The eighth edition of the Siniawan Country Music Festival (SCMF) 2026 promises three unforgettable nights of live country music, cultural camaraderie and riverside festivities when it returns to the Siniawan Waterfront from Sept 25 to 27.
Serembu assemblyman Datuk Miro Simuh said the festival is expected to attract between 10,000 and 15,000 visitors over the three-night celebration, with music lovers travelling from across Sarawak, Sabah, Kalimantan, Indonesia, Singapore and Peninsular Malaysia.
“We are going to cover a wide range of country music genres over the three nights. It is not only about the music, but also having a good time, enjoying the food and drinks, and meeting friends from various backgrounds. We come from all levels of the community, and this is the kind of music that unites us all,” he said during a press conference yesterday.
The festival will feature bands from Sarawak, Sabah and Indonesia, reinforcing its reputation as one of Sarawak’s premier cross-border country music festivals.
The opening night on Sept 25 will showcase Country Road Band from Miri, Evergreen Unlimited Country Band from Kota Kinabalu and KCLC Band from Pontianak, Indonesia.
On Sept 26, audiences can look forward to performances by Mountain Wind Band from Miri alongside Bau’s OnStrings Band and Midnight Strangers.
The festival concludes on Sept 27 with Hi-Breed Band, The Wranglers from Kuching and Sunday Stranglers Band from Bau.
Meanwhile, the Old Street Stage will feature singers Mark Ashley, Peter Engkassan, Eddie Wong & Friends, Mathew Ngau Jau and B Groove throughout the three evenings.
Miro added that SCMF is not just a music festival but also an economic driver for the local community. Around 100 vendors will participate this year, creating business opportunities for food operators, artisans and small entrepreneurs.
He noted that previous editions generated an estimated RM500,000 to RM1 million in visitor spending, benefitting businesses throughout Siniawan and the surrounding Bau district.
According to him, the festival has firmly established itself on Sarawak’s tourism calendar, with many visitors already securing flights and accommodation well in advance specifically to attend the annual event.
He also said Siniawan’s well-preserved heritage streets, rustic wooden shophouses and old-town ambience give the town the distinctive feel of a cowboy settlement, making it a fitting venue for a country music festival.
Admission to the festival remains free, with visitors only paying for food, beverages and purchases from participating vendors.
On the current haze situation, Miro expressed hope that weather conditions would improve towards the end of the month, allowing more visitors to enjoy the outdoor celebration.
Also present at the press conference were organising committee member Dylan Lai, Bau District Officer Eddy Nayoy and Siniawan Kapitan Bong Boon Kah.
