SSPCA WAG Music Festival 2014

WAG MUSIC FESTIVAL IS INTO ITS THIRD YEAR AND IT’S GROWING BIGGER AND BETTER

Three years ago, members of the Sarawak Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) got together to find ways to raise more money to fund its increasing activities.

Many suggestions and ideas were thrown on the table for their consideration. After much discussion, it was agreed that a music festival would be a good way to source for fund. Although it is not a conventional fund-raising activity but the committee members felt it could reach out to the masses. It was decided that the music festival would be called World Animal Groove (WAG) and would be held in October, to coincide with the World Animal Day celebration.

Three years later, WAG music festival has grown bigger and better and had attracted a wide section of the society, all doing their parts towards helping SSPCA to reduce the number of stray, abandoned and abused animals.

Seeing the potential of the music festival in attracting visitors to city, the Ministry of Tourism had also “adopted” the event as one of the major events in the State’s Calendar of Event starting this year.

Showcasing music in various genre sic, the music festival had featured world music, classical Indian music, jazz, pop, contemporary, salsa and many more since the first festival held in 2012. The performers were both local and foreigners. And this year is no different and the WAG music festival will be held on October 25 at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK).

This year’s line-up include local band Maya, Hydra Malaysia from Kuala Lumpur, Mel and Joe (Singapore) and Jim and the Saucey Soul Band (USA/Indonesia). Malaysian comedian Bibi Kpoh is also making an appearance at the music festival, coming back for the third year due to the popular request from the festival goers.

 

 A great supporter of SSPCA, Bibi has never fails to tickle the funny bones of the festival goers with her jokes and antic. The crowd also loves her and would not shy away when she approached them during her show.

Like Maya, Hydra Malaysia also has a good following among the locals after having performed several times in the city. Both Maya and Hydra Malaysia are both good cover bands, playing all kind of tunes and they are expected to rock the stage with their energetic performances.

Fans of country music will be in for a treat with Mel and Joe. The two brothers are expected to get the crowd to sing along with them to popular country tunes.
Jim and the Saucey Soul Band, as the name suggested, will woo the crowd with their soul, R&B and jazz tunes. The leader of the band, Jim Larkin is originally from USA and had been in show biz for about 50 years. His band members are equally talented and together they will create good soulful music to get the crowd grooving to their tempo.

Tickets to the festival is priced at RM60 for adult and RM30 for child (3-12 years old) and is available online at www.ticketxpress.com.my and at UCSI Communications office (tel: 082 368109). At the moment tickets are offered at the early bird rate and are priced at RM48 for adult and RM20 for children. The early bird rate ends on July 31.

Apart from the WAG Music Festival, other events organized by SSPCA to raise fund include the Animazing Race which will be held on September 28 and the Charity Gala Dinner on October 24.

At the moment SSPCA is taking care of more than 200 animals, mostly stray and abused, at its Shelter and the society needed about RM20,000 every month for the shelter upkeep and also to provide medical care for the animals. Besides caring for the animals, SSPCA is also working at looking for a new home for them. All the animals will be given proper care and treatment before being put on the adaption program.

The shelter is now getting overcrowded with the increasing number of animals there and the growing development surrounding the area. Hence, SSPCA is looking at building an integrated purpose-build Animal Village. The intention had already voiced to the relevant authorities for further support. The Animal Village is estimated to cost RM1.5 million to build and SSPCA hopes to raise as much from all its fund raising activities to achieve this dream.

This year’s music festival is supported by BCCK, Amansar Travel and Tours, B.N.B Tech, 360 Hotel and Urban Resort, Merdeka Palace Hotel and Suite, City Public Link Bus Service Sdn Bhd and Lee Miing Press Sdn Bhd.
For more info, please visit WAG Music Festival’s website http://wagmusicfestival.com