The Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) is back in Kuching, a small city in the eastern parts of Malaysia. Every year in July, since its commencement in 2005, throngs of people from all over the world have flooded the rainforest of Borneo for  3 days of dance, music and a celebration of the diversity of the two.

The festival is one of the largest music festivals in South-East Asia, and the largest in Malaysia, with an expected turn-out of at least 30,000 people this year. The festival activities include music and dance workshops in the daytime, craft booths, local food stalls and live entertainment at an open air main stage in the evening. The wide range of acts from the world over are the main highlights of the RainFest, featuring performances ranging from reggae rhythms to French chanson to Latino music.  The event gives the crowd a chance to experience the music of traditional instruments from nearly every continent at its best. This highly anticipated event has also been named as Songlines Magazine’s Top 25 Best International Festivals for the years 2010, 2011 and 2012, putting it alongside other more well known festivals like the Chicago World Music Festival and Oslo World Music Festival.

This year’s line up includes Trio Joubran (Palestine), La Zikabilo (France), Khusugtun (Mongolia), Kanda Bongo Man (Congo), Danyel Waro (Reunion Islands), String Sisters (Scotland/Ireland/Sweden/Norway/USA), Cankisou (Czech Republic), Zee Avi (Malaysia/USA) and Samuel Dass and Prakash (Malaysia), among others from various countries such as Spain, Brazil and Burkina Faso. Some of the acts also provide workshops, which means that festival-goers can experience playing the traditional instruments themselves. Not many people can say that they have played a balafon before. Dance workshops will also see the crowd doing the Brazilian carimbo or the Bollywood bhangra in the Sarawakian traditional longhouses – talk about a fusion of cultures!

Along with the acoustic music, dancing in the tropical rain is also part of the festival’s annual tradition – it does not disrupt the festival in any way and is almost expected every year. The blend of tourists, locals and performers dancing in the big, muddy pit is a sight to behold – a real cultural mixing bowl. Held at the Sarawak Cultural Village in the outskirts of Kuching, the venue also gives visitors an insight into the Sarawak culture and lifestyle that they would not otherwise experience in the city.

From those who want a change from the music on your local radio, to those looking for a place to spend their summer vacations or for those who just want something different, this might just be the thing for you. This year, the Rainforest World Music Festival will be held on July 13-15.

Image Courtesy of   flykr

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US Inc. has announced that its revolutionary Rev7 gum is sponsoring a new online band competition, Band Battle Revolution, launching during the South by Southwest (SXSW) Music Festival and in partnership with Planet LA Records and Loudie.

The competition will see unknown bands given an online platform to upload original songs and then compete head-to-head with other groups to secure votes from fans. The band with the most votes from each ‘battle’ will then progress to ‘fight’ another winning band until they reach the final stage where the ten remaining bands will compete against each other to win the coveted top band position.

The winning band will win prizes including the opportunity to perform live at the 2013 SXSW Music Festival. One of the world’s most influential music festivals, SXSW hosts over 45,000 music lovers and industry executives, attending from across the world, and has a reputation as a showcase for the next big artists. Other elements of the prize package include Gibson Guitars, Line 6 Amps, Blue Microphones and dozens of others, as well as prize awards to voting fans.

Chris Tamillo, VP, Sales & Marketing Revolymer Inc. said:

“We are delighted to be partnering with Planet LA Records to launch this exciting competition to find the next great band. The sponsorship will help us raise awareness of our revolutionary Rev7 gum amongst our target market of switched-on, digitally savvy 16-35 year olds, who want a great gum that’s good for the planet.” 

As part of the sponsorship agreement, Loudie will also offer fans throughout the year at various music festivals, opportunities to get free Rev7 gum samples and other great offers. Loudie’s app already links music fans together, enabling them to share their thoughts and experiences.

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