Date: 11 April 2006
Written By: Yeoh Jun-Lin

From July 7th – 9th 2006, the Rainforest World Music Festival is putting on stage 17 bands from all over the world.

The festival has just won the prestigious PATA gold award in the Heritage and Culture category – one of 31 awards PATA is presenting world-wide.

One of the most emotionally provoking band will be LES YEUX NOIRS from France though the 2 violin playing brothers, Oliver and Eric Slabiak,  are actually Belgian. They were classically trained but abandoned their studies at the Brussels Royal Conservatory to form this band.

The six man band has in their repertoire, moody and melancholic songs that can bring tears to one’s eyes, as well as manic rhythmic dances. They combine traditional and original songs. They sing about travels, love, life, tragedy as well as joy.

It is an amalgamation of music from Central Europe – from Hungary to Armenia and everything in between. A huge part of it is gypsy with Klezmer roots and also with manouche or French gypsy jazz.

They are dynamite live on stage but look out for their CDs as well that will be on sale at the festival.

Also coming in for the festival are bands from Sarawak and Malaysia, Madagascar, Korea, Austria, Kyrgyzstan, Panama and Colombia, Mali, Canada, Mongolia and more.

The Rainforest World Music Festival organizers aim to always surprise and to provoke with as many different and exotic genres as possible each year.

2006 is the 9th year and the festival has been steadily growing since its birth. With the Sarawak Tourism Board as its backbone support and organizer, endorsement from the Ministry of Tourism as well as MAS being the official airlines, the festival is coming from a very steady grounding and grooming.

fROOTS, the world’s first and biggest publication of world music has also come in the second year running, as a Media Sponsor, ensuring that information of the festival will be brought to music lovers all over the globe.

Tickets are available at RM60 per day which will gain access to all daytime workshops as well as the evening shows. Children aged 3 – 12 are eligible for half priced tickets of RM30 a day.

These tickets will be available at all the Visitor Information Centres in Kuching, Miri and Sibu.Or call 082-423600 for more information.

The festival’s website www.rainforestmusic-borneo.com will have information and updates about the festival as well as pictures and materials from previous festivals.

The Rainforest World Music Festival will be held at the Sarawak Cultural Village where there will also be food and drink stalls, handicraft and festival merchandise for sale.

Les Yeux Noirs promises a dizzy delightful set. They will be the last act on one of the evenings.

Yeoh Jun-Lin
Artistic Director
Rainforest World Music Festival