STRICTLY GLOBAL

Hey, rainforest lovers, best catch a red-eye right now to Malaysia 'cause this weekend (7/9-7/11) in the heart of some lush greenery on the island of Borneo, the state of Sarawak is playing home to the 13th annual Rainforest World Music Festival.  Actually, just plan ahead for next year cause with an average audience of 22,000- one can only imagine the hunt for hotel rooms. (And I hear goers book a year in advance!)

Since 1997, this completely interactive fest has taken place near the foot of Mount Santubong right on the grounds of the Sarawak Cultural Village.  Over the course of 3 days, fest-goers can participate in informative workshops, ethno-musical lectures, jam with and have awesome conversations with festival perfomers, gorge out on local food, and attend the World Crafts Bazaar that's had exhibitors from Poland to Japan and more.  Then at night, concerts take over, and this year performers come all the way from Bulgaria to Portugal, and in between.

Like from Iran, the Shanbehzadeh Ensemble will be belting out the traditional sounds found in the Boushehr region of southern Iran.  To do that, they use Iranian bagpipes, double clarinet, animal horn, and a variety of percussion.  The group was founded by Saeid Shanbehzadeh in 1990, who's been a professor and journalist on the subject of Southern Iranian music, and has even composed for and acted in Iranian films. 

Another stand out is Novalima from Lima, who got their start back in 2001.  Their unique sound combines traditional Afro-Peruvian music with modern DJ elements, and have pretty much revolutionized the music scene over there in good ol' Peru. That's what happens when you mix turntables with bongos and congas! Oh si!

Farafina from Burkino Faso will also be making an appearance.  Now, these guys have been around a long-time, something like, oh .. 30 year!  Combining elements of jazz, rock, and world music, they infuse their own traditional instruments like flutes, koras, and balafons.  And their lyrics share to the world their own outlook on what's going on in Africa.  If you think you've heard their name before and can't quite place it- it's cause they've recorded with the Rolling Stones.  You're welcome. ;)