Lee and Letitia (sixth and seventh left, respectively) lead the show of thumbs-up after the press conference on MCMF 2017.
MIRI: Planet Conventions and Events is targeting to attract more than 3,500 festival-goers to the Miri Country Music Fest (MCMF) next year.
Its general manager Letitia Samuel said the MCMF, to be held for the fourth time next year, had been scheduled for two days – on Feb 25 and 26.
“Since the festival was introduced in 2014, we have been holding the event for one day. Owing to overwhelming response, we have decided to add another day for the festival next year,” she said during a press conference on MCMF 2017 at ParkCity Everly Hotel Miri yesterday.
Letitia said this year’s MCMF, which was held on Feb 27, recorded 2,740 festival-goers – an increase of 30 per cent versus last year’s 2,100.
“After another good outing this year, MCMF is heading towards being bigger next year. The venue for the festival will remain the same, which is Parkcity Everly Hotel Miri – the official hotel and also the main sponsor of the event.”
Letitia said to cater for the two-day festival and the increasing number of festival-goers, the organiser would be bringing in more international bands, adding that the shortlisted ensembles would include those from USA, Australia, Germany, Indonesia and Brunei. Moreover, there would be more Malaysian bands taking to the stage this time, she said.
“The concept (for MCMF) remains – it will begin with the festival bazaar and a music workshop before the concert in the evening.
“On Sunday, the concert will commence earlier so that the finale can end earlier as well. This is in consideration for the festival-goers who have to go to work the next day.”
In addition to that, Letitia said the organiser would also be planning to include more activities to further enhance the festival-goers’ experience.
“There will also be more stalls offering a wide variety of food and beverages, arts and crafts, apparel and souvenirs as well as competitions like burger-eating contest and an arm-wrestling challenge.
“There is also plan to hold a ‘Sunday Cookout’ on the second day, to encourage more visitors especially those with young children.
“Next year’s event will have something for everyone – be they country music fans or anyone wanting to chill out with their families and friends.”
Tickets to the festival are now available online via www.miricountrymusic.com, selling at RM80 per adult for one day, and RM150 (both days).
For children between three and 12, the ticket price is RM40 (one day) and RM70 (both days). Each ticket is inclusive of one drink.
At the moment, Planet Conventions and Events is offering its ‘Big Bang Sale’, with tickets priced per adult at RM55 (one day) and RM100 (both days), while for children, it is RM35 (one day) and RM60 (both days).
The ‘Big Bang Sale’ will run till Sept 31 this year; after that, the tickets will be sold at normal prices.
The fourth edition of MCMF is endorsed by Miri City Council (MCC) with support from Sarawak Tourism Board (STB), Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Arts Sarawak and Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB), while Rentak Sejuta is the online media partner.
Assistant Minister of Tourism Datuk Lee Kim Shin and representatives of local hoteliers were also present at the press conference.