Battle of champions at WAIfm Bidayuh concert tonight
The programme will be recorded, and aired on the date and time through WAIfm, which will be fixed later. — George Martin, programme and concert producer
KUCHING: WAIfm Bidayuh will organise the ‘Konsert Anugerah Juara Carta Lagu WAIfm Bidayuh 2016’ (Bidayuh Songs Top Chart Award Concert 2016) to decide the ‘champion of monthly champions’ at Bau Civic Centre tonight.
The programme and concert producer George Martin said the event would serve as the climax for the Bidayuh Songs Chart that were aired in the Bidayuh Radio Station, WAIfm, RTM Kuching every week over the year.
He said before the final, 10 songs would compete for the top 10 positions in the chart every week, which were determined by WAIfm listeners’ votes through short message service (SMS) and Facebook.
He said the song that received the most votes would be announced as the weekly champion, while songs that topped the most weeks of the month would be declared the monthly winner.
According to George, this year’s final would involve three solo artists and six bands whose songs had topped the monthly chart in 2016.
The songs that had topped the monthly charts are Male Demba by The Black Knight (January), Pinyirindu by Wilson Mack (February), Janji Senang by Ezra ft Carrie (March), Tenggie Aku by Carrie (April), Amu Adeh 2 3 Lagi by The Black Knight (May), Masih Ku Nyanyang by The Legacy Brothers (June), Aku Manguh by Wilson Mack (July), Masih Tiyan by Raynold Sigay (August), Balik Mah Salau by Denny Syndora (September), Duuh Ku Ann Rebis by Direct Flight (October), Pijuang Bangsa Kita by D’vital Sign (November) and Dayung Manuk Buda by Mezzavoce (December)
George, however, said two songs - Male Demba and Amu Adeh 2 3 Lagi - were tributes since the singer had passed away last year.
He said the artists would perform on stage and they would be judged by three professional juries.
“The programme will be recorded, and aired on the date and time through WAIfm, which will be fixed later,” he told thesundaypost yesterday.
George said tonight’s final would be the fifth series with the pervious finals being held in Tarat (2005), Bunan Gega (2006), Auditorium Kecil (2014) and MJC Batu Kawa (2015).
He said the concert aimed at elevating the Bidayuh music industry, besides scouting for new talents and encouraging Bidayuh composers and musician to produce quality songs with commercial value.
The event could also foster close relationship among the community through music as well as wooing more youths to listen to WAIfm. For this year’s final, George said the ‘champion of monthly champions’ would receive RM1,000 cash prize while the second and third placing would walk away with RM800 and RM500 respectively.
He said the other finalists each would receive RM300 cash prize.
Serembu assemblyman Miro Simuh, who is the patron of the event, is expected to officiate at the concert and give away the prizes.
Members of the public are invited to attend the concert and entry is free.