KUCHING, July 4: The Miri Country Music Festival (MCMF) 2022, scheduled to take place from November 25 to November 26 at the Eastwood Valley Golf & Country Club in Miri, will be making its comeback this year with Tantowi Yahya as the festival headliner.
According to Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, the idea to organise MCMF was derived from the local communities’ affection for country music.
“Mirians are known to not only embrace country music, but they also dress the part donning cowboy outfits.
“In the past eight years, MCMF has attracted festivalgoers with visitors from nearby Bintulu, Brunei, Sabah, and regional visitors from neighbouring countries such as Singapore, Brunei, Australia, and Indonesia,” he said at the recent launch of MCMF 2022.
Abdul Karim went on to say that this year’s line-up will not disappoint the audience.
“I am happy to see the notable performer Tantowi Yahya from Indonesia making a comeback.
“I see MCMF this year has new bands and performers such as Ramon Cedillo from Singapore, Cambodia Country Band from the United States and Cambodia, Johnny Loda Trio from Italy, the United Kingdom, and Thailand, and many more exciting country musicians from Peninsular Malaysia, and of course not forgetting our very own performers from Sarawak,” he added.
Meanwhile, MCMF founder Gracie Geikie stated that MCMF aims to partner with Sarawak Trade and Tourism Office Singapore (STATOS) to market the music festival in Singapore, packaging it with direct flights from Singapore, and special tour packages around the northern region of Sarawak.
“We have selected several corporate social responsibility (CSR) partners to collaborate and work with for MCMF this year — The Federation of Orang Ulu Associations Sarawak Malaysia (Forum), the Miri Photography Society, Miri Performing Arts Association, and Borneo Medical Centre Miri.
“Giving these partners a space and platform to showcase their products and services is our small way of supporting these organisations and giving back to the community,” she noted.
As per a statement, this year, MCMF 2022 invites local and international performers and festivalgoers to join in ‘The Buku Project’ by bringing their second-hand books to MCMF to be collected and donated to children and residents of Sarawak rural areas, Long Lama, and Long Atip, in hopes of providing reading material to educate, entertain and improve reading literacy among the underprivileged.
The statement mentioned that MCMF 2022 is expected to attract 2,000 festival-goers.
“Early bird tickets are now on sale at RM80 per day and RM120 for a two-day pass.
“More information can be found at www.miricountrymusic.com and the Miri Country Music Fest Facebook page.
“For enquiries, call 082-555189 or email fifi@placeborneo.com,” it added. — DayakDaily
