Rainforest World Music Festival : Experience Great Music!

Experience the cultural and diversity through Music!

by Idlan

17 November 2021

in Events

Reading Time: 3 mins read

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You can hear it through the vibrant, green treetops, beyond the haze of humidity and the chirp of tropical birds. In the distance, a drum beats steadily, thumping out its tribal rhythm. Have you inadvertently wandered into the camp of an enigmatic indigenous people? Is this a scene from a movie in which the natives sacrifice you to a hungry jungle monster? It’s the Rainforest World Music Festival.

Thousand of music lovers worldwide flock to Sarawak Cultural Village every year, a hamlet nestled at the foot of Mount Santubong 35 kilometres outside Kuching, the state capital of Sarawak. The typical schedule consists of having workshops (more like mini-concerts) in the afternoon, followed by full-scale performances on the two main stages in the village during the festival’s three-day run. The festival usually hosts around 20 bands throughout the weekend and has grown to be one of Malaysia’s most significant musical events, attracting an estimated 30,000 people.

Types of Music at RWMF

The festival includes a diverse range of musical performances, ranging from traditional to world fusion and contemporary. While electronic instruments are now reasonably standard at the festival, the festival places a strong emphasis on traditional acoustic instruments. Performers all over Malaysia and Australia, Colombia, Ireland, Africa, and beyond showcase their musical talents here in RWMF. What if you get tired of all the didgeridoos, lutes, and sitars? Then head over to the Food & Village Mart! That is where you will find local artisans sell everything from henna tattoos to jewellery and fabric, and food stalls sell kolo mee (a traditional Kuching noodle dish) and sautéed wild fern. You know, your typical festival fare.

Randy Raine-Reusch, former Sarawak Tourism Board head Robert Basiuk, Edric Ong, President of the Society Atelier of Sarawak (predictably), supports traditional arts), and his brother, film producer Edgar Ong, are the proud founder of this festival. RWMF has grown from humble beginnings less than 20 years ago to being named one of the “25 Best International Festivals” by the renowned music magazine, Songlines for the fourth year in a row.

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Rainforest World Music Festival’s Atmosphere?

Although the workshops and evening performances have a set schedule, the Rainforest World Music Festival atmosphere is exceptionally relaxed, and attendees are free to roam the village, coming and going from the festival over the three days. You will find daytime workshops in traditional village houses during the event. Whereby the performers are frequently on the floor with the audience. Hence allowing guests to get up close and personal with the musicians. You won’t find any performers hiding behind the scenes or in private trailers here. Instead, artists roam the village, mingling with curious festival-goers asking about the music and the day’s events.