eCentral

Friday June 26, 2009

Diverse global delights


The upcoming Rainforest World Music Festival has come up with an enviable crop of acts tucked between cult and acclaimed status.

WORLD music. It is a genre that features not only the greatest varieties of musical styles from all over the world, but also music that spans all cultures, race and continents.

With that in mind, this year’s 11th edition of the Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF), to be held on July 10-12 in the Sarawak Cultural Village at Santubong features one of the most diverse line-ups ever at the event, featuring acts from New Zealand, Tanzania, Hungary, Chile, Finland, and of course, Malaysia.

From the popular Indian fusion music of Malaysia’s AkashA, to the foot stomping bluegrass cheer of American act Jeff and The Vida Bluegrass Band, this year’s RWMF is guaranteed to be not just a treat for world music lovers, but for everyone who just wants to have a good time.

Here is the confirmed list of performers that will be appearing at the Rainforest World Music Festival this year:

·AkashA (Malaysia): The surprise hit of RWMF 2008, this popular group is back to thrill audiences with their brand of Indian fusion music, which combines hot Indian percussion with lightening fast guitar licks, as well as a dash of Malay and world influences.

·Asika (Malaysia): Schooled in a host of traditional musical genres, including wayang kulit, mak yong, cak lempong and gamelan, Asika combines all these styles and more to create a unique sound that is truly Malaysian.

Bluegrass and rockabilly: Jeff & The Vida Bluegrass Band is set to play at the Rainforest World Music Festival 2009.

·Dazkarieh (Portugal): One of the most active and original Portuguese ensembles, playing a blend of traditional Portuguese music with influences from around the world played on original and contemporary instruments. Female vocalist Joana Negrăo is the focal point of the group’s lively stage persona.

·Inti-Illimani (Chile): Peter Gabriel, Bruce Springsteen, Mercedes Sosa, Sting and John Williams. These are just a few of the famous musicians that the highly respected Inti-Illimani has played with. Combining more than 30 wind, string and percussions instruments in their performances, their music is steeped in traditional Latin American roots and forged with passion and poetry.

·Jeff & The Vida Bluegrass Band (US): Hailing from the New Orleans acoustic roots scene, Jeff & The Vida Bluegrass Band’s incredible instrumental fluency and exciting approach to string band music has been a hit nationally and internationally. With shows that span Appalachian bluegrass to alternative country with original timeless ballads, raucous bluegrass barn-burners, and driving acoustic honky-tonk, this band is just pure foot-stomping fun!

·Jouhiorkesteri (Finland): Jouhiorkesteri (a.k.a. the Horse-Hair Orchestra) is a four-member ensemble whose main instrument is the ancient and unique jouhikko bowed lyre, the oldest bowed instrument of Europe. It is played by only a handful of musicians in remote villages of Finland and Estonia, and rarely heard outside of Finland, which makes their performance at RWMF even more unique.

·Lan-Č Tuyang (Malaysia): The sape is one of the most beautifully hypnotic instruments found in Borneo; and this trio of musicians have taken this traditional instrument into the future while maintaining its cultural foundations. Traditional sape music never sounded this modern or enchanting.

·Moana & The Tribe (New Zealand): Moana & The Tribe are not only hugely entertaining with their wild fusion of contemporary and indigenous music, dance, songs, poi-rhythms and movement; they are also one of the leading contemporary voices of the Maori tradition, introducing their traditions to a worldwide audience.

·Muzsikas (Hungary): With a career spanning 35 years, Muzsikas is the most renowned and popular Hungarian folk music ensemble in the world. Playing in the style of traditional Hungarian folk bands, their exciting performances transport the audience to remote Hungarian villages where traditions survive through the centuries.

·Noreummachi (South Korea): Combining driving Korean shamanistic drumming with evocative traditional winds, this energetic South Korean quintet will thrill you with its blend of modern music steeped in powerful traditions.

·Oudaden (Morocco): Passionately devoted to their roots, Oudaden draw their inspiration from traditional Amazigh (Berber) music. They play an innovative mix of traditional percussion combined with banjo, electric guitar and drums; with lyrics that speak of the subtleties of love as well as the economic and social difficulties of their region.

Familiar fixture: Lan E-Tuyang’s Matthew Ngau at the Rainforest festival with his sape.

·Poum Tchack (France): Described as “French-folk-gypsy-jazz-world madness”, this eclectic French band combines so many styles in one set it is almost impossible to describe. It is French music with a world of influences, all packaged in an act that is like an explosion of musical genres and boundless energy.

·Red Chamber (China/Canada): Red Chamber takes its inspiration from the ancient traditional Chinese “Plucked String” repertoire and combines it with contemporary bluegrass, jazz and other modern folk traditions to create a unique new sound.

·Sekaa Jaya Jenggala (Indonesia): Drawn from a large Balinese gamelan ensemble, this group performs rare forms of Balinese traditional music, including some seldom heard, yet beautifully intricate forms of bamboo music. With soaring melodies and fast, furious rhythms, the energy of their show is one that will be unmistakably Bali.

·St Nicholas Orchestra (Poland): Described as a genuine continuation of living folk traditions, the St Nicholas Orchestra brings its inspiring folk music to Asia for the very first time. Dedicated to reviving all aspects of folklore, the orchestra draws on old and pure folk traditions collected from written and aural archival records; and incorporates stylistic elements from many musical cultures to create their own unique blend of music.

·Zawose Family Africa (Tanzania): One of Africa’s greatest music families, the Zawose Family Africa carries on the legacy of one of world music’s biggest stars – the late Hukwe Zawose. Since Hukwe’s death in 2003, the Zawose family underwent countless difficulties and was facing oblivion; but have now regained their footing to bring the heartfelt and inspiring traditional Tanzanian music of their mentor and patriarch to the world once again.

■ For ticketing and information on the RWMF, visit rainforestmusic-borneo.com.

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