Mariza, the world's leading exponent of the singing style called fado, returns to Bangkok once more for an October 8 show at the Thailand Cultural Centre, presented by the Portuguese Embassy.
Born Marisa dos Reis Nunes to a Portuguese father and African mother in Mozambique, when it was still Portuguese East Africa, Mariza describes fado as urban Portuguese blues, accompanied by the country's indigenous, sweet-sounding, 12-string guitar.
It's widely believed that the Portuguese royal court brought fado with it when it returned in the mid-19th century from a decade's exile in Brazil.
The lyrics embrace saudade (loosely translated as "nostalgia") and its nuances - longing, happiness, sadness, love and pain.
All of Mariza's albums, from "Fado em Mim" in 2001 through "Fado Curvo" and "Transparente" to "Concerto Em Lisboa" in 2006, earned platinum status.
Her latest, last year's "Terre", featured Dominic Miller, the British guitarist for Sting (with whom Mariza dueted at the opening of the Athens Olympics in 2004), and Spanish flamenco singer Concha Buika, who joined Mariza on "Pequenas Verdades".
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
ROLLING WITH THE BEETS
Holland's Beets Brothers Quartet and Switzerland's Starch will fire up some European jazz for Bangkok next week
After rousing visits from American jazz artists Benny Golson and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Bangkok isn't about to let the groove slide. The Beets Brothers Quartet from the Netherlands will keep that rhythm flowing on October 1 as part of Bangkok's 11th International Festival of Dance and Music.
Appearing with the Beets at the Thailand Cultural Centre will be Starch, a Swiss outfit that blends funk, rock, jazz and hip-hop.
A drummer friend squares off the quartet, but the Beets Brothers - Marius, Alexander and Peter Beets - are the sons of a jazz-minded gynaecologist father and a classical-pianist mother.
From an early they underwent stern tutelage in classical music, training an hour a day, six days a week. Their father managed to inject some jazz into the proceedings.
The boys' initial objections to the tough regime soon yielded to the fun of playing together, and the Beets Brothers were born.
At first their stage was the family living room, which was quickly stocked with all sorts of instruments. Next came school concerts and performances on the local radio station, and then invitations to play at festivals and in competitions - which they regularly won.
The boys were already performing on a regular basis throughout their homeland and in Germany by the time Marius and Peter enrolled in the Royal Conservatory in The Hague. Both graduated with honours.
While sticking to mainstream jazz, the brothers created their own easily recognisable sound - a pronounced "tone-picture" superimposed on swinging rhythmic patterns. That, mixed with blistering energy, makes them a treat for the ears.
It's not so easy describing Starch.
The seven-member band's fusion of so many genres has been called "euphoric, crazy and full of artistic fantasy".
Founded as a funk crew, their music absorbed rock and jazz and later hip-hop. Simon P Winiger and Chris Raxx lead the band into innovative territory that's posted with signs saying things like "indie funk", "crazy cosmopolitan rap" and "dizzy energetic rock".
What do they call the sound? "Starch music!"
In their decade of performing, Starch have played the Montreux Jazz Festival and toured Europe. This year has seen their first venture outside Europe, a sweep through Australia and Asia.
The Bangkok audience will hear nine songs from their latest album, "Music", and their last, "Freak City".
Book seats at www.ThaiTicketMajor.com or (02) 262 3456. The International Festival of Dance and Music continues through October 17. See the details at www.BangkokFestivals.com.
Foremost in fado
Mariza, the world's leading exponent of the singing style called fado, returns to Bangkok once more for an October 8 show at the Thailand Cultural Centre, presented by the Portuguese Embassy.
Born Marisa dos Reis Nunes to a Portuguese father and African mother in Mozambique, when it was still Portuguese East Africa, Mariza describes fado as urban Portuguese blues, accompanied by the country's indigenous, sweet-sounding, 12-string guitar.
It's widely believed that the Portuguese royal court brought fado with it when it returned in the mid-19th century from a decade's exile in Brazil.
The lyrics embrace saudade (loosely translated as "nostalgia") and its nuances - longing, happiness, sadness, love and pain.
All of Mariza's albums, from "Fado em Mim" in 2001 through "Fado Curvo" and "Transparente" to "Concerto Em Lisboa" in 2006, earned platinum status.
