Borneo Jazz Festival 2014 In Sarawak Next Month

MIRI (Sarawak, Malaysia), April 2 (Bernama) -- Sarawak is eyeing to woo jazz music lovers particularly from Asean countries to spice up its Borneo Jazz Festival 2014 next month. Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) CEO Rashid Khan said the state was targeting visitors from niche markets like Brunei, Singapore and the Philipines, as well as domestic tourists from Sabah and the peninsula. "This year we aim to increase local participation in Sarawak, from an average 9,000 to 10,000 people "For the first time ever, this year Borneo Jazz Festival will have two special jamming sessions with the invited musicians; those interested can bring along their musical instruments to participate," he told a news conference here Tuesday. Rashid said the jamming session would allow seasoned jazz musicians all over the world to share their experience with local or other jazz music enthusiasts. Meanwhile, Miri mayor Lawrence Lai said May would be the busiest month for the city as it would celebrate a month-long annual Miri City Fest now entering it ninth edition. "We have lined up 52 events for Miri City Fest and plus the festival, it will certainly boost our tourism industry," he added. The ninth edition of the festival would be held on May 9 and 10 at Parkcity Everly Hotel Miri involving jazz musicians from Indonesia, Germany, United Kingdom, France and Malaysia. Among those performing are Mario Canonge from France, YK Samarinda(Indonesia), Anthony Strong (United Kingdom), Brassballett (Germany), and Diana Lu an Junkofunc (Malaysia). -- BERNAMA