Country music fans, read this!

Cowboy boots and Stetson hats, banjos and fiddles, guitars and harmonicas, these are the items I associate with at the thought of country music. Along with a vast horizon of dry badlands, stone mountains and cactus trees dotting as far as the eyes could see, I would picture a house with a ranch, a huge bucket of water and haystacks for the horses and cattle. Owh, let’s not forget the tumbleweeds!

I may be wrong on so many accounts of the above, but, I am hoping to get a personal feel of the music from Kareem Salama who came all the way from the USA, the Country Sisters – a group of high temper singers, dancers and musicians from the Czech Republic, Mel and Joe from our neighbouring Singapore, Os Pombos Band from Kuala Lumpur as well as our very own groups Hi Breed from Kuching and Starlet Band from Miri at the upcoming Miri Country Music Festival.

In it’s 2nd edition, the festival will be held on 7th February 2015 at Parkcity Everly Hotel, Miri. Organised by Planet Conventions and Events Sdn. Bhd., Miri Country Music Festival is said to be a thrilling experience of rock-country tunes, pop and contemporary themes as well as a splash of local flavours of Dangdut, bluegrass and folk music in the mix-ups.

Even after having returned to the Rainforest World Music Festival a few times now, I cannot miss out on this festival, as I was told that the variety, styles and genres makes it stand out on its own as an entertaining, fascinating and educational experience for those going.

For those who are thinking of where to spend the weekend at, do consider Miri Country Music Festival happening on the 7th February 2015 at Parcity Everly Hotel, Miri. Tickets are available from:

• Utopia (+60 19 879 0043) and Planet Borneo Travel & Tour Services (+60 82 241 300) in Kuching;
• Parkcity Everly Hotel Miri (+60 85 440 288) and Planet Borneo Travel & Tour Services (+60 85 440 288) in Miri; and
• Asif Pishori (+60 14 692 2757) in Kota Kinabalu

You can also visit the official website at http://www.miricountrymusic.com/ or follow them on Facebook at Miri Country Music Festival page and Twitter @myycountrymusic. Do checkout their 50% off ticket offer while you're at it!

So, guess what? I am going to Miri. I will definitely be around the Festival grounds most of the time – either at the bazaar or attending the workshops. So if you happen to bump into me there, do give me a howdy!