Her latest, last year's "Terre", featured Dominic Miller, the British guitarist for Sting (with whom Mariza dueted at the opening of the Athens Olympics in 2004), and Spanish flamenco singer Concha Buika, who joined Mariza on "Pequenas Verdades".
After rousing visits from American jazz artists Benny Golson and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Bangkok isn't about to let the groove slide. The Beets Brothers Quartet from the Netherlands will keep that rhythm flowing on October 1 as part of Bangkok's 11th International Festival of Dance and Music.
Appearing with the Beets at the Thailand Cultural Centre will be Starch, a Swiss outfit that blends funk, rock, jazz and hip-hop.
A drummer friend squares off the quartet, but the Beets Brothers - Marius, Alexander and Peter Beets - are the sons of a jazz-minded gynaecologist father and a classical-pianist mother.
From an early they underwent stern tutelage in classical music, training an hour a day, six days a week. Their father managed to inject some jazz into the proceedings.
The boys' initial objections to the tough regime soon yielded to the fun of playing together, and the Beets Brothers were born.
At first their stage was the family living room, which was quickly stocked with all sorts of instruments. Next came school concerts and performances on the local radio station, and then invitations to play at festivals and in competitions - which they regularly won.
The boys were already performing on a regular basis throughout their homeland and in Germany by the time Marius and Peter enrolled in the Royal Conservatory in The Hague. Both graduated with honours.
While sticking to mainstream jazz, the brothers created their own easily recognisable sound - a pronounced "tone-picture" superimposed on swinging rhythmic patterns. That, mixed with blistering energy, makes them a treat for the ears.
It's not so easy describing Starch.
The seven-member band's fusion of so many genres has been called "euphoric, crazy and full of artistic fantasy".
Founded as a funk crew, their music absorbed rock and jazz and later hip-hop. Simon P Winiger and Chris Raxx lead the band into innovative territory that's posted with signs saying things like "indie funk", "crazy cosmopolitan rap" and "dizzy energetic rock".
What do they call the sound? "Starch music!"
In their decade of performing, Starch have played the Montreux Jazz Festival and toured Europe. This year has seen their first venture outside Europe, a sweep through Australia and Asia.
The Bangkok audience will hear nine songs from their latest album, "Music", and their last, "Freak City".
Book seats at www.ThaiTicketMajor.com or (02) 262 3456. The International Festival of Dance and Music continues through October 17. See the details at www.BangkokFestivals.com.
Foremost in fado
Mariza, the world's leading exponent of the singing style called fado, returns to Bangkok once more for an October 8 show at the Thailand Cultural Centre, presented by the Portuguese Embassy.
Born Marisa dos Reis Nunes to a Portuguese father and African mother in Mozambique, when it was still Portuguese East Africa, Mariza describes fado as urban Portuguese blues, accompanied by the country's indigenous, sweet-sounding, 12-string guitar.
It's widely believed that the Portuguese royal court brought fado with it when it returned in the mid-19th century from a decade's exile in Brazil.
The lyrics embrace saudade (loosely translated as "nostalgia") and its nuances - longing, happiness, sadness, love and pain.
All of Mariza's albums, from "Fado em Mim" in 2001 through "Fado Curvo" and "Transparente" to "Concerto Em Lisboa" in 2006, earned platinum status.
Her latest, last year's "Terre", featured Dominic Miller, the British guitarist for Sting (with whom Mariza dueted at the opening of the Athens Olympics in 2004), and Spanish flamenco singer Concha Buika, who joined Mariza on "Pequenas Verdades".
Monday, September 21, 2009
OPENING NIGHT
The height of the annual cultural calendar is here again with the inauguration of Bangkok's 11th International Festival of Dance & Music at the Thailand Cultural Centre.
HM the Queen is welcomed on arrival for the opening of Bangkok’s 11th International Festival of Dance & Music by, from left, JS Uberoi, Vichai Raksriaksorn, Khunying Dhipavadee Meksawan and Rapeepan Luangaramrut.
The festival kicked off with La Traviata by the Ekaterinburg Opera Theatre, Russia, conducted by Mikhail Granovsky from the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow.
It was a full house, with guests turning up in evening gowns for the gala event graced by Her Majesty the Queen. A cocktail reception was held prior to the opera in the Small Auditorium, and corporate sponsors mingled with guests - diplomats, socialites as well as cultural glitterati - to discuss the upcoming programmes of their choice for this month-long event.
