Penang World Music Festival Rocks
Due to the wonderfully hot, humid and rain-less weather, which is perfect for an outdoor concert, we went to the Penang World Music Festival at the Quarry Park next to the Botanic Gardens last night.
Mono Blanco from Mexico
Beneath the dark starry skies, surrounded by greenery and the barely discernible sounds of insects and some night animals, the setting was indeed perfect for the wonderful musical experience that was the Penang World Music Festival.
Okay, enough of the advertorial, if I write more, I may have to charge PTAC for this free advertisement..heheheh…
Jokes aside, I love the concert! However, the music is the type that only certain people could appreciate, that is, people who doesn’t mind paying RM50 each to sit on grass / sit on the ground / endure mosquito bites, be prepared for the capricious weather which may produce downpours, and on top of that, listen to music that is hard to categorize.
Teada from Ireland
Now, we come to the bands that played on Friday. We missed the first one, Dya Singh, but listened to Teada from Ireland, Dendang Anak from Terengganu, Mono Blanco from Mexico and Afenginn from Denmark. We wanted to stay for the last one, Salem Tradition from Reunion Island but it was too late and my toddler was already nodding off, although he enjoyed it more than both of us!
The music was all instrumental, with minimal or no singing, and most have dance-able beats. It is hard to describe the music because it is more like a blend of classical, ethnic, new age, a li’l bit of rock and roll, jazz and techno. That’s why I say it is hard to categorize.
Dendang Anak from Terengganu
It is mostly ethnic music, for example, Teada plays Irish music but jazz it up with faster rhythms and beats. Or the Mono Blanco belts out La Bamba to a different beat. However, to all you rock / rap/ heavy metal / oldies lovers out there, I doubt that you’d enjoy this much though. But if you want to experience an all new type of musical experience, this concert is a great place to start!
Afenginn from Denmark
I attended last year’s festival and I have to say I wasn’t disappointed with the music as it is really my kind of music. But, yes there is always a but, I preferred the bands from last year more. At least, last year, they have really exotic bands, you know, like really orang asli type of bands using all sorts of different traditional musical instruments. This year, the bands are mostly modern-type bands.
Fun factor rating: 8 /10
Musical experience rating: 8 /10
Variety rating: 5 /10
Value-for-money: 5/10 ( RM50 each is too costly so if you go for three nights it is RM150! They should have maintained the price at RM40)
Will I attend next year’s concert? Perhaps. I will have to look at the list of bands first.
And if they increase the ticket price to RM60 each, forget it!!! The concert may be good but not blardy worth RM60 per person so that some fat lau ee can go traipsing around the world!
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Enjoy while you can. Being a Penangnite, I really hope the Federal Govt doesn’t act 2 country system. This event should be under the patronage of the state government. Good that we see their true colors and do what is necessary – DOWN WITH BN!
May 4th, 2008 at 7:38 amsslim: true, I still never did understand the reason for the fed govt to split PTAC from the state administration.
May 4th, 2008 at 10:29 am