Head East for one of Asia's favourite world music festival that takes place in the rainforest of Sarawak and features the best of cultures from there, and beyond. By Mallika Naguran
Borneo’s iconic world music festival, once again, takes place at the Sarawak Cultural Village from Friday 13 July to Sunday 15 July with over 30 bands worldwide. Regular fans will be pleased to know that this year, the Rainforest World Music Festival venue will be extended to Damai Central in Santubong specifically for local musicians to perform at the Tent Stage to audience from around the world.
So fans can walk from the Tent Stage in Damai Central to the Jungle and Tree Stage, to complete the wide-ranging musical experiences that include the daily workshops, wellness and lifestyle classes and theatre concerts, while keeping their environmental footprint down.
Guo Gan & Aly Keita - an unexpected duo of the Chinese erhu and the balafon of West Africa with their own compositions at RWMF 2018.
Who are the performers at RWMF 2018?
In its 21st edition, RWMF boasts a line up of local and international acts, with local Sarawak bands such as Sada Borneo and At Adau, as well as SwarAsia Malaysia from Malaysia.
Internationally, the Festival will feature the artistes Grace Nono from the Philippines, Oyme from the Republic of Mordovia in Russia, Elisouma from Comoros Islands, Dona Onete from Brazil, Slobodan Trkulja and Balkanopolis from Serbia, Bhungar Khan Company and Raghu Dixit Project from India, Niteworks from Isle of Skye and Kevin Locke from the United States.
What’s more, fans can move and groove to Combo Ginebra from Chile, Alberto Marin from Spain, Gayogayo from Indonesia, Shanren from China, Djeli Moussa Conde from Guinea, Naedrum from Korea, Warato’o from Solomon Islands, Yallah Bye from Tunisia and Volosi from Poland.
Afro groove at its best - Djeli Moussa Conde brings an explosive show that fuses Malian roots, reggae, jazz and funk.
Mixed performers from different countries will produce a fusion of sound such as Guo Gan & Aly Keita from China and Cote d’lvoire, as well as Cuatro Minimal with members from Mexico, Korea and Japan.
Other Highlights of RWMF 2018
Also new, there’ll be a DJ set nightly at Escobar in Damai Central so that the party doesn’t end when the nightly concert does.
Do go early for the afternoon workshops where you will see and hear musical instruments being demonstrated, followed by a jamming session. Totally entertaining and a must for music lovers!
If you’d like to get into the act, there’ll be lots of opportunities as well. The 1Drum in the evenings just before the start of the main concert allows for lots of thumping as audiences are invited to get into the rhythm of things. The venue for this will be the amphitheater at Damai Central.
So what are you waiting for? View the RWMF Showtimes and get tickets early! And plan a holiday around the festival by visiting Sarawak attractions.
RWMF Ticket Information
The RWMF tickets are currently being sold at pre-sale prices till July 12, with one-day passes sold at RM123.80 for adults and RM63.80 for children and three-day passes at RM323.80 and RM144.00 respectively.
About the Rainforest World Music Festival
The Rainforest World Music Festival is organised by the Sarawak Tourism Board, endorsed by Tourism Malaysia and is jointly supported by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Malaysia and Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports, Sarawak, with AirAsia as Flight Partner.