Save the date — Rainforest World Music Festival set for June 20–22 in 2025

Abdul Karim (centre) flanked by Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) chief executive officer Sharzede Salleh Askor (left) and STB chairman Datuk Dennis Ngau at Sarawak Cultural Village (SCV) on June 30, 2024.

By Marlynda Meraw & Shikin Louis

KUCHING, June 30: Mark your calendars, partygoers, because the renowned Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) is set to take place from June 20 to 22, 2025 at the Sarawak Cultural Village (SCV).

Sarawak Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts (MTCP) Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah told reporters this during a doorstep interview when attending the final day of RWMF 2024 at SCV here earlier tonight.

“For next year, keep it in your calendar diary—20th, 21st and 22nd of June.

“Note (down) that date. Be here for next year,” he said.

Earlier, he announced that this year’s RWMF has recorded more than 26,000 festival goers so far—the largest number ever since its inception in 1998.

Singapore, Brunei and Indonesia accounted for the top three countries with the biggest number of festival goers at this year’s festival, he revealed.

He also revealed that RWMF 2024’s ticketing revenue has surged by 47 per cent while the number of festival goers has gone up by 35 per cent.

While he couldn’t confirm whether the sold-out tickets for the first two days of RWMF was mainly contributed by the presence of Grammy and Golden Globe award-winning musician Kitaro as one of the performers, Abdul Karim believed that Grammy Award winners seem to be a very ‘big pull’ for the crowd.

When asked about the feedback from the royal families present at this year’s RWMF, he revealed that Sultan of Selangor Sharafuddin Idris Shah Alhaj was very impressed and inspired with the performances.

“He did give a little bit of feedback on how to improve the festival because I can see that he knows quite a lot—he must have attended quite a lot of music festivals so he was sharing some of his experience and I will share it with the organiser (later).

“But I can say that he was very happy. You can see it for yourself last night (June 29). Despite the heavy downpour, I initially thought that His Highness will not come but he came (wearing) the poncho,” he added.

Themed “Evolution”, RWMF 2024 featured 22 acts from 14 countries including 72 international as well as 75 local performers. — DayakDaily