THE ASEANA PERCUSSION UNIT TO EXPLODE WITH ENERGY AT THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE RAINFOREST WORLD MUSIC FESTIVAL
By Yeoh Jun Lin | Artistic Director
- Rainforest World Music Festival
 In 2002, a bunch of very hyper guys from Kuala Lumpur arrived to perform at the Rainforest World Music Festival stage. They brought a hodge-podge of Malay, Chinese and Indian drums and were encouraging anything that could be hit to make a noise to be brought to the workshops they were doing.
This was THE ASEANA PERCUSSION UNIT also affectionately known as the APU.
Ever since then, certain members of the band have become familiar faces in the crowd at the festival – mostly found front stage centre whipping up people in the audience with unofficial filler acts with the drums they have brought along.
They come back for the 10th Anniversary of the RWMF to be on main stage once more.
Expect a bigger collection of percussion instruments – ranging from the kompangs and gendangs to the Chinese drums to the taviel and tablas, as well as the Brazilian surdo, steel pans from Trinidad, African talking drums and djembes.
And if they run out of instruments, kitchens will be raided for common household appliances and dustbins might be missing covers.
This band has a huge following in West Malaysia and they have also spread their brand of infectious rhythm to neighbouring regions.
It was started by four men - Edwin Nathaniel, Shahrin Hamid, Kirubakaran and Philip Robert, and slowly more and more people joined in. Now, they have a core of permanent members but joined by guests and friends as the occasion calls for.
2007 will see several bands who have played over the last nine years of the festival return for this home coming 10th Anniversary of the Rainforest World Music Festival.
The festival is organized by the Sarawak Tourism Board and it will be held at the Sarawak Cultural Village in Santubong on the 13th, 14th and 15th of July. Tickets are already on sale and can be bought online at http://www.ticketcharge.com.my/ as well as at all Visitor Information Centres in Kuching, Miri and Sibu.
Tickets are priced at RM80 for a one day Adult Pass, and RM200 for a 3-day Adult Pass. Children aged 3 – 12 years of age can purchase half priced tickets.
More information on the festival can also be found on the website www.rainforestmusic-borneo.com
Audience can expect to see bands from Madagascar, Tuva, USA, Afghanistan, Peru, Italy, Vietnam – in short, we are trying to bring to the festival, a slice of every continent.
The ASEANA PERCUSSION UNIT has been straining at the leash to be on stage again so we expect a dynamite show from them.
Yeoh Jun Lin
Artistic Director
Rainforest World Music Festival |
