waro - Reunion Island 

Sega, a traditional Indian Ocean dance rhythm, is internationally known, but few people outside the island of Reunion have heard of maloya. Maloya is a compound rhythm on which plantation workers have long been singing their joys and woes. It’s a sort of réunionese blues.

Rainforest World Music Festival 2012 - Photo Credit to: Parochial Sarawakian

RWMF Programme
There will be a line-up of 12 international bands and 6 Malaysian bands playing a diverse range of world genres and the festival is featuring 7 different acts per night over 3 nights of pure music.

RWMF Workshops
Spread throughout the village, there will be afternoon informative workshops, ethno-musical lectures, jamming sessions and mini concerts, followed by evening performances on the main stage has proven to be a hit, with the audience, who come from near and far.

Food & Village Mart
A Food & Village Mart offers visitors local crafts, souvenir items. On the F&B part, choose from international to local food and drinks. A total of 30 stalls will be selling all of these throughout the village.

RWMF Store
The RWMF store is filled with Rainforest World Music Festival merchandize. A great place to get yourself a souvenir t-shirt or your favorite artist CD. You can also get some of the performing artist to sign your CDs during the signing times. Check with the store.

Ticket Prices for the RWMF 2012

Get your Rainforest World Music Festival Tickets.

Visit the official website for the Rainforest World Music Festival.

RWMF Organiser:
Sarawak Tourism Board
5th – 7th Floor, Yayasan Sarawak Building
Jalan Masjid, 93400 Kuching
Sarawak, Malaysia
Telephone : +6 082 423600
Fax : +6 082 416700

For those who are interested, come experience a truly memorable musical extravaganza amidst the lush green paradise that is the mythical land of Sarawak. We bid you, 'Selamat Datai'! (Welcome!) to all those attending the RWMF 2012 and if you have never been to this amazing festival and want to also explore Sarawak, here is your chance to plan ahead for the upcoming Rainforest World Music Festival 2012.