Back To Nature

Judging from the popularity of the Rainforest World Music Festival with KL-ites, expect the streets to be eerily empty come 11 to 13 July as thousands make their annual pilgrimmage to the Sarawak Cultural Village in Santubong for a weekend of good music, good partying, good drinking and a good break away from the drudgeries of the city.

While the music is the highlight of the fest, we've been told that their daytime workshops are not to be missed as well. Want to learn how to fire a blowpipe? Dance the salsa right? Get a crash course from the festival's performers themselves!

As for the music, revelers are in for a treat if one were to judge from the confirmed line-up. Among the many names is Britain's New Rope String Band (formerly known as the Old Rope String Band). The quartet plays a number of instruments and engages in all sorts of odd and comedic behaviour, making them a joy to watch live. Here's a short Q&A with Pete Challoner of the band.

What’s the difference between New and Old Rope String Bands? Is it just personnel or is there a change in the sound?
It’s hard to define the difference. The spirit is the same and we’ve kept the same driving force which is to make people laugh and to make people happy with our music and tomfoolery and slapstick. But obviously the routines have changed because of the different personnel.

Why the decision to combine visual comedy with the performance?
It started when we were a ceilidh band. People would do three or four dances and then they would stop for a rest. And then we’d do a little spot to entertain while they were having a drink. And then we’d start putting little funny bits in and strange little quirky moments and realized that we were enjoying that more and more and the audience was enjoying it. So we thought, let’s cut out the dancing and just do that. And it took off, so it was a good decision!

Do you think a lot of people have the perception of world, folk and ethnic music of being very worthy and serious and not at all fun?
I think that people who know the music don’t have that perception. And I think we bring a new audience to traditional music because we appeal to all age groups and types of people: comedy is universal. So people come to our shows who wouldn’t ever go to see a traditional music band so in some ways I think we are promoting traditional music more than [many] traditional bands.

Are you conducting any workshops?
Yes, we are. Not comedy workshops. Violin and banjo, I think. It’s a case of working out what people want to go away having learned, really. Often it’s about little techniques they can improve on and sometimes it’s about showing them different tunes. It’s a two-way thing of listening and trying to help.

And what do you get out of conducting them?
We get paid for it [laughs]! It can be the most rewarding thing actually, when people have had an inspiring time. That’s a great feeling.

What’s on your to do list while you’re in Malaysia?
I was hoping to do some swimming but from what I hear that’s probably not going to happen. Are there rivers you can swim in? I was hoping to see some orang-utans as well.

For a taste of the New Rope String Band, don't be shy to click on the YouTube video. The band will be on stage at 9.15pm, 11 July and 7.30pm, 13 July. So grab a beer, prepare to dance and laugh away with the band and feel the good vibes come your way!

Interview Courtesy of Heineken Music