SIX MEN, EIGHT DRUMS, IRRESISTIBLE RHYTHMS!

Date: 30 May 2006
Written By: Yeoh Jun-Lin

The bhangra has had a long history since its conception from, what some scholars believe, the time when Alexander the Great invaded the prosperous plains of the Punjab in India in 400 B.C.

The Punjab meaning the “Land of Five Rivers”, lies across northern India and north-eastern Pakistan. It has been continuously been under the rule of foreign powers for many years – the Persians, Greeks, Muslims, Mongols, right up to the nineteenth century when it was under the British.

The bhangra here was a lively folk dance and music that was traditionally performed at harvest times, weddings and other celebrations. It was primarily danced by the men who wore the traditional Indian shirt called the kurta, the lungi (a long colourful cloth wrapped round the waist) and the turbin  or bhugaris to cover their heads.

Many different instruments are used in bhangra but the most important one of all is the dhol which is a large double sided barrel drum. This is hit with 2 sticks that are usually made from acacia wood. One of them that is used to hit the lower bass side of the drum, is bent in a quarter-circular arc. The width of the skin of the drum is usually about 15 inches and the player hangs the dhol from a strap that is made up of rope or woven cloths round his neck.

Additional percussion like the tabla is also occasionally added to the dhol.

This year’s Rainforest World Music Festival in Kuching, Sarawak is held over the 3 day weekend of the 7th to the 9th of July.

One of the bands performing will be 6 dhol and tabla percussionists from the MALAYSIAN DHOL FEDERATION which is based in Kuala Lumpur.

For the first time at the Rainforest World Music Festival, the Malaysian Dhol Federation opens the floodgates on a wondrous torrent of intense percussive grooves. Using the distinctive sounds of the dhol drum, MDF harnesses the incredible rhythms of the Punjab, unleashing a killer brand of bhangra-infused rhythms.

As avid disciples of the drums, they play their own brand of Bhangra rhythms fused with funk, afrobeat, local ethnic rhythms and whatever sounds these urban jungle dwellers devour and regurgitate...
The extraordinary power and drive of this dhol troupe at full throttle has been said to raise the spirits of the Punjab; many have said that they see them dancing in the air when the whole posse of dhol drummers are at full swing. We think you’ll be seeing them too before the night is out.

Their enthusiasm is infectious and their diverse yet perfectly unified beats strike a deep down party chord.

They are led by Kiranjit Siingh, who, together with Ravinderjit Singh who is the artistic director for the band, will be combining rhythmic cycles of the Northern Punjab with Malaysian ones. Kiranjit promises high energy showmanship and mind blowing stunts.

At the Rainforest World Music Festival, there are also afternoon workshops that are more up-close-and-personal where there are also a lot of interactive activities planned for the audience to take part together with the musicians.

In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of people coming up to the Sarawak Cultural Village where the festival is held to take part in these informal, informative and fun sessions. These have become just as essential a component in the character of the festival.

For 2006, as the MALAYSIAN DHOL FEDERATION is here with us at the festival, there will be a high chance that an interactive Bollywood dance workshop will be scheduled on one of the afternoons. Time-tables will be released and available on the website www.rainforestmusic-borneo.com as well.

Tickets for the festival are priced at RM60 and RM30 for children aged 3 – 12 years. They are available at the Visitor Information Centres in Kuching, Miri and Sibu. Or check the website www.rainforestmusic-borneo.com for packages or travel agents or outlets and updates on the festival. More enquiries can be made by calling the Sarawak Tourism Board at 082-423600. The dates are the 7th, 8th and 9th of July 2006.

The festival is run by the Sarawak Tourism Board with support from the Ministry of Tourism. They have on board with them, Malaysia Airlines who is Official Airlines 9th year running as well as fROOTS magazine as Media Sponsor.

 PATA (Pacific Asia Travel Association) has just announced the Rainforest World Music Festival as the winner of the gold award 2006 in the Heritage and Culture category. PATA will be officially presenting the award at the 55th annual conference in Pattaya, Thailand from 23rd – 27th April this year.

As always, the festival will bring in international bands as well as featuring local Malaysian bands. The Malaysian Dhol Federation will be sure to get a lot of enthusiastic support from the local crowd.

Yeoh Jun-Lin
Artistic Director
Rainforest World Music Festival