Just a quick reminder that the annual Rainforest World Music Festival in Sarawak is coming up from July 8 – 10. If you are in the region, this stellar festival is really worth going to.

This year’s line-up is as great as ever, and if the rain holds off it will be another fantastic event. I’m particularly looking forward to it because my old mate Paddy Keenan is playing this year. It’s been a few years since we met – I think the last time was at a festival in Had Yai, south Thailand. Irish music fans with know him as one of the members of The Bothy Band from back in the mid-70s. At the Rainforest he is billed to play as the Paddy Keenan Trio and music lovers can expect a great performance. Check out Paddy’s website  

The Rainforest World Music Festival put Sarawak on the map. From humble beginnings in 1997, when a crowd of 300 dedicated music fans gathered in an idyllic spot at the edge of the jungle, the festival has developed into a truly world class event. It is a showcase for local indigenous music and talented musicians from across the globe who are out of the mainstream; a category that is now loosely termed as ‘world music’.

So, how does this little festival, tucked away in Sarawak compare with others around the world? Greg, a technician from Scotland who has worked as part of the crew at the Rainforest World Music Festival for years spoke to me and it was clear he had few doubts as to the very special nature of the event.

‘It’s the best festival in the world, and I go to a lot of festivals,’ says Greg. ‘It’s not a technical thing because in reality it is a very challenging festival to work on. The equipment certainly isn’t what we are used. However, the setting, the atmosphere, the diversity of music…. I can assure you the bands are all elated at the experience of playing here. I wouldn’t miss it for the world. This is as good as it gets.’

Word has certainly spread about Asia’s greatest music festival and people now fly in from around the region to hear a stunning variety of music. This July, the gem of a festival once again promises a fantastic line-up of stunning musical talent from around the globe. Twenty groups representing 12 countries from all continents will play alongside local groups from Sarawak and West Malaysia. Over 20,000 World Music fans are expected to pass through the gates over a three day period to hear music from a diverse line-up that includes Lisa Hayley and the Zydecats from the USA, Mamak Khadem from Iran, Leweton Women’s Water Music from Vanuatu, Kenge Kenge from Kenya and many more.

 You can see the full line-up at the website here.

 Visit Sarawak Tourism’s site for more details about the country here.