Gracie (second left) and Lee (centre) holding the promotional poster for this year’s Miri Country Music Fest on Feb 7.
MIRI: The Miri Country Music Fest has received due recognition as the first and only country music festival in the region and the nation.
Gracie Geikie, who is director of Planet Conventions and Events Sdn Bhd, the festival organiser, is looking at this recognition from the United States Embassy to boost the reputation of the music event which is going to be held on Feb 7 at ParkCity Everly Hotel here.
To enhance its reputation, Planet Conventions is inviting Kareem Salama, an Egyptian American musician, to perform at the festival.
“Born in Ponca City, Oklahoma, he is recognised as the first known American Muslim country music singer to emerge. We are proud and honoured to have Kareem performing here in Miri,” said Gracie.
His creative blend of music is a hybrid of his culture and roots mixed with popular mainstream country and pop genres.
Salama has released three albums – Generous Peace (2006), This Life of Mine (2007) and City of Lights (2011) after signing with LightRain Records.
The other international renowned country singers will be Country Sisters from Czech Republic and Mel and Joe of Singapore.
“We are going to present something unique and special from Indonesia – Rani and Westom Country Band. From the heart of Indonesia Jakarta, Ranu and Westom will perform a unique blend of traditional dangdut songs in a country music style,” said Gracie.
Rani & Westom are a fresh combination of several popular country bands from Indonesia. They came together and reformed to the same vision, a passion, dream and love of country music.
The festival will also feature Hi Breed (Kuching), Os Pombos (Kuala Lumpur) and the Starlet Band from Miri.
Targeting an audience of between 3,500 to 4,000 for the festival this year, Gracie disclosed last year’s figure was 1,900.
“Last year’s survey conducted by Curtin University recorded that 14 per cent of the visitors or audience were foreigners and 28 per cent said the event is of international class,” said Gracie.
Planet Conventions has embarked on various promotional and marketing efforts within the country and the region.
“We promote and market this festival through associations and organisations. There will be a group of 30 riders from Singapore coming for the event. Currently, there are 12 cyclists coming with their bicycles to join the festival,” she said.
The group will be cycling from Borneo Tropical Rainforest Resort to the festival ground, in what is a charity bid to raise funds for a Chinese school in Miri – through the ride from resort to the venue.
There will also be a group of big bikers from Kuching, Sibu and Brunei coming for the festival, she added.
Meanwhile, Gracie disclosed that rooms at ParkCity are fully booked for the festival and the organiser is working together with other hotels in the city to ensure ample accommodation for festival fans.
Welcoming the initiative made by Planet Conventions, Assistant Minister of Communications Datuk Lee Kim Shin was confident that the festival will enhance tourism activities in Miri and will attract more visitors and tourists.
In this context, the assistant minister urged the Ministry of Tourism and Tourism Board to assist in some aspects to ensure the event such Miri Country Music Fest will be sustained for the future.
“We welcome the initiative made by the private sector in organising such an event or activities. This will boost and enhance our efforts to market and promote tourism in Miri,” said Lee.
Also present was mayor Lawrence Lai.