Rainforest World Music Festival

What is the 'Rainforest World Music Festival?'

It's when the world of music comes to the rainforest. Quite literally so!

So, where is this 'rainforest?'

At the foot of majestic Mt. Santubong, the rocky crag that guards the west mouth of the Sarawak River, in the Sarawak Province of Eastern Malaysia, on the island of Borneo.

And how will the 'world' get there?

No problem! First, they may fly to Kuching International Airport, then they will head overland south through the suburbs of Sarawak's capital, Kuching, past a few picturesque cottages under coconut palms, until the road more or less reaches the beach at Sarawak Cultural Village (hereafter referred to as the SCV).

So the music festival is in a village?

Yes, and a very special village at that: the SCV shows you Sarawak's diverse cultures - such as the houses, costumes and lifestyles - in one idyllic village built around a little lake. The darkly forested flank of Mt.Santubong serves as both a backdrop and easy landmark.

Ok, and the music will be Sarawak's indigenous stuff – drums, flutes and those boat-shaped guitars?
You will certainly hear the Borneo drums and flutes, and the plaintive sape guitar – but that's just a small portion! Over the years, we've had musicians from all parts of Africa, with more drums than you ever dreamt of! Gourd drums, log drums, clay pot drums, snakeskin drums, more than you can imagine. Musicians and singers have flocked to the Rainforest World Music Festival from all parts of South America – have you ever seen, or heard, an armadillo skin mandolin? Did you know Madagascar has a musical tradition all of its own; have you ever heard the Mongolian 'throat-singers'? We've had Italian folk singers here, Scots with bagpipes and fiddles (yes, the fellows were wearing kilts), Vietnamese, Korean and Chinese chamber music, and we welcomed a sultry singer from Sudan who is also a skilled henna-painter. Hence, the name is the Rainforest World Music Festival.

Oh, I see! No symphony orchestras, then?

No, not if you were expecting the likes of Beethoven. However, more classical offerings will be presented by the Gamelan Orchestra and the Chulalongkorn University Ensemble. In between the 'wilder' stuff, it helps to calm the audience - or they'd soon be exhausted from jumping all during the show!

They'd stand up in their auditorium seats, you mean?
Not exactly . . . the Rainforest World Music Festival isn't held in a concert hall. Every afternoon, there are what we call 'workshops,' when the musicians perform in the various village houses and the audience simply settles down on the floors around them. The big evening concerts are given on a huge open-air stage, but here, too, the audience settles on the ground. I've seen families stake out their claim to a good spot in mid-afternoon; they spread a sitting blanket, and they take turns 'holding' their spot for later on in the evening. This is to make sure that they'll get a great view of the concert. Everybody throughout the village gets a good hearing, I can assure you - the sound system is awesome! Additionally, there are large screens set up in several spots so you can view the concert from almost anywhere in the village. But if you want to get into the real spirit of the thing, the nearer the big stage you can sit, the better.


I get the point. All the action will be near the stage, though I can get a view on screens in some quiet, remote spots too?


That depends on what you call 'remote,' but no place is quiet when World Music comes to the Rainforest! The 10,000+ spectators, or should I say participants, tend to get hungry. There are some very nice hotels within walking distance, but the village is well provided with food-stalls. And drink stalls, too!

That's good to know. But once I've had food and a drink, what else can I do if I don't find a spot near the main stage?

As I said, watch the show from one of the screens. And of course you must drop in at the Rainforest World Crafts Bazaar!

But if I came here especially for the music, I don't want to leave the Festival village!

No need to go anywhere else; the Rainforest World Crafts Bazaar is right inside the village. You can browse the world's traditional crafts while listening to the world's traditional music – can't do much better than that, can you?

Hmm, sounds okay … but how come I've never heard of this 'crafts thing' before?

The Rainforest World Crafts Bazaar only started last year, and it was so successful that it's going to be a regular event of the music festival. Craftspeople from all over Sarawak, Sabah and West Malaysia showcase their skill to the international festival visitors. Craftspeople from other countries take part to bring their own 'exotic' crafts to the Bazaar. There is also a lot of interaction between the local and the foreign artisans. Two basket-makers may not speak each other's language, but they understand each other's craft.

Go on! Don't tell me you had an 'international basket-weaver' at the Bazaar!
As a matter of fact we did; a lady from Denmark. She brought along a golf bag full of willow wands which she worked into baskets and fancy items while people watched, fascinated. A family group from Kyrghyzstan brought along felt crafts – you know, the tall hats Jengis Khan is supposed to have worn? There were gossamer shawls from India and funky rag dolls from Japan, colourful novelties from Korea and hand-crafted glass beads from the USA. And wait until you see the Indonesian pavilion, crammed with traditional bamboo crafts, metalwork, ceramics, shell craft, textiles…

Hey, it sounds great. Music and crafts and fun and games, all in one lovely rainforest location. I think I'd better bring my sister and her boyfriend too – how can we reserve seats?

As I just told you, there aren't any reserved seats. You will need a ticket to get into the Rainforest World Music Festival, and once you're inside the SCV you can sit wherever you please, on a veranda, or on the grass, or in front of a hearty meal at the food stalls. Get all the details from www.rainforestmusic-borneo.com -- and we'll see you in the Rainforest World!