KUCHING: The Kuching Waterfront Jazz Festival (KWJF) 2018 will be hosting a one-of-a-kind Jazz Band Search talent competition today at 7pm at the Kuching Waterfront GoDown Amphitheatre.
The KWJF Jazz Band Search had shortlisted four local bands performing jazz numbers to a panel of judges in a bid to win a place as part of the opening act for this year’s much anticipated KWJF. The four finalists are The Voglers, Swaiv, Sang Voyage and QCH Band.
The organisers have increased the stakes, prizes are KWJF opening performance, RM1500 cash prize and four tickets to KWJF 2018 (winner); RM1000 cash prize and four tickets to KWJF 2018 (1st runner up); RM600 cash prize and four tickets to KWJF 2018 (2nd runner up) and RM300 and four tickets to KWJF 2018 (consolation for all other bands).
KWJF 2018 is set to happen on September 28 and 29 at the Grand Margherita Hotel after a highly successful first instalment last year.
This year’s KWJF will feature a bigger star-studded line-up including multi-award winning Sarawakian songstress Dayang Nurfaizah, Ito & The Blues Gang (Malaysia), Atilia Haron (Malaysia), Aisyah Aziz (Singapore), Tompi (Indonesia), Tulus (Indonesia), Aditya (Indonesia) Carmen Souza (Portugal), The Natalie Gillispie Band (Australia) and many more.
The winner of the Jazz Band Search will join the lineup representing Sarawak and it is with great hope that KWJF 2018 will be a stepping stone for the winner to further amplify their music aspirations.
This year’s show will also feature Tuku Kame, who will be serenading the crowd with their jazz infused with traditional Sape, fulfilling the intention of the organisers to pay homage and create a platform for sounds of Sarawak.
“Our aim for the local jazz band search is to select the top band who will be given the honour to showcase their talent on the KWJF stage. It is high time that we have such a competition as there has never been one targeted for a specific music genre such as Jazz here in Kuching,” said KWJF creator and organiser who is also Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) General Manager Soedirman Aini.
Soedirman added the jazz festival is one of the key tourism events to position Kuching as one of the renowned music capitals of the world.
“With support from the Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth & Sports Ministry, Sarawak Tourism Board, Tourism Malaysia and MyCEB, my vision is to make this festival as renowned as the Java Jazz Festival in Indonesia which now hosts international performers, some of whom are beyond the Jazz genre, in order to reach different segments of its festival goers,” he said.
The first KWJF had a record of 4000 festival goers enjoyed themselves at KWJF 2017, as it is a family-oriented event suitable for all ages with not only music concerts to enjoy but also a lively bazaar with food, art, handicraft and other specialty goods and services on offer.
For more information, visit www.kuchingwaterfrontjazz.com and follow Kuching Waterfront Jazz on Facebook and Instagram.
KWJF tickets can be purchased online or from Grand Margherita Hotel and Riverside Majestic Hotel. This event is managed by Place Borneo Sdn Bhd.