It was also an opportunity to enjoy a few canapes to stifle the hunger pangs for the duration of the opera.
Then it was time to move to the main auditorium to await the arrival of HM the Queen.
Opera buffs were there in force to enjoy the first of three operas of the festival, including Tosca and Madame Butterfly. The festival continues until October 17 with a variety of performing arts showcases in every genre.
Prof Dr Apinan Poshyananda, Russian Ambassador Evegeny Afanasieva and his wife, Olga, and Chaweerat Kasetsoontorn.
Vapee and Thanpuying MR Muanchit Bhirombhakdi.
Indian Ambassador Latha Reddy with Rasina and Sunny Bajaj.
Dr Suvit and Khunying Songsuda Yodmani.
Egasith Chotpakdetrakul, Chavarat Charnvirakul, Khunying Dhipavadee Meksawan and Korn Dabbaransi.
Nitya and Patricia Pibulsonggram.
Sririta Jensen.
Harald Link.
Martina and Michael Kordys with Damira and JS Uberoi.
Elizabeth and Peter Romhild with Damira Uberoi.
HM the Queen is welcomed on arrival for the opening of Bangkok’s 11th International Festival of Dance & Music by, from left, JS Uberoi, Vichai Raksriaksorn, Khunying Dhipavadee Meksawan and Rapeepan Luangaramrut.
The festival kicked off with La Traviata by the Ekaterinburg Opera Theatre, Russia, conducted by Mikhail Granovsky from the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow.
It was a full house, with guests turning up in evening gowns for the gala event graced by Her Majesty the Queen. A cocktail reception was held prior to the opera in the Small Auditorium, and corporate sponsors mingled with guests - diplomats, socialites as well as cultural glitterati - to discuss the upcoming programmes of their choice for this month-long event.
It was also an opportunity to enjoy a few canapes to stifle the hunger pangs for the duration of the opera.
Then it was time to move to the main auditorium to await the arrival of HM the Queen.
Opera buffs were there in force to enjoy the first of three operas of the festival, including Tosca and Madame Butterfly. The festival continues until October 17 with a variety of performing arts showcases in every genre.
Prof Dr Apinan Poshyananda, Russian Ambassador Evegeny Afanasieva and his wife, Olga, and Chaweerat Kasetsoontorn.
Vapee and Thanpuying MR Muanchit Bhirombhakdi.
Indian Ambassador Latha Reddy with Rasina and Sunny Bajaj.
Dr Suvit and Khunying Songsuda Yodmani.
Egasith Chotpakdetrakul, Chavarat Charnvirakul, Khunying Dhipavadee Meksawan and Korn Dabbaransi.
Nitya and Patricia Pibulsonggram.
Sririta Jensen.
Harald Link.
Martina and Michael Kordys with Damira and JS Uberoi.
Elizabeth and Peter Romhild with Damira Uberoi.
THE SOUND OF LONDON: DESIGNERS' FAVOURITE RUNWAY TUNES
Walking on a Dream , by Empire of the Sun.House of Holland:I Wanna Be a Supermodel , by Letters to Cleo.Vivienne Westwood Red Label:I've Seen Enough , by Cold War Kids;Cities Burning Down (Naum Gabo remix), by Howling Bells.Luella:Happy When It Rains , by the Jesus and Mary Chain;Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others , by the Smiths.Osman Yousefzada:Love Song , by the Cure;Standing On The Shore , by Empire of the Sun.Christopher Kane:Natural Born Killers , original soundtrack.Jonathan Saunders:Small Town City , by WhoMadeWho;William's Blood (Aeroplane remix), by Grace Jones.Peter Jensen:M79 , by Vampire Weekend;The Blue Wrath , by I Monster.Roksanda Ilincic:Obsessions , by Marina and the Diamonds;Computer Love , by Glass Candy.
Fresh stars try on a new title for "VH1 Divas"
A diva doesn't bow out gracefully, or quietly, which is why Paula Abdul, weeks after detaching herself from American Idol , found herself on a stage in Brooklyn, holding a series of microphones in the general area of her face,lip-synching a four-song medley of her 20-year-old hits.
It took gumption to do that, knowing full well that everyone who was to take the stage in the next two hours would be a vocal titan.(Well, almost everyone.)But above all, a diva makes a scene.
