Rain Forest World Music Festival - Day 2
Day 2 of the Festival was hot and sunny. Temperature 36 degrees. The place we were staying (The Culvert) had a free shuttle for travel to the festival. Perfect.
The day started with what became our normal place to eat at the festival. This was a Bidayuh restaurant. The Bidayuh are one of the local ethnic tribes. We went here twice daily and they got to know us.
The food was tasty and original Bidayuh. Excellent every time. And only $3 each
Tadan - Sarawak
First music of the day was Tadan from Sarawak. We had seen them yesterday evening but this was a workshop where they were demonstrating some of their ethnic instruments and talking about how their music linked with their cilture.
Fascinating
Straw - Sarawak
This has been one of favourite performers so far. A workshop in the afternoon had them talking about how they built their songs and how it related to their different cultures.
In the evening they performed on the main stage. The leader Straw Lim is a great performer.
Thomas McClary - US
I went to the press conference for Thomas McClary of the Commodores and listened to his stories. Not many places in the world could you do that.
Namgar - Mongolia
This group played traditional Mongolian music. The woman singer (and musician) sang only in Mongolian with a translation by her son the guitarist. Her husband played traditional Mongolian stringed instrument.
We went to a workshop and also saw them on the main stage at night
Akasha - Malaysia
Akasha are a Malaysian group from Kuala Lumpar. They were the first of the evening performers. They played great rhythms and also vocal percussion. A great start to the evening
The Thunderbeat of Nanyang Wushi Drums
This was a large drum group of young drummers performing traditional Sarawak drumming. We were lucky to have a front row seat.
Sambasunda - Indonesia
A large percussion driven group with outstanding vocals. A surprise performance
Commodores - US
One of the greatest groups of all time. And they sang all the great hits.
