By Nur Ashikin Louis
KUCHING, Oct 28: Thailand’s ‘Lover Boy’ hitmaker, Phum Viphurit, will headline the first night of Kuching Jazz Festival 2022 tonight.
At the same time, the fusion duo based in Miri, Ta’dan, is the opening act for the night.
Other performers include Hendri Rotinsulu with Jazmint Band (Indonesia), Noryn Aziz (Malaysia), and Freyja Garbett Quartet (Australia).
The festival gates are set to open at 5pm while the show will commence from 7pm until late.
Meanwhile, Indonesia’s Afgan will headline the next night with other performers, including Ky Den (Malaysia), Ushera (Malaysia), Leon Sapphire (Malaysia), as well as Dawn Wong and The Arkroyal (Singapore).
The two-day festival will take place at the open-air space in Grand Margherita Hotel Kuching, with festival-goers being able to enjoy the views of the Sarawak River and the Kuching Waterfront.
The festival is organised by Hemisphere Corporation Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC), with Place Borneo Sdn Bhd as the event management company.
Artistic director Nisa Addina said the fourth installation of the Kuching Jazz Festival aims to be more inclusive of audiences from broader age groups to break the stigma that “jazz is only for the old people”.
“So we try to introduce jazz to the younger crowd because jazz is not just literal swing or blues style.
“Every music now is influenced by jazz, and the way we incorporate it in our music depends on the history of jazz,” she told a press conference held at Grand Margherita Hotel today.
The festival will also feature arts, crafts, and food and beverage bazaars to support and promote local small businesses.
Interested festival-goers can still purchase tickets at the entry gates.
Also present were Hemisphere Corporation Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Mark Ferguson and Place Borneo Sdn Bhd director Gracie Geikie. — DayakDaily
