Cover image via iTravelChannel
The Sarawak Tourism Board’s(STB) efforts to promote Sarawak as a premier tourist destination continues even stronger this year, bringing together over 100 performers in one destination over a period of 17 days back to back from 5 to 21 July 2019.
Introducing the Rainforest Fringe Festival, Rainforest World Music Festival and the Borneo Jazz Festival.
These top and highly anticipated festivals bode a culture-filled and a promising good experience especially for Malaysians as they will be missing out on a huge part of Malaysia should they miss this opportunity.
Rainforest Fringe Festival
Image via postcodegeorgetown
The prelude to the Rainforest World Music Festival and the Borneo Jazz Festival welcomes guests to the Rainforest Fringe Festival, happening from 5 – 12 July 2019 in Kuching. This festival will bring the convergence of Sarawak’s very best music, exotic arts and crafts, tantalising tastes of varied cuisines, experiencing the best eye of photography, entertained by international indigenous films and a host of other historic, nature, culture and spellbinding sights in the heart of Kuching. The Rainforest Fringe Festival is open to all and is a free-entry event, the perfect exposure for newcomers on what is to come next.
Rainforest World Music Festival
This is an event that has garnered international interest, gathering cultural musicians from local and other continents year after year. Entering its 22nd year, the Rainforest World Music Festival comes back bigger and stronger. It aims to land over 20,000 festival-goers through a three-day weekend from 12 to 14 July 2019. This premier event is located at Sarawak Cultural Village, which is approximately 50 minutes away from the Kuching International Airport.
Image via Nomad’s Playlist
The 2019 Rainforest World Music Festival has lined-up returning musicians and newcomers from a diverse range of countries and cultures bringing along mythical folklore and curious instruments, some of which are unheard before. The new participating cultures are hailing from Nagaland, India; Bhutan in Eastern Himalayas; the Canary Islands and Mauritius, Africa; the West Kalimantan Dayaks, Indonesia; Jamaica, Northern Carribean; and Estonia of Northern Europe. A time to soak in new cultures, musical traditions and heritage amidst ancient rainforests.
The Borneo Jazz Festival
The Borneo Jazz Festival offers the best musical artistry as jazz music is considered truly the mother of all modern music. The Borneo Jazz Festival comes in the final stretch from 19 – 21 July 2019, an annual event in its 14th year, running as one of the longest international jazz festivals in the region. Leading up to Borneo Jazz Festival provides festival-goers time to recharge, re-energize and reconnect with one’s self before entering a whole new discovery of the stellar line-up of traditional and contemporary jazz genres from acclaimed artists hailing from local and overseas countries such as Italy, Mexico, Austria, Japan, USA and many more.
It is celebrated event highlights 15 bands, DJ’s and many more in Miri’s lifestyle and entertainment place called Coco Cabana in Marina Bay. Outreach programmes for emerging musicians, one of which will also be present during the event, will give chance to finalists to perform and compete at the Borneo Jazz Festival, and stand a chance to win a total prize giveaway of up to RM11,000. The festival will showcase the mythical island of Borneo and promote tourism for Sarawak on a larger scale, not forgetting the additions of exotic cuisines, indigenous arts and crafts and many more.
Sarawak and its people take pride in its rich overabundance of culture, nature and heritage not found anywhere else in the world. Living to what it preaches, the 2019 festivals seek to enhance guests’ experience in an environmentally-friendly and sustainable way by emphasizing preservation. Through its Green initiatives, a no-plastic ruling, will be the festival’s core awareness while banning entry of all plastic water bottles throughout the festival.
With a plethora of workshops and performances spread across the 17 days, guests will be left spoilt-for-choice in deciding which workshop to attend. Every aspect of each festival is crafted to allow guests to a unique immersive cultural experience, leaving an indelible mark on festival goers and lasting memories they will want to relive year after year.
For tickets and more info on festival packages, kindly visit https://sarawaktourism.com/sarawak-festival-packages-2019/
For more info about the festivals, visit:
Rainforest Fringe, Rainforest World Music Festival, and Borneo Jazz Festival.