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WELSH MUSIC At RAINFOREST FESTIVAL

WELSH MUSIC At RAINFOREST FESTIVAL

KUCHING, Thursday – Audience at the Rainforest World Music Festival will be able to sample Welsh music which will be staged on the weekend on July 14 to 16.

Welsh musician and legend, Huw Williams, as well as ‘Cool Cymru’ ambassadors Calan will be performing alongside popular international musicians at the festival.

Huw Williams, a veteran in the Welsh music scene, is a champion Eisteddfod clog-dancer, songwriter, guitarist, story-teller, Welsh bagpiper, half of Welsh legendary duo with Tony Williams and former front man of Welsh indie pop stars, The Pooh Sticks.

Some of his well-known songs include ‘The Summer Before the War’, ‘Rosemary’s Sister’ and ‘I can Jump Puddles’, while his newer songs include ‘Giggly’, recorded and performed by Calan.

Huw had ‘retired’ from the folk-club scene for a long time, but his contributions to the heritage of Welsh music continued as a member of the group Crasdant and his position as tutor and teacher of clog-dancing at trac workshops.

Huw was the co-founder of the Welsh Music Foundation established in 2000 with the intention of promoting Welsh music to the younger generation of musicians, and nurtured the careers of bands such as the 60ft Dolls, Catatonia as well as another band performing at the Festival, Calan.

Calan has been performing since 2008, the five band members perform their vibrant renditions of traditional Welsh music and are the new ambassadors of Cool Cymru.

Originally a tongue-in-cheek response by the ‘Cool Britannia’ musical movement to the aspiring cultural musicians in Wales, ‘Cool Cymru’ symbolised a time of desperation where Welsh culture was slipping away or ridiculed. Now, the term has been redeemed, or even reborn, into a powerful movement of cultural restoration and international recognition.

Calan has performed throughout major festivals in the UK and the rest of Europe, such as the Cambridge Festival, at Celtic Connections in Glasgow, Shrewsbury Folk Festival, Mosely Folk Festival, Derby Folk Festival, Bromyard Folk Festival as well as the Whitby Folk Festival and the concert tour of Italy, Austria and Belgium.

They have since become the only band from Wales to win the international folk group trophy at Lorent in Brittany, France.

They have released five albums with Sain Records including their debut album, Bling (2008), Jonah (2012), Giggly (2013), Dinas (2015) and Solomon (2017).

Welsh music is energetic and spritely, and with both Huw Williams of the ‘old school’ and Calan with their modernised traditional songs, their performances at the Festival are assuredly going to be foot tapping at the very least.

The Festival will be held at the Sarawak Cultural Village which also features  wellness programmes, informative talks, interactive ‘mini sessions’ in the afternoon as well as night concerts throughout the three-day festival.

Some 20 international bands will be performing, while many local bands such as At Adau will be taking centre stage with their cultural performances of Sarawak.

Rainforest World Music Festival is organised by Sarawak Tourism, endorsed by Tourism Malaysia and is jointly supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Youth Sports Sarawak and partnering with Malaysia Airlines as the presenting sponsor with Zurich Insurance Malaysia Berhad (ZIMB) and Zurich Takaful Malaysia Berhad (ZTMB) (Zurich Malaysia) as Corporate Social Responsibility Partner.

RWMF2017 CALAN

Issued by:

Communications Unit
SARAWAK TOURISM
T: +6 082-423600  F: +6 082-416700
E: [email protected]

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CAPOEIRA, YOGA and MEDITATION: RWMF Taking On Wellness

CAPOEIRA, YOGA and MEDITATION: RWMF Taking On Wellness

KUCHING, Saturday – The 20th edition of the Rainforest World Music Festival will feature a Wellness Programme in the form of workshop sessions during the three-day weekend festival.

The programme features activities like the “Capoeira” a Brazilian martial arts-dance, traditional yoga as well as unique meditation techniques.

With a full schedule covering every base of wellness, the programme is expected to be a sensational crowd puller.

Capoeira is a 16th century martial arts was created by West African slaves in Brazil.

Local practitioner, Malcom Wu, the founder of Movimento Simples de Capoeira, Sarawak (MSDCS) will showcase this traditional art during the festival.

“It’s not just about combat or self-defence but also the training of physical and mental attributes such as body balance, coordination, strength, flexibility, agility, concentration, rhythm, timing and even self-confidence, respect, consideration for others, teamwork and discipline.

“All these traits can be incorporated into everyday life usage for self-improvement,” expressed Malcom in one of the interviews.

