Rainforest World Music Festival Sarawak Borneo

Each day features a mixture of dance, instrumental and singing workshops, jamming sessions and mini concerts in the afternoons, all with the performers. So, unlike at Glastonbury, where the stars helicopter in, perform and leave, you have the chance to meet the musicians, learn about their music and join in. Chuck out your inhibitions and embrace all the rhythms and vibes, ranging from dancing with Congolese pygmies, throat singing à la Mongolian, drumming with dudes from just about everywhere, jumping and jiving to Jagwa music from Tanzania, watching in awe at the extraordinarily delicate plate dancing from Indonesia and of course, learning and listening to Sarawak’s own expert sape players, a lute like instrument played originally by the Orang Ulu or ‘upriver people’.

There is no doubt that the exquisite setting of the festival – as unique as the line-up – injects the artists with an enthusiasm for sharing their creations like few other places in the world. Not for a second do you feel as if they are just churning out another festival gig. It all takes place on the Santubong Peninsula, 35km outside Kuching, at the foot of the jungle clad Mount Santubong in the Sarawak Cultural Village. This is a living museum, with replica buildings representing every major ethnic group in Sarawak – workshops take place in the Iban and Bidayuh indigenous longhouses.