STB Puts On Thinking Cap As Buzz For A Bigger Borneo Jazz Festival Grows
Date : 13 May 2013 Source : Borneo Post Online
BELTING IT OUT: A section of the Hazmat Modine wooing the crowd with an energetic performance.
MIRI: Like the driving rain, it has come and gone. The inclement weather, with heavy downpours, did not dampen jazz enthusiasts on the final night of the 8th Borneo Jazz Festival at the Parkcity Everly Hotel here on Saturday.
It was that time of the year, the music pilgrimage for thousands of festival goers from all walks of life, who braved the rhythm of the falling rain and chill and danced to their favourite jazz presented by four foreign award-winning bands.
The main principals including the former Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan and company had to take shelter at the Pavilion – the nearest building to the specially constructed stage where the bands performed.
BEAMING WITH BIG PLANS: Tourism CEO Datuk Rashid (second right) fielding questions from the local media.
The four bands starring were The Asian Jazz Allstars Power Quartet (Singapore/Hongkong/Philippines/Thailand), Hazmat Modine (East Coast USA), Mo’Blow – ‘Gimme The Boots’ Release Concert (Germany) and Jump 4 Joy (Sweden).
Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) CEO Datuk Rashid Khan said he was delighted to see the good response to the festival which has grown steadily over the years.
He said in line with the call made by Tourism Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg to make the event bigger, STB next year may put up another stage so ‘changeover’ would be faster and allow more bands to perform.
WATER-PROOF: Music lovers dancing the night away despite a heavy downpour.
“Bigger means when you have two stages, you have more bands and the other one is we (could) do a three-day event like the Rainforest (World Music Festival) instead of a two-day event (now).
“So we have to do a lot of studies and see how we can grow, like I have said, within five years Borneo Jazz Festival will be a world-class premium event in this part of the world,” Rashid said when asked by reporters.
The location of the event will remain at Parkcity Everly Hotel and in years to come, if the need arises, the venue might be changed.
ARTFUL DODGERS: A break from the music stage as tourists from Holland have a photo-call with local batik producer Noel Bellulok (third left) and his wife (second left).
Several other innovations will continue to be pursued including organising music workshops, getting more ventures and working closely with Sarawak Bureau Convention to get their clients to support the festival.
On the initial target of 9,000 festival goers for this 8th edition of the Borneo Jazz Festival, Rashid said they might not have reached the target but would be happy if the figure hits 8,500.
He said the recent 13th General Election (GE13) might have overshadowed efforts to create a greater interest in the festival. But life goes on. And the music played on at the 8th edition. And the buzz for a bigger stage, for a bigger Borneo Jazz Festival is deafening.
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