And while there was tremendous talent at this year's incarnation of VH1 Divas ,last Thursday night at the Howard Gilman Opera House of the Brooklyn Academy of Music and hosted by a loopy, manic Abdul, there wasn't much to see.
In prerecorded segments of the show,which was broadcast live on the VH1 network, each of the night's stars Adele, Kelly Clarkson, Miley Cyrus,Jennifer Hudson, Leona Lewis and Jordin Sparks - politely distanced herself from the diva stigma.(Well, almost everyone.)
But really, the word was unattainable,unless it now means "female singers who weren't otherwise occupied or stratospherically famous". Previous iterations of this concert, a franchise that had been abandoned in 2004, featured Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey,Celine Dion and Tina Turner, among others.
But Thursday night's diminished star power turned out to be an asset - there was no anticipation of petulance or disruption, just electric singing. Lewis delivered a stirring True Colors in a duet with Cyndi Lauper, her swoops a balance to Lauper's scrapes. Clarkson's Already Gone was winningly bitter. Sparks was joined by the country star Martina McBride for A Broken Wing , on which McBride was devastating.(An idea for next year:Country Divas , with McBride,Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert,Taylor Swift and several contrition interludes by Kanye West.)
Jennifer Hudson, one of four products of the Simon Cowell machine on the bill - along with Clarkson and Sparks, who both won American Idol , and Lewis, win-ner of the UK's X Factor - impressed the most.
Spotlight , from Hudson's 2008 selftitled debut album, was epic in a way the blithe recorded version never approached. And her duet with Stevie Wonder on All in Love is Fair was hefty - he in the full velvet of his voice, and she shamelessly jumping to the big notes.
Cyrus, the night's biggest draw, based on audience screams, was the exception to all rules here. The least gifted singer - on her duet with Sheryl Crow, she wrestled with the melody of If it Makes You Happy , only sometimes winning and the only one to see the "diva" tag as an opportunity, not a burden."I feel like I'm going to start bossing people around today," she said, joking during her taped intro.
But she had nothing on Abdul, who's been bossing people around for years,or at least guiding them irrationally. This month it was announced that Abdul's seat on American Idol would be filled by the affable, anodyne talk show host Ellen DeGeneres. DeGeneres will probably also take Abdul's place as the show's nurturer.(DeGeneres was the host of VH1 Divas in 2002; she won this trade.)
How's Abdul taking the news? Noisily.She fired off a few awkward Idol barbs on Thursday, but mid-show she displayed a brief flash of genius. After a commercial break, to the sounds of Pink's Get This Party Started , she appeared in one of the aisles dressed as DeGeneres - black suit and trainers, blonde wig - and mocking the signature dance moves DeGeneres does on each episode of her talk show.
If Abdul possesses a sort of intelligence,it is this - a gift for the kinesthetic. The mocking was brutal because it was so accurate, just a tweak of the awkward,tight shuffle invented by DeGeneres as a relatable anti-dance.
For Abdul, a better dancer and choreographer than singer orrealitycompetition judge, it must have been tough to move so stiffly.
After bopping her way to the stage,she tossed herself into a chair and mused,"Can't a girl try out a new job?" So long as it comes with the old attitude, no problem.AP
ON THEIR BEST BEHAVIOUR: Left to right, Miley Cyrus, Kelly Clarkson, Jordin Sparks, Paula Abdul, Jennifer Hudson, Adele and Leona Lewis close the "VH1 Divas" show in New York.
It took gumption to do that, knowing full well that everyone who was to take the stage in the next two hours would be a vocal titan.(Well, almost everyone.)But above all, a diva makes a scene.
And while there was tremendous talent at this year's incarnation of VH1 Divas ,last Thursday night at the Howard Gilman Opera House of the Brooklyn Academy of Music and hosted by a loopy, manic Abdul, there wasn't much to see.
In prerecorded segments of the show,which was broadcast live on the VH1 network, each of the night's stars Adele, Kelly Clarkson, Miley Cyrus,Jennifer Hudson, Leona Lewis and Jordin Sparks - politely distanced herself from the diva stigma.(Well, almost everyone.)
But really, the word was unattainable,unless it now means "female singers who weren't otherwise occupied or stratospherically famous". Previous iterations of this concert, a franchise that had been abandoned in 2004, featured Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey,Celine Dion and Tina Turner, among others.
