The annual Wag (World Animal Groove) Music Festival 2014 is on in Kuching, Sarawak, today and tomorrow.
Organised in aid of Sarawak Society For The Prevention Of Cruelty To Animals (SSPCA), the event features Bibi K Poh, Maya, Mel And Joe, Jim And The Saucy Soul Band as well as Hydra Malaysia.
Malaysian comedian Bibi, who has been in the entertainment industry for more than two decades, returns to the Wag stage for the third consecutive year. Besides being known for her jokes and funny antics, Bibi is also a very talented singer. The proud owner of an adorable cat is always ready to help the SSPCA in its fundraising campaigns.
Maya started out as a school band and two decades later, it continues to make great music that gets better with experience. The band successfully released its first self-titled album in 2006. Playing a wide range of musical genres, it specialises in progressive rock, jazz, pop and Sarawakian ethnic tunes.
Meanwhile, Mel And Joe are from Singapore, where they are a household name. The brothers started their singing career in 1970 when they made their first television appearance on Radio Television Singapore (today Mediacorp).
The talented singers and guitarists, who play a wide repertoire of country tunes, have been in showbiz for more than four decades and still continue to make good music.
Jim And The Saucy Soul Band comprises musicians from the United States and Indonesia. They are led by singer-musician Jim Larkin. The other band members are guitarist Krisna, Iwan (bassist), Gustu (drum) and Erick (piano). The band plays a fusion of jazz, blues and funk, which Larkin describes as the “kind that would get the crowd dancing”. Savouring the eclectic American spirit of soul music, the band’s music is also about enjoying the many types of soul music.
Hydra Malaysia is a leading cover band in the country and no stranger to Kuching’s nightspots. Having performed all over Borneo, the band comprises Lan who is the lead vocalist and guitarist, G-Beng (lead guitarist), Jezz (keyboardist), Izad (drummer) and Boy (bass guitarist).
The band released its first Bahasa Malaysia single last year. The song, Hujung Mentari, was the theme for the blockbuster movie, Dampak, which starred Aaron Aziz and Farid Kamil.
The song was nominated for the Vima (Virtual Independent Music Awards) this year for the Best Rock and Best Music Video categories. Though it did not win, the song earned the lead singer the Best Vocals award. The band is expected to release its debut album titled Sinergi soon.