Rainforest World Music Festival - Some thoughts
This festival was so much better than expected.
Firstly the crowd was not too big. There was so much space and that made it feel very peaceful.
Secondly the music was just amazing. Some absolutely incredible performances. The best were those from cultures we don’t see often. People who loved and felt the music. It may sound cliched but that is how it felt.
Thirdly, the Sarawak people are very nice. I mean very nice. The people at the ticket office, the food stalls, the performers, the police – all just really nice people. Thats makes the festival feel good.
Musical highlights in some sort of order. All of these were excellent and each were special in their own way.
- Straw Lim – amazing. Saw her three times. From Borneo and sings in multiple languages. The music has feeling and emotion. The best new performer for me in a long time.
- Drum Up – From the Phillipines. They way they worked with crowd was wonderful. Again we saw them three times. Every time great. The guitarist was superb though he hardly got heard; after all they are a drum group.
- Asia 7 – From Thailand. Played very listenable music with traditional instruments. The singers were both amazing but you could see these people really loved their music. Their performance in the evening was a highlight.
- Fergana Culture Group – from Uzbekistan. Great dancers. Took me back to my tome living in this country. A great performance and the lead players on violin and a local instrument were excellent.
- Namgar – From Mongolia. So many wonderful performers come out of the country. Must be because it is so cold in the winter. I have seen a number of different Mongolian groups in various festivals. This was a family group with the leader being the matriach of the family. She had an amazing voice.
- Korrontzi – From the Basque Country. A wonderful example of how music can transcend language. Accordion, guitar, bass and drums – thats it. But a very complete sound playing traditional Basque music.
- Commodores – Legends. Played all the hits and sounded like they did 50 years ago. no Lionel Richie but Thomas McClary was great. If you get to see these guy sometime take the opportunity. It is not often you see a legend from the past still performing so wonderfully.
- Sambasunda – Indonesia. This has a quite sensational lead singer who had a special presence. The band supporting her was big and very percussion focussed. The sound was one of the most powerful of the whole festival.
- Benin International Musical – From Benin in Africa. African music is special. Very beat focussed but these guys were great. Singing guitar percussion all working together.
- Insun Park and Generals – From South Korea. The women leading the group (Insun Park) is unusual in that few women perform in this music. She was great. Sensational voice. The traditional mask dance is highly valued.
- Ta’Dan – Sarawak. Played a variety of traditional instruments and at their workshop they explained how they incorporated the sounds. It was great to see people so proud of their musical culture.
Overall the music was incredible. Especially the music outside the mainframe of the music we normally hear.
Next year is the 30th Festival and I think it will be special. I will certainly be going. The dates are the 25-27 June 2027.
We stayed at the Culvert which had a free (yes free) shuttle to and from the festival. I have already told them I will be staying there next year.