Capoeira is just one of the martial arts-based wellness session, including a BODYCOMBAT™ session by Level Up Fitness which adopts moves from Karate, Taekwondo, Boxing, Muay Thai and Kung Fu and creates a non-contact workout regimen with enthusiastic and stress-relieving punches and kicks.

Sarawak Shenlong TAI-CHI CHUAN Society’s instructor, Lai Cho Sin, will also hold a Tai Chi session that features the use of ancient Chinese martial art, with its flowing water like movements, to let go of worries and reduce stress.

In a more traditional twist, the Rumpun Silat Sarawak will be holding a Silat Moves session, teaching the widely popular and internationally recognised Malay art of self-defence, so well-known it was featured on the National Geographic channel’s Fight Masters series.

In a mix of martial arts and Yoga, the Yoga Warrior session teaches Budokon Yoga, a hybrid exercise that produces fluid movements which encourages flexibility and strength by focusing on the transition from posture to posture rather than the holding of postures. The Yoga Warrior session will be led by Daniel Geller from the Budokon University of Mixed Movement Arts.

Alvin Heng, a teacher and practitioner of Vinyasa Yoga for a decade, will also  be holding a session that teach participants to synchronise breathing with a continuous movement of postures, a practice that increases overall balance, flexibility and strength.

Unlike Budokon Yoga, Vinyasa teaches a variety of Yoga with far less martial art influence.

Another practitioner, Alice Chieng will introduce two distinct yoga sessions called Hatha Yoga and Yin Yoga, which uses the physical balance between masculine and feminine movements to stabilise the internal masculine and feminine energy in participants, encouraging physical and mental steadiness.

Wong Ah Shui, a practitioner of Vipassana meditation and a Dharma worker at the Kuching Buddhist Society (KBS), will present a Vipassana session.

Wong practiced under decades of tutelage from his master, Ven. Sujivo, the foremost Malaysian monk teaching the Mahasi method of Vipassana meditation.

The art of meditation is as old as time and is proven to improve mental and emotional health, with additional benefits to cardiovascular health as well as improving other physical conditions that are affected by stress.

Dr. Lennie Soo, the Vice President of the Federation of Complementary and Natural Medical Associations, Malaysia with a background in clinical hypnotherapy, will also feature two sessions on unique, but no less traditional, meditation techniques.

Dr. Soo’s Vibration Meditation session uses gong hypnotic healing techniques, with calming vibrations that calm the mind, reduce stress and improve concentration.

Using a traditional Indian meditation technique, Homa Therapy, Dr. Soo will also be using flames to remove toxic conditions in the atmosphere for cleansing of the body and the mind.

In the true Festival mood, the Zumba® Fitness, Shake It! Studio and Exhilarate Fitness Studio will  hold the Zumba Fitness Party session, a total-body cardio workout innocuously disguised as a dance party.

The Festival will be held at the Sarawak Cultural Village on July 14 to 16 and will feature some 20 international bands over the three days stage shows.

Among the various activities lined up for this year’s 20th anniversary celebration include the Festival’s mini sessions, cultural talks, arts crafts for children as well as traditional food and crafts bazaars.

For further information on festival activities, logistics or tickets, please log on to rwmf.net

Rainforest World Music Festival is organised by Sarawak Tourism, endorsed by Tourism Malaysia and is jointly supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Sarawak and partnering with Malaysia Airlines as the presenting sponsor.

WELLNESS - Yoga Daniel - PubPhoto-2

Image shows the Budokon Yoga session

Alvin Heng-4

Image shows the Vinyasa Yoga session

Image shows the Zumba Fitness Party session

Image shows the Zumba Fitness Party session

Issued by:

Communications Unit
SARAWAK TOURISM
T: + 6 082-423600
F: + 6 082-416700
W: www.sarawaktourism.com
E-mail: [email protected]

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Sarawak Tourism Awarded For Travel Marketing Excellence

Sarawak Tourism Awarded For Travel Marketing Excellence

KUCHING, Thursday – The Hospitality Sales Marketing Association International (HSMAI) has honoured Sarawak Tourism with a Silver Adrian Award for Travel Marketing Excellence in Public Relations.  The Adrian Awards claims to be the “largest and most prestigious global travel marketing competition”.

Sarawak Tourism, which promotes and markets Sarawak as a globally recognised destination for culture, adventure and nature visitation, won the 2016 Adrian Award for its Public Relations work for the Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF).

