Country and western music to reverberate Siniawan Heritage Festival
KUCHING: Country and western music will again be the main feature of the Siniawan Heritage Festival 2018 to be staged at the Siniawan bazaar, off Kuching – Bau road, on Oct 5- 6.
Serembu assemblyman and festival advisor Miro Simuh said that it will be the third consecutive year that the country and western theme is chosen for the festival following overwhelming response and popular demand from the visitors.
He explained that the more than 100-year- old Siniawan bazaar, with its laid-back outlook of two rows of old wooden shophouses, provided the best backdrop for such music to be played.
“We target about 10,000 visitors from both Sarawak and outside the state to come for the festival. Of course, the unique feature will be the ‘cowboys’ night where everyone will come in their best western attire.
“This country and westernthemed festival is the only one of its kind in Sarawak, and probably in Malaysia,” he told reporters after a meeting of the organising committee held at an eatery in Siniawan on Saturday night.
For this year’s event, he said the organisers have invited Peninsular Malaysia- based band Os Pomblos to perform. It will be a maiden performance in Siniawan for the band, once rated the country’s top country and western music band.
He added that five local bands namely Country Road Band, Mountain Wind Band, Hi-Breed Band, On- Strings Band and Old Tondong Road (OTR) will also be performing at the festival.
Meanwhile, festival joint advisor William Ding said exciting events are being included in the itinerary including bringing live horses to add to the country and western feel.
He also took the opportunity to thank the government for the financial assistance, and the corporate and private sectors for pledging sponsorships to support the festival.
“The support from the government, corporate and private sectors are very vital for the success of this festival which now enters its third edition,” said William, also Bau District Council deputy chairman.