ADDRESS: 28, JALAN SRI HARTAMAS 8, 50480 KUALA LUMPUR. TEL: 603-6201-0318 Fax: 603-6203-1031
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BALA TO ROCK JAMFEST2004
Oct 27, 2004, NST (Life & Times)

By Janagi Morugan

The Jairus Anthony Music Festival, or Jamfest2004, at Backyard Pub& Grill in Kuala Lumpur continues to draw attention to the incredible talent in the country.

Today, it features four more acts to be headlined by well-known soloist Bala and supported by three groups - underground four-piece outfit 360 Degree Head Rotation, alternative guitar-driven five-piece Wednesday and Backyard Pub's very own threesome Jericho.

Jamfest2004 is a tribute to Jairus, a long-time pub-singer and guitarist who died in July of pancreatic cancer and everything he stood for. The festival is also a platform for up-and-coming musicians to show off their talent. More than 40 musicians will perform at Backyard every Wednesday until Nov 17.

The Taiping-born Bala has been in the business for 25 years. Along the way he cut a three-song CD and peddled it in Asia and Europe, sold off his partnerships in places like Street Connection and Online, and returned to what he loves best - getting on stage and performing.

He said he's more comfortable on stage now than he ever had been. "I'm playing what I enjoy. It's like a love affair, once you let her go it's over and you move on. But some people still ask for the old stuff, such as Sorang-geh-ne."

Bala says he tried to be more fluid on stage. "Every show is like cooking a dish on stage. I have to add this and that to get the right taste." And he's doing all that with basic musical instruments - an Ibanez guitar and a basic drum machine - without the assistance of digital instrumentation. "You can have all the equipment in the world but it all comes down to presentation, the mood and feelings you convey. The equipment is just a tool to express yourself."

On Jairus, Bala said he missed the late musician's sense of humour and ready smile. "He made me laugh. He was always supportive of me. Music brought us together," said Bala. And indeed it's the music that's bringing Bala back to Backyard Pub today and he hopes there'll be no more requests for Sorang-geh-ne!

The show kicks off at 8.30pm and ends at 1am. There is no cover charge. Venue: Backyard Pub & Grill, 26 and 28 Jalan Sri Hartamas 8, Taman Sri Hartamas, Kuala Lumpur.

For details, call 03-6201-0318. Bala can be contacted at balabb44@hotmail.com

© The New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Berhad.


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