Lance ThooOne music video that comes to mind when I think about drums and percussions is Michael Jackson’s 1996 hit song, “They Don’t Care About Us” (YouTube video above), which featured 200 members from ‘Olodum’, a Brazilian percussion group who swayed to the beat of Salvador’s ‘Samba Reggae’ music.
It’s been over 20 years since that music video was released, and yet the scenes of youths playing percussion musical instruments still remain etched in my mind to this day.
I guess music is truly timeless. It can also transcend across communities, cultures and creeds!
You’re probably wondering why on earth I’m talking about the “King of Pop” in 2019. Well, it’s because Hundred Beats 2019 – Brunei’s only drum and percussion event – will take place on the very same stage, where Jackson performed in a concert at the Jerudong Park Amphitheater in July 1996.
The March 2, 2019 event will see the biggest-ever ensemble of Brunei’s talented drummers and percussionists performing live. About 15 segments can be expected during the 3-hour event, which will also feature live music performances, as well as drums and guitar solos.
Pg Kamal Ghadafi Pg Hj Suhaimi, the Founder of KaMaLoKo Entertainment Group (KEG), Zulhilmi bin Hj Bakri, a founding member and musician, and Evy Vaizura Hj Abdul Raup, Sales Marketing & Events Officer, Jerudong Park Country Club Sdn Bhd, speaking to the media about the upcoming Hundred Beats 2019 event (Photo courtesy of kamaloko.ent.group)
This will be the fifth drum and percussion production to be organised by KaMaLoKo Entertainment Group (KEG) since its inception in 2005. The show was on hiatus for 10 years until it was revived in 2016 – thanks to the growing popularity of Brazilian ‘Samba Reggae’ percussions in Brunei initiated by Pg Kamal Ghadafi Pg Hj Suhaimi, the Founder of KEG.
Pg Kamal Ghadafi, who is also a professional drummer and choreographer, noted that this is the biggest ensemble of percussionists they’ve ever put together since the show was revived 3 years ago.
“Our group has grown tremendously over the years from 5 to 20 percussionists and we’ve also expanded our percussion instruments,” he said, adding that there has been a growing number of drummers who have expressed their interest to perform at these events.
For some of the first-time performers who will be performing on March 2, it’s going to be a night that they’ll never forget.
According to Pg Kamal Ghadafi, almost half of the performers are first-timers, some of whom once started with little to no experience in playing the drums and percussions.
Tickets for the March 2 event – priced at $10, $15 and $50 (VIP) – can now be obtained from the Jerudong Park Sales, Marketing and Event office, as well as at the entrance of the Jerudong Park Amphitheater on the actual day of the event.
Will you be showing your support for the upcoming Hundred Beats 2019 event at Jerudong Park Amphitheater? Who knows? Perhaps you could find that “missing beat” in your life with drums and percussions?