RWMF 2026 draws to a close, begins countdown to 30th edition
- BT
- 6 hours ago
- 2 min read
KUCHING, 29 June 2026: The 29th edition of the Rainforest World Music Festival officially drew to a close yesterday evening, concluding with a countdown to next year’s RWMF. The highly anticipated 30th anniversary of RWMF will be taking place from June 25 to 27, 2027, with stronger lineup and headliners in store, as well as upgraded infrastructure within the Sarawak Cultural Village venue.
The last day of RWMF 2026 featured the sensational Incognito band from the UK, a British acid jazz band based in London led by Jean-Paul ‘Bluey’ Maunick, the band’s frontman, singer, guitarist, composer and record producer. Earlier yesterday, we had the opportunity to hear from Bluey himself and the rest of the band during a press conference, where they shared their excitement about performing on the RWMF stage and talked about their latest album titled ‘music.magic.ironic’ and the band’s 47-year-long journey. Despite no longer playing the guitar due to his Parkinson’s diagnosis, Bluey shared that touring around the world has been a lifelong dream, one he had had from the young age of 5.
After a Magic Hour performance from Ta’Dan as well as a drum call from Drum Up (Philippines) and Baby DreamMachine (Kuching), the evening kicked off with Sarawak’s own traditional sounds, courtesy of Suk Binie. As one of East Malaysia’s most exciting ensembles, Suk Binie fuses traditional instruments with modern creativity, showcasing Sarawak’s rich cultural heritage.
Next up was the Fergana Cultural Group, a collective from Uzbekistan who showcased the region’s complex yet poetic folk music. ASIA7 from Thailand then took to the stage, combining stellar vocals with the sounds of Thai folk instruments in a way that is both captivating and refreshing. The 8-person band and their distinctive soundscape are notably one of the highlights of the entire festival and is a noticeable crowd favourite, the way the audience were dancing throughout the set.
The second last act of the night was Malaysia’s own AkashA. Known as one of the country's top world music bands, AkashA plays world fusion music with a Malaysian twist, infusing Chinese, Malay and Indian concepts into different forms of music, from blues and bluegrass to Middle Eastern and Latin. Last but not least is Incognito, who brought a jazz, funk and soul sound to the RWMF stage. During the band’s hour-long set, Incognito performed a blend of signature hits and songs from their latest album, including ‘Don’t You Worry ‘Bout a Thing’, ‘Still A Friend of Mine’ and ‘Roots’.
The final performance drew the curtains over the 3-day-long festival, which turned the foothills of Mount Santubong into a melting pot of heritage, cultural, and creativity centered around music and sustainability. More than a festival, RWMF will be celebrating its 30th anniversary milestone in 2027, with upgrades to the stage, viewing area and backstage facilities in the works.
For more information on RWMF, check out https://rwmf.net/
