Bengaluru, Karnataka Jun 17, 2018 (Issuewire.com) - Indian contemporary folk maestro Raghu Dixit is set to headline the acclaimed Rainforest World Music Festival in Kuching, Malaysia in July this year. The development comes on the back of the festival's recent collaboration with Bangalore based Nirvana Live who is helping curate a selection of Indian programme at the festival. The Indian names on the festival line up this year includes Raghu Dixit Project and Bhungar Khan Company.
Commenting on the partnership, Chirag Jain - the director of Nirvana Live - said "RWMF is a venerable institution and we desired to showcase a sound of India that is a reflection of its effervescent and dynamic present. Artists are no longer looking elsewhere but instead turning inward, finding inspiration in the incredibly rich folk narrative of this country. I think this is stellar. This is stellar for music. For India. and ofcourse for the wonderful new sounds that are emerging. Raghu's work has been instrumental in shaping this new culture and Bhungar Khan's community of Manganiyar musicians have been torchbearers for indian folk music across the globe for decades now. They were obvious choices. Performances aside, there is also a selection of documentaries from India and a large array of workshops and in-conversation sessions programmed at the festival this year"
The Rainforest World Music Festival turns 20 this year and their line up is for sure in mood for good celebrations. This year, the festival brings to Kuching music from over 20 countries across 5 continents. Since 1998, the festival has grown to be one of the world's finest musical experiences providing for a platform for coming together of artists from across continents and far reaches of the globe.
Nirvana Live
Based in Bangalore, Nirvana Live is an arts company that works with festivals in helping curate Indian content at festivals and venues across the world. NL's engagements span the spectrum of the performing arts including music, theatre, dance, cinema and the visual arts with a keen focus on the folk narratives. Having produced cross genre projects across India, Singapore, Indonesia, France, Italy and the United Kingdom, Nirvana Live works extensively with artistic families that are custodians of generations of musical heritage.
Raghu Dixit Project
The Raghu Dixit Project is a celebration of Indian sounds and has drawn its inspiration from the rich tapestry of the country's folk music narrative. The band has played across the world including in the United States, the UK, Korea, Japan, Russia and Hong Kong and India, including the Glastonbury Festival and for Queen Elizabeth II of England and Prince Philip, at a Diamond Jubilee Pageant marking 60 years since her accession to the throne in 1952. From their melodies to their rooted and earthy sound, they have become a stellar example of modern India. They are also known for rocking the lungi look, with the garment having become a signature of their performances.
Bhungar Khan Company
From obscure villages around Jaisalmer and Barmer in western Rajasthan comes a musical tradition that has digested and belted out melodies from everywhere between Persia and the Punjab for several centuries. This is the music of the Manganiyars – a community of muslim court musicians whose royal patrons may have disappeared because of circumstances of history, but whose music lives because its practitioners cannot live without it.
BHUNGAR KHAN and his company comes from Taalon ka Gaon - a tiny hamlet in the desert regions of western Rajasthan. Coming from a family of incredibly gifted generational musicians, Bhungar plays with an charismatic energy and intensity that is catching among the artists. His recent collaborative feature with composers Sachin-Jigar on Coke Studio season 4 clocked over 2 million views on Youtube. In this presentation, he is accompanied by senior members of his family.
Rainforest World Music Festival
The Rainforest World Music Festival is a unique festival that brings together on the same stage renowned world musicians from all continents and indigenous musicians from the interiors of the mythical island of Borneo. a not-to-be-missed occasion, RWMF guarantees a smashing time in the heart of the Borneo Jungle.
The 21st edition of the festival takes place from July 13 to 15 at the Sarawak Cultural Village and Damai Central. This event is organised by the Sarawak Tourism Board, endorsed by Tourism Malaysia and is jointly supported by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Malaysia and Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports, Sarawak, with AirAsia as Flight Partner.
A stellar line up of local and international talent are set to take stage at the Festival during the evening concerts. The scheduled performing bands are:
- 1Drum (Malaysia + India)
- Alberto Marin (Spain)
- Arat Kilo with Mamani Keita & Mike Ladd (France, Mali and the USA)
- At Adau (Sarawak)
- Balkanopolis (Serbia)
- Bhungar Khan Company (India)
- Buloh Berkocak (Sarawak)
- Chingay Parade (Penang)
- Combo Ginebra (Chile)
- Cuatro Minimal (Mexico, Korea and Japan)
- Danai Kuwai (Sarawak)
- Djeli Moussa Conde (Guinea)
- Dona Onete (Brazil)
- Elisouma (Comoros Islands)
- GayaGayo (Indonesia)
- Grace Nono (Philippines)
- GuoGan &Aly Keita (China and Cote d’lvoire)
- Hornbill Familias (Sarawak)
- Kevin Locke (United States)
- Meruked (Sarawak)
- Naedrum (Korea)
- Niteworks (Isle of Skye)
- Oriental Chinese Traditional Orchestra (Sarawak)
- Oyme (Republic of Mordovia in Russia)
- Pelangi Kota (Sarawak)
- Pinanak Sentah (Sarawak)
- Raghu Dixit Project (India)
- Rawi (Sarawak)
- Sada Borneo (Malaysia
- Shanren (China)
- Slobodan Trkulja (Serbia)
- Suk Binie’ (Sarawak)
- Suling Kenyalang (Sarawak)
- SwarAsia Malaysia (Malaysia)
- Volosi (Poland)
- Warato’o (Solomon Islands)
- Yallah Bye! (Tunisia)
Media Contact
Nirvana Live press@nirvanalive.com