Sarawak Tourism won the HSMAI Silver Adrian Award for its Re-imaging Campaign in 2012, while RMWF has been voted as one of the top 25 World Music Festivals by Songlines Magazine for six years in a row.

“We are incredibly proud of our Rainforest World Music Festival for receiving another award on the eve of its 20th anniversary. The Festival has become an internationally recognised event,” said Mike Cannon, group managing director and CEO of Sarawak Tourism and Sarawak Convention Bureau.

Sarawak Tourism received the award at the HSMAI Adrian Awards Gala on February 21, 2017 at the New York Marriott Marquis, attended by more than 1,000 hospitality, travel, and tourism marketing executives.

“As we celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Adrian Awards, we are proud that the industry recognises the Adrian Awards as the most prestigious honour given in travel marketing,” said Robert A. Gilbert, CHME, CHBA, president and CEO of HSMAI.

Winning entries can be seen in the winner’s gallery on the Adrian Awards website and in a dedicated article. Visit www.AdrianAwards.com for more information on the event and competition and to view the Adrian Awards Winners Gallery.

Adrian Award Logo Winner 2016

Issued by:

Communications Unit
SARAWAK TOURISM
T: +6 082-423600   F: +6 082-416700
E: [email protected]

 

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Rainforest World Music Festival offers special RM88.80 for its 20th Anniversary

Rainforest World Music Festival offers special RM88.80 for its 20th Anniversary

KUCHING, FridayThe Rainforest World Music Festival today launched its special RM88.80 entrance tickets in commemoration with its 20th anniversary celebrations.

Limited tickets will be put on sale and is only available online at http://rwmf.net/tickets/

“It’s a show of gratitude to our festival attendees, who come year after year with their family and friends. We wanted to give back to them somehow, and we want them to be there with us on this momentous occasion,” Director of Events and Corporate Relations, Madam Angelina Patricia Bateman said.

Starting with only a few hundred people in the audience in 1998, the Festival has grown to an internationally recognized music festival, receiving awards among them as one of the Top 25 Best International Festivals awarded by Songlines Magazine for the past six consecutive years.

The 20th edition of the Rainforest World Music Festival will be from July 14 – 16, 2017 and the event is supported by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia and Ministry of Tourism, Arts Tourism Sarawak and endorsed by Tourism Malaysia with Malaysia Airlines as partners.

RWMF2017-20th Anniversary Special 19Jan

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Communications Unit
SARAWAK TOURISM BOARD
T: +6 082-423 600  F: +6 082-416 700 M: +6 019-816 8400
E: [email protected]

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Rainforest World Music Festival 20th Anniversary Special Promotion

Rainforest World Music Festival 20th Anniversary Special Promotion

KUCHING, Monday – In celebration of the Rainforest World Music Festival’s 20th anniversary, Festival tickets will be sold at 20% off early bird prices, with the promotion starting on January 20.

The promotion is for a limited time only while stocks last, with 1,500 daily tickets up for grabs.

The discount is provided by the Festival organizer, the Sarawak Tourism Board, as a ‘thank you’ to the Festival’s ardent followers who come back every year.

“This year heralds 20 great years of world music in the rainforests of Sarawak and a collaboration between us, the organizers, and the audience who support us and make this festival possible”, says the Board’s Director of Events Corporate Relations, Madam Angelina Bateman.

The Festival will be held on July 14-16 at the Sarawak Cultural Village in Kuching, and will feature music from around the world on three stages, two outdoor and one indoor, mini sessions in the afternoon, workshops for children, drum circles, as well as a variety of food and a craft bazaar.

For the 20th edition, plans are in place to have more activities including holistic and wellness programmes which will begin as early as 11 in the morning.

“The 20th anniversary celebrations is going to be a HUGE EXPERIENCE and we are planning more activities around the music,” added Angelina.

Starting with only a few hundred people in the audience in 1998, the Festival has grown to an internationally recognized music festival, receiving awards among them as one of the Top 25 Best International Festivals awarded by Songlines Magazine for six consecutive years.

Festival tickets and updates are available online at www.rwmf.net.

The event is supported by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia and Ministry of Tourism, Arts Tourism Sarawak and endorsed by Tourism Malaysia with Malaysia Airlines as partners.

RWMF2016 Finale

Image shows the finale of the 2016 Rainforest World Music Festival.

Issued by:
Communications Unit
SARAWAK TOURISM BOARD
T: +6 082-423 600  F: +6 082-416 700 M: +6019-818 8946
E: [email protected]

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