KUCHING: The 21st edition of the Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) 2018 will be held from July 13 to 15 this year with more main events and side events.
Minister of Tourism, Art, Culture, Youth and Sport, Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, told a press conference at Masja here yesterday: “Last year, we received complaints that the website for the purchasing of tickets purchasing website was either slow or not working. We are fixing it.”
He explained it could be online congestion because many people were purchasing the tickets online.
“We will also make sure that the shuttle bus waits until the events finish so that visitors can go back,” he added.
According to Karim, this year’s event is expected to attract 20,000 participants; 60 to 65 percent will be locals while 30 to 35 percent will be tourists.
He added that with the abolition of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), the tickets would be slightly cheaper.
Karim said the main events would be held at the Sarawak Cultural Village while additional events would be organised at Damai Central.
“The three-day festival will feature 38 performances from all over the world including Sarawak and Malaysia’s bands,” he said.
Side events would include Lifestyle and Wellness programmes for visitors.
“We also have programmes for the children; there will be music, healthy activities, craft and fun for them,” added Karim.
Meanwhile, AirAsia Berhad Kuching Sales and Distribution Officer, Grace Chai, said that as one of the partners of RWMF, AirAsia was offering ticket sales from RM47 onwards for all destinations.
“Tickets are on sale now. They can be purchased online today till June 17,” she explained.
Meanwhile, bands which will perform during the three-day event are Kevin Locke (United States), Meruked (Sarawak), 1Drum (Malaysia and India), 24 Drums (Sarawak), Nae drum (Korea), Niteworks (Isle of Skye), Alberto Marin (Spain), Oriental Chinese Traditional Orchestra, Anat Kilo with Mamani Keita & Mike Ladd (France, Mali and the USA), Oyme (Republic of Mordovia in Russia), At Adau (Sarawak), Pelangi Kota (Sarawak), Balkanopolis (Serbia), Bhungar Khan Company (India), Pinanak Sentah (Sarawak), Buloh Berkocak (Sarawak), Raghu Dixit Project (India), Chingay Parade (Penang), Rawi (Sarawak), Combo Ginebra (Chile), Sada Borneo (Malaysia) Cuatro Minimal Mexico, Korea and Japan), Shanren (China), Slobodan Trkulja (Serbia), Danai Kuwai (Sarawak), Suk Binie’ (Sarawak), Djeli Moussa Conde (Guinea) Suling Kenyalang (Sarawak), Dona Onete (Brazil), SwarAsia Malaysia (Malaysia), Elisouma (Comoros Islands), Volosi (Poland), GayaGayo (Indonesia), Warato’o (Solomon Islands), Grace Nono (Philippines), Yallah Bye! (Tunisia), GuoGan & Aly Keita (China and Cote d’lvoire), Yallah Bye! (Tunisia) and Hornbill Familias (Sarawak).
There will also be short film screenings on different subjects covering music, arts, and feel-good social issues. The films are “The Little Princes of Rajahstan” by Lie Chaul and Vimal Jain Foundation, “Balkan Melodie” by Stefan Schwietert, “Sufi Soul-The Mystic Music of Islam “by William Dalrymple and Simon Broughton, “Dance with the Woodabes” by Sandrine Loncke, “Children of the Nile” by Aurelie Chauleur, “Had Anhad” by Shabnam Virmani and The Kabir Project. There will also be cultural snippets with invited speakers on various cultural aspects of Sarawak.
At Damai Central, there will be a new Big Ten Stage for emerging local bands to perform. There will also be a DJ Club set at Escobar for those over 21, with free entrance for those with a festival wristband. Those without wristband must pay the entrance fee.
The shuttle buses will be available at three venues, namely, Hills Shopping Mall, Plaza Merdeka, and Harbour View Hotel.
The tickets are available at www.rwmf.net/tickets/. Pre sale tickets are on sale from today till July 12. For adults, the one-day pass costs RM123.80 each while the three-day pass costs RM323.80 each.
The one-day pass for a child is RM63.80 while the three-day pass for a child costs RM144.
The one- day package for a family (two adults and two children) is priced at RM255.10.
For door sales, the one-day pass for an adult is RM146.20 while the three-day pass will cost RM386.80.
For door sales, the one-day pass for a child is RM75.50 while the three-day pass will cost RM188.70 and the day package for a family (two adults and two children) costs RM301.90.
