By Dayangku Hidayatul
BAU, Sept 11: Country beats and cross-border crowds are set to turn Siniawan into a country music hotspot as the Siniawan Country Music Festival 2026 returns from Sept 25 to 27, bringing bands from Sabah, Kalimantan, and across Sarawak for three nights of free live music.
Serembu assemblyman Datuk Miro Simuh said the festival at Siniawan Waterfront is expected to draw between 10,000 and 15,000 visitors throughout the three nights.
“We are going to cover a lot of country music genres over the three nights. It is not only about the music, but also about having a good time, enjoying the food and drinks, and meeting friends from various backgrounds.
“We come from all levels of the community, and this is a kind of music that unites us all,” he said during the press conference at a restaurant here today.
The eighth edition will see Miri’s Country Road Band take the spotlight on opening night, alongside Evergreen Unlimited Country Band from Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, and KCLC Band from Pontianak, Indonesia.
The three-night lineup will continue on Sept 26 with Mountain Wind Band from Miri, and OnStrings Band and Midnight Strangers Band from Bau.
On the final night on Sept 27, Hi-Breed Band, The Wranglers from Kuching and Sunday Stranglers Band will take the stage.
Meanwhile, singers Mark Ashley, Peter Engkassan, Eddie Wong and Friends, Mathew Ngau Jau, and B Groove will take to the ‘Old Street’ stage across the three nights.
Miro said around 100 vendors would be involved in the festival, creating opportunities for local businesses and communities to benefit from increased visitor spending.
He said the festival had previously generated between RM500,000 and RM1 million in spending over its three-night run, contributing to the local economy.
Beyond Sarawak, the festival is expected to attract visitors from Sabah, Kalimantan, Singapore and Peninsular Malaysia, as well as expatriates.
Miro said the event had also become part of Sarawak’s tourism calendar, with some visitors already booking flights and accommodation to attend the festival.
Miro said Siniawan’s setting, which he described as resembling a “cowboy town”, made it a fitting venue for the country music festival.
The festival remains free for the public, with visitors paying only for food, drinks, and other purchases from vendors.
On the haze situation, he expressed hope that weather conditions would improve towards the end of the month, allowing more visitors to come and enjoy the festival.
Also present were the event’s organising committee member Dylan Lai, Bau District Officer Eddy Nayoi, and Siniawan Kapitan Bong Boon Kah. — DayakDaily
