By Jacob Achoi
BAU, Sept 5: The Siniawan Country Music Festival 2022 scheduled for Oct 7 and 8 returns with a bang with the inclusion of the Special Edition band from United Kingdom performing.
Event organising chairman, Dylan Lai, said the band had accepted the invitation to perform at the annual festival, joining six local bands from across the State to entertain the crowd.
“After a lapse of two years (of not organising Siniawan Country Music Festival due to the Covid-19 pandemic), we are back again this year for the 5th Edition with more attractions by inviting the band from United Kingdom.
“We are doing this because we want to improve Siniawan Country Music Festival from year to year,” he told reporters today at a press conference to publicise the event at Ayak Arts Gallery in Siniawan, here.
Lai expected more than 20,000 people to turn up for this year’s event, adding that the number of attendees had increased over the years since the festival was first organised.
Lai also said side events for this year’s festival will kick start from Oct 4 and end on Oct 9 with several activities in the pipeline, including busking by local bands.
“We are doing this to help the local community economically and also want the people to enjoy the environment in Siniawan,” Lai added.
Meanwhile, deputy organising chairman Wejok Tomik said he was happy to note that country music is gaining popularity among the public, including the Bidayuh, as can be seen with the organising of similar events in Bau and Padawan recently.
“I look at this development positively where the people can enjoy and relax and not as our competition,” he pointed out.
Siniawan Country Music Festival, it is supported by Sarawak Tourism Board, Bau District Council, Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, the Siniawan community and Serembu Heritage Enterprise Sdn Bhd. It is also included in the State Tourism calender this year. — DayakDaily
