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Bali Blues Festival 2017 to present music legends
In future Bali may be recognized as a central place in the world of blues, both in the local and international music scene.
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Blues is the origin of other music genres, such as jazz and pop. (Shutterstock/File)
The Bali Blues Festival 2017, to be held from Friday to Saturday, will showcase performances from legendary Indonesian musicians.
Renowned Balinese guitarist Balawan, one of the performers, says the music festival serves as a creative platform for blues musicians and notes that blues is the origin of other genres, such as jazz and pop.
Balawan expressed his hope that in the future Bali would be recognized as a central place in the world of blues, both in the local and international music scene.
Read also: In vernacular music we trust
Balawan, who has earned the moniker “The Magic Finger,” is going to collaborate with famed drummer Gilang Ramadhan.
Gilang Ramadhan has expressed his gratitude to the Tourism Ministry, especially Tourism Minister Arief Yahya, for constantly supporting local music events. “As a musician, I’m very proud of this music festival. Both Bali and blues music have the potential to bring in foreign tourists; this is a good collaborative effort between tourism and music,” he says.
Meanwhile, blues band Gugun Blues Shelter is set to perform a duet with Jazz musician Indra Lesmana. The performance will serve as the closing act of the first day.
Read also: "Where is Bali?" most searched travel question on Google in 2016
Gugun Blues Shelter, appearing at the festival for the second time, hopes the Bali Blues Festival will become a compulsory annual event for local blues musicians, “As blues musicians, this event gives us a place [to perform]. Most blues music festivals are very inconsistent, so we hope the Bali Blues Festival is held consistently every year,” said the band.
The second day will feature performers like the Six Strings group consisting of prominent Indonesian guitarists Dewa Budjana, Eross Chandra, Tohpati, Baron and Baim. Meanwhile, the Krakatau Reunion music group consisting of Trie Utami, Indra Lesmana, Dwiki Dharmawan, Pra Budhi Dharma, Gilang Ramadhan and Donnie Suhendra will serve as the closing act on the second day. (asw)
