Music lovers take heed; the Rainforest World Music Festival is back

 

KUCHING: The much-anticipated Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) is back!

While the annual music festival was cancelled two years ago and could only be held virtually last year, this time around, festival-goers will be able to experience everything physically for three days beginning June 17.

The RWMF, which enters its 25th year, will be held in hybrid manner with the event to be physically staged at the Sarawak Cultural Village in Santubong near here.

Sarawak Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah described the theme of the music festival – 25th Legendary Rainforest Celebration – as extremely meaningful since the RWMF would be the first hybrid international music event after the country reopened its border on April 1.

In line with RWMF's silver jubilee celebration, Karim said this year's concept, a combination of conventional and digital, would mark the transition of the festival into the digitalisation era.

"Based on the encouraging feedback when the RWMF was held online last year, the hybrid manner will be the best approach to continue holding such a global music festival.

For the record, 402,865 music lovers from 79 countries had watched the RWMF 2021 when it was held online last year.

"We hope that more people will tune in or come to this year's event," he said in his speech at the launch of RWMF 25th Legendary Rainforest Celebration here today.

He added that music lovers could look forward to performances from many Sarawak musical talents such as Alena Murang, Kemada, Sang Rawi, At Adau, Tuku Kame, Suk Binie', Nading Rhapsody and Mathew Ngau.

There will also be performances from Canada, India, the United States, Finland, Thailand, Singapore, Japan, Australia, Mexico, New Zealand, China, Bhutan and South Korea.

Early bird ticket sales for the physical concerts will start on April 18 at rwmf.net website, for Adult One-Day Pass (RM150), Adult Three-Day Pass (RM375), Child One-Day Pass (RM80), Child Three-Day Pass (RM155) and One-Day Family Package Pass for Two Adults and Two Children (RM400).

Tickets for the virtual show which is priced at RM25, he said, would also be available and could be bought via the website.

-nst online.