KUCHING: The eagerly-awaited Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) will be marking its 25th anniversary this year as a hybrid event for the first time ever.
The festival, with the theme “Legendary Rainforest Celebration”, will see the physical concert held at Sarawak Cultural Village from June 17-19 even as it is also live streamed via a platform that will be launched soon.
In a statement on Wednesday (April 13), STB said RWMF, which has the objective of bringing the world back together through music, will welcome back a host of performers from Canada, India, the United States, Finland, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore, Japan, Australia, Mexico, New Zealand, China, Bhutan, and South Korea as well as local talents.
Majlis Seni Sarawak will also mix traditional Sarawakian music with international flavour to open the three-day show in its first collaboration with STB.
Sarawakian talents on display this year include Alena Murang, Kemada, Sang Rawi, At Adau, Tuku Kame, Suk Binie’, Nading Rhapsody, and Mathew Ngau.
The announcement of the highly anticipated iconic event was made by state Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister, Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, along with STB chief executive officer, Sharzede Datu Salleh Askor, and MASWings chief operating officer (representing the Malaysia Aviation Group) Capt Nasaruddin A Bakar.
“I’m very proud of how far our homegrown product has come, from around 300 spectators for its first-ever concert back in 1998, to becoming the first hybrid festival of its kind in Malaysia.
"Concertgoers who miss the feel of a physical concert can come together in a mutual appreciation of world music, and those around the world can enjoy it live from the comfort of their homes.” Abdul Karim said.
Sharzede added: “Every year we strive to make RWMF better than the one before. Last year’s Virtual Experience gave us invaluable feedback on how we could combine the best of both worlds, physical and digital, this year.
"We hope that setting this unique precedent for the festival's 25th edition will become a keystone for the next 25 years, bridging the past and future, as well as sustaining and reinventing our musical heritage and its traditions for many years.”
Early bird ticket sales will start from April 18 for both physical and virtual versions on rwmf.net.
Tickets for the physical concert include an Adult 1-Day Pass (RM150), Adult 3-Day Pass (RM375), Child 1-Day Pass (RM80), Child 3-Day Pass (RM155), and 1-Day Family Package Pass (two adults, two children) (RM400).
Virtual attendance will cost RM25 per day.
Separately, Malaysia Airlines has been named the official airline partner for RWMF.
The collaboration, a continuation of the Malaysia Aviation Group's partnership with STB, will see Malaysia Airlines, Firefly and Journify offering deals for flights and full event passes to Sarawak.
Malaysia Airlines and Firefly will also have early bird deals on selected Malaysia Airlines flights including from London, Australia and certain Asean destinations, as well as Firefly’s Penang-Kuching route.
Air ticket sales will take place from April 25 to May 14 for travel between June 1 and 30.
These are available exclusively for those who buy the three-day pass, which comes with a unique promotional code for the flight tickets.
Capt Nasaruddin said: “We are honoured to be appointed official carrier for the highly anticipated 25th RWMF, to bring in travellers from all over the world to the Land of the Hornbills.
"This collaboration with STB will see both partners ramp up efforts to promote Malaysia after the reopening of borders, and Sarawak as a safe destination of choice for 2022.
"We believe this collaboration is vital to rebuild the tourism industry, stimulate domestic and international travel, and help support the industry value chain such as travel agents, product owners, local artisans and business partners."