But Thursday night's diminished star power turned out to be an asset - there was no anticipation of petulance or disruption, just electric singing. Lewis delivered a stirring True Colors in a duet with Cyndi Lauper, her swoops a balance to Lauper's scrapes. Clarkson's Already Gone was winningly bitter. Sparks was joined by the country star Martina McBride for A Broken Wing , on which McBride was devastating.(An idea for next year:Country Divas , with McBride,Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert,Taylor Swift and several contrition interludes by Kanye West.)
Jennifer Hudson, one of four products of the Simon Cowell machine on the bill - along with Clarkson and Sparks, who both won American Idol , and Lewis, win-ner of the UK's X Factor - impressed the most.
Spotlight , from Hudson's 2008 selftitled debut album, was epic in a way the blithe recorded version never approached. And her duet with Stevie Wonder on All in Love is Fair was hefty - he in the full velvet of his voice, and she shamelessly jumping to the big notes.
Cyrus, the night's biggest draw, based on audience screams, was the exception to all rules here. The least gifted singer - on her duet with Sheryl Crow, she wrestled with the melody of If it Makes You Happy , only sometimes winning and the only one to see the "diva" tag as an opportunity, not a burden."I feel like I'm going to start bossing people around today," she said, joking during her taped intro.
But she had nothing on Abdul, who's been bossing people around for years,or at least guiding them irrationally. This month it was announced that Abdul's seat on American Idol would be filled by the affable, anodyne talk show host Ellen DeGeneres. DeGeneres will probably also take Abdul's place as the show's nurturer.(DeGeneres was the host of VH1 Divas in 2002; she won this trade.)
How's Abdul taking the news? Noisily.She fired off a few awkward Idol barbs on Thursday, but mid-show she displayed a brief flash of genius. After a commercial break, to the sounds of Pink's Get This Party Started , she appeared in one of the aisles dressed as DeGeneres - black suit and trainers, blonde wig - and mocking the signature dance moves DeGeneres does on each episode of her talk show.
If Abdul possesses a sort of intelligence,it is this - a gift for the kinesthetic. The mocking was brutal because it was so accurate, just a tweak of the awkward,tight shuffle invented by DeGeneres as a relatable anti-dance.
For Abdul, a better dancer and choreographer than singer orrealitycompetition judge, it must have been tough to move so stiffly.
After bopping her way to the stage,she tossed herself into a chair and mused,"Can't a girl try out a new job?" So long as it comes with the old attitude, no problem.AP
ON THEIR BEST BEHAVIOUR: Left to right, Miley Cyrus, Kelly Clarkson, Jordin Sparks, Paula Abdul, Jennifer Hudson, Adele and Leona Lewis close the "VH1 Divas" show in New York.
Tranced out on techno
Phuket, Thailand's largest island and home to the most famous of the Kingdom's southern beach resorts, has long been building a reputation as a hub for sport and leisure activities. Aside from hosting the King's Cup Regatta each December and the Quick Silver Surf Competition, the island also has its own film festival, fashion week plus annual jazz and food festivals.
Next weekend, Phuket launches the debut edition of the Roy Fest Phuket Music Festival, a new music event featuring more than 50 DJs and musicians from around the globe. The Tourism Authority of Thailand has invested more than Bt22 million to convert Karon Beach into the ultimate beach dance party, with the operative word being roy-what the southerners call "fun" and "delicious".
"Hua Hin and Rayoung have their own music festivals, so why not Phuket?" says Norasate Mudkong, aka DJ Seed, who'll be manning the deeks at the festival.
"Singapore's Zouk Out is an incredibly successful beach dance festival, and our beach is much more beautiful."
"With the current economic situation, it's important that we promote tourism in Southern Thailand," adds Dom Chotivanich, CEO & partner of creative agency NetPublications. "Phuket is a great place to start-it's strikingly picturesque and, because it's already well known, it's easier to attract tourists from all over the world.
"Our role models are Singapore's Zouk Out and England's Brighton Beach Festival, both of which receive massive support from their respective municipal government. That stimulates spending and helps money to circulate.
"Roy Fest actually aims to raise awareness about Phuket, largely by word of mouth from the artists, as we approach the high season."
The two-day bash will feature two groups of international artists, among them DJs Ken Ishii from Japan, Adsorb from England, Lord Warddd from America and Lapsap from Malaysia, and local mashers such as DJ Seed, DJ Dragon, T-Bone, Ta-Mone, Thaitanium, Southside, Doobadoo, Silly Fools and Smile Buffalo.
