KUCHING, July 5: The 21st edition of the Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF 2018) will be held this coming July 13 to 15 at the Sarawak Cultural Village (SCV) and at Damai Central.
Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said 50 performances by 37 musical bands from overseas and locals would be performing this year, making it a new milestone in terms of number of performances.
Speaking to a press conference at SCV this morning, he said due to overwhelming response to the side activities last year, this year’s festival would also include Damai Central to accommodate more side activities.
“This year’s festival will expand to include Damai Central, and the whole area will be open free to the public,” he said.
At Damai Central, there will be a new Big Tent Stage for emerging local bands to perform. Apart from that, the DJ Club Set at Escobar for those over 21 years of age will also be open free for festival goers wearing RWMF `2018 wristbands.
There would also be mini sessions of the festival at five venues in SCV and Damai Central, with variations of mixed themed collaborations, performances and interactive workshops.
For the festival proper concert, a Jungle Stage and a Tree Stage would be set up. There would also be a Theatre Stage for mini sessions and acoustic performances in SCV.
The 37 bands that would be performing at RWMF2018 are 1Drum (Malaysia and India), Alberto Marin (Spain), Arat Kilo with Mamani Keita and Mike Ladd (France, Mali and USA), At Adau (Sarawak), Balkanopolis (Serbia), Bhungar Khan Company (India), Buloh Berkocak (Sarawak), Chingay Parade (Penang), Combo Ginebra (Chile), Cuatro Minimal (Mexico, Korea and Japan), Danai Kuwai (Sarawak), Djeli Moussa Conde (Guinea), Dona Onete (Brazil), Elisouma (Comoros Islands), GayaGayo (Indonesia), Grace Nono (Philippines), GuoGan and Aly Keita (China and Cote d’Ivoire), Hornbill Familias (Sarawak), Kevin Locke (USA), Meruked (Sarawak), Naedrum (Korea), Niteworks (Isle of Skye), Oriental Chinese Traditional Orchestra (Sarawak), Oyme (Republic of Mordovia in Russia), Pelangi Kota (Sarawak), Pinanak Sentah (Sarawak), Raghu Dixit Project (India), Rawi (Sarawak), Sada Borneo (Malaysia), Shanren (China), Slobodan Trkulja (Serbia), Suk Binie’ (Sarawak), Suling Kenyalang (Sarawak), SwarAsia Malaysia (Malaysia), Volosi (Poland), Warato’o (Solomon Islands), and Yallah Bye! (Tunisia).
Due to overwhelming response to the Lifestyle and Wellness programme last year, Abdul Karim said the organisers would be bringing back more of the programme. This would include Tai Chi, Yoga, Line Dancing, Pilates, Wushu, Zumba, Muay Thai, Bodyjam, Sound Bath Meditation and Tabata Challenge.
“There will also be talks on ergonomics in everyday life, spine screening and reiki sessions,” he said.
Other special events to be held at the festival include 1drum.org & Friends interactive drum sessions, a Chingay pole-throwing performance from Penang, short-film screenings on different subjects, including music, arts and feel-good social issues, and also Cultural Snippets, with invited speakers on various cultural aspects of Sarawak.
For the children, there will be a body painting session by the Solomon Islanders of Warato’o, exploration into Serbian musical instruments by Slobodan Trkulja, music and story telling by Lakota and Anishnabe Locke, drum circle session, musical instruments making, autograph book making, and Yoga for kids.
Tickets are available at www.rwmf.net/tickets/ for online purchases as well as at locations stated on the website.
For pre-sales tickets (till July 12, 2018), a one-day adult pass is priced at RM123.80 and three-day pass at RM323.80. For children between six and 12 years old, a one-day pre-sale pass is priced at RM63.80, while a three-day pass is priced RM144. A one-day Family Package (two adults and two children) is also being sold with pre-sale price at RM255.10.
For door sales tickets, (July 13-15), a one-day adult pass is priced at RM146.20 and three-day pass at RM386.80. For children between six and 12 years old, a one-day door sale pass is priced at RM75.50 while a three-day pass at RM188.70. A one-day Family Package (two adults and two children) is also being sold with door sale price at RM301.90.
Free hourly bus shuttles will also be provided to those who purchase the tickets. The waiting points will be at Harbour View Hotel, Hills Shopping Mall, Riverside Majestic Hotel and Merdeka Palace Hotel.
“Since the World Cup final match will be on Sunday, July 15, which is the last night of RWMF 2018, the organisers will also broadcast on the stage’s large screen the match scheduled at 11pm,” Abdul Karim said.
RWMF 2018 is organised by the Sarawak Tourism Board. It is endorsed by Tourism Malaysia and is jointly supported by the Federal Ministry of Tourism and Culture and Sarawak Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports, with Air Asia as the Flight Partner. — DayakDaily