"I've been really impressed with the Japanese DJs' shows here," says Dom. "DJ Adsorb, who played at Glastonbury, is BBC Radio's rising star. It's not easy for a new organiser like us to bring in any big names, or even a rising star, so we've been really luck."
"DJ Ken Ishii is a world-ranked techno DJ," says DJ Seed, who's the festival's music director. "He once mixed the sound of our kaen [Isaan reed mouth organ] with techno on an album he recorded here. If the Roy Fest is even 60 or 70 per cent successful, I think it can outdo Zouk Out."
Zouk Out starts at 8pm and ends at 8am, while the Roy Fest runs from 6pm to 2am.
"I initially planned to run the festival over the same period as Zouk Out, but I was afraid that the audience would be too exhausted. Based on my own experience in Singapore, we're providing a shuttle bus service so that partygoers can head back and crash when they've had enough.
"We would like everyone to have a good time and enjoy dancing on the beach under the stars and cooled by the sea breezes," says Dom."
And, in keeping with every good Thai festival, partygoers will also find plenty of booths selling foods, beverages and souvenirs.
PACKAGE AND PARTY
Two party packages priced at Bt4,950 and Bt5,250 are available, They include a round-trip ticket on AirAsia and two nights's accommodation. Visit www.RoyFest.com or call (02)503 3878. Karon Beach is on Phuket's west coast, south of Patong and north of Kata.
Phuket has 712 hotels, ranging from Bt200 to Bt 100,000, with 38,000 rooms and 200 spas including 50 inside the hotels. Phuket has five marinas with 135 yachts moored, as of last month.
Next weekend, Phuket launches the debut edition of the Roy Fest Phuket Music Festival, a new music event featuring more than 50 DJs and musicians from around the globe. The Tourism Authority of Thailand has invested more than Bt22 million to convert Karon Beach into the ultimate beach dance party, with the operative word being roy-what the southerners call "fun" and "delicious".
"Hua Hin and Rayoung have their own music festivals, so why not Phuket?" says Norasate Mudkong, aka DJ Seed, who'll be manning the deeks at the festival.
"Singapore's Zouk Out is an incredibly successful beach dance festival, and our beach is much more beautiful."
"With the current economic situation, it's important that we promote tourism in Southern Thailand," adds Dom Chotivanich, CEO & partner of creative agency NetPublications. "Phuket is a great place to start-it's strikingly picturesque and, because it's already well known, it's easier to attract tourists from all over the world.
"Our role models are Singapore's Zouk Out and England's Brighton Beach Festival, both of which receive massive support from their respective municipal government. That stimulates spending and helps money to circulate.
"Roy Fest actually aims to raise awareness about Phuket, largely by word of mouth from the artists, as we approach the high season."
The two-day bash will feature two groups of international artists, among them DJs Ken Ishii from Japan, Adsorb from England, Lord Warddd from America and Lapsap from Malaysia, and local mashers such as DJ Seed, DJ Dragon, T-Bone, Ta-Mone, Thaitanium, Southside, Doobadoo, Silly Fools and Smile Buffalo.
"I've been really impressed with the Japanese DJs' shows here," says Dom. "DJ Adsorb, who played at Glastonbury, is BBC Radio's rising star. It's not easy for a new organiser like us to bring in any big names, or even a rising star, so we've been really luck."
"DJ Ken Ishii is a world-ranked techno DJ," says DJ Seed, who's the festival's music director. "He once mixed the sound of our kaen [Isaan reed mouth organ] with techno on an album he recorded here. If the Roy Fest is even 60 or 70 per cent successful, I think it can outdo Zouk Out."
Zouk Out starts at 8pm and ends at 8am, while the Roy Fest runs from 6pm to 2am.
"I initially planned to run the festival over the same period as Zouk Out, but I was afraid that the audience would be too exhausted. Based on my own experience in Singapore, we're providing a shuttle bus service so that partygoers can head back and crash when they've had enough.
"We would like everyone to have a good time and enjoy dancing on the beach under the stars and cooled by the sea breezes," says Dom."
And, in keeping with every good Thai festival, partygoers will also find plenty of booths selling foods, beverages and souvenirs.
PACKAGE AND PARTY
Two party packages priced at Bt4,950 and Bt5,250 are available, They include a round-trip ticket on AirAsia and two nights's accommodation. Visit www.RoyFest.com or call (02)503 3878. Karon Beach is on Phuket's west coast, south of Patong and north of Kata.
Phuket has 712 hotels, ranging from Bt200 to Bt 100,000, with 38,000 rooms and 200 spas including 50 inside the hotels. Phuket has five marinas with 135 yachts moored, as of last month.
DELICIOUS BEACH DANCE PARTY
Are you ready to "roy "? In southern Thai language,roy means enjoy, fun and delicious - all of which is to be expected at the first "RoyFest Phuket Music Festival" which will take place on Karon Beach, Phuket, on Sept 25-26 from 6pm.Organised by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the island province,it aims to be the biggest beach dance party in Southeast Asia.
Setthaphan Buddhani, TAT Phuket director said:"Phuket's natural beauty draws tourists from far and wide. We now hope that music power will bring in even more visitors to give them a good time and happy memories. All in all, this music festival will boost tourism and the local economy."
Karon Beach, with its fine white sand is 40 metres wide and 3.5 km long,which, according to Setthaphan, makes for an excellent location for a music festival."It's a charming spot, with the beautiful sea as a backdrop," he said."And we expect thousands of people - tourists and music fans - will join in the fun."
Vudtinun Bhirombhakdi, Boon Rawd Trading's manager for Music and Event Marketing, noted that Karon Beach, unlike bustling Patong, has never been a venue for a big international event. The RoyFest will, however, put Karon on the map as a music festival destination.
The line-up includes popular Thai bands Thaitanium,T-Bone,Ta-mone, OhDoobadoo, Silly Fools, Smile Buffalo and South Side Phuket. Famed DJs spinning out the music include Thailand's DJ Seed and DJ Dragon, Japan's DJ Ken Ishii, The UK's Adsorb and Lord Warddd from the US.
"The festival will get people dancing to reggae, ska, jazz, hip-hop. We didn't want it to offer only one certain type of music, but more of a variety. Silly Fools and Smile Buffalo will also bring Silly Fools.in some rock music to get the party rolling," said Vudtinun.
Smile Buffalo broke up 10 years ago but they are making a comeback on the same stage with Silly Fools for a not-to-be-missed Silly Buffalo act.
Promoting the Thai travel Thai campaign, Vudtinun hopes that Thais from across the country will gather at the two-day music festival to dance the night away.
Admission is free of charge. For more information and special
Hip-hop band Thaitanium.packages, visit www.royfest.com.
Setthaphan Buddhani, TAT Phuket director said:"Phuket's natural beauty draws tourists from far and wide. We now hope that music power will bring in even more visitors to give them a good time and happy memories. All in all, this music festival will boost tourism and the local economy."
Karon Beach, with its fine white sand is 40 metres wide and 3.5 km long,which, according to Setthaphan, makes for an excellent location for a music festival."It's a charming spot, with the beautiful sea as a backdrop," he said."And we expect thousands of people - tourists and music fans - will join in the fun."
Vudtinun Bhirombhakdi, Boon Rawd Trading's manager for Music and Event Marketing, noted that Karon Beach, unlike bustling Patong, has never been a venue for a big international event. The RoyFest will, however, put Karon on the map as a music festival destination.
The line-up includes popular Thai bands Thaitanium,T-Bone,Ta-mone, OhDoobadoo, Silly Fools, Smile Buffalo and South Side Phuket. Famed DJs spinning out the music include Thailand's DJ Seed and DJ Dragon, Japan's DJ Ken Ishii, The UK's Adsorb and Lord Warddd from the US.
"The festival will get people dancing to reggae, ska, jazz, hip-hop. We didn't want it to offer only one certain type of music, but more of a variety. Silly Fools and Smile Buffalo will also bring Silly Fools.in some rock music to get the party rolling," said Vudtinun.
Smile Buffalo broke up 10 years ago but they are making a comeback on the same stage with Silly Fools for a not-to-be-missed Silly Buffalo act.
Promoting the Thai travel Thai campaign, Vudtinun hopes that Thais from across the country will gather at the two-day music festival to dance the night away.
Admission is free of charge. For more information and special
Hip-hop band Thaitanium.packages, visit www.royfest.com.
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