Much more than music

Concert goers in the West always look forward to summer when they can ditch their sweaters, put on their shorts and sunglasses and expose their bare skin under the sunlight while enjoying a parade of outdoor music events.

But things pleasantly go in the opposite direction in Thailand. As soon as the first sip of the chilly season approaches, Thai concert fans can't wait to grab their cuddling blankets, pack their picnic hampers and head out of town to join one of the many outdoor music festivals that have currently spread throughout the country.

With tickets selling like hot cakes, winter is the time to witness brisk competition among people in the music industry. They try to be as creative and different as they can by introducing the freshest (or should I say `craziest') style of music events that people will remember and talk about for the next year to come. And you can simply omit the word `concert', because what they're offering isn't only artists performing on stage. But a swarm of activities and facilities (including amusement park rides, art galleries, workshops and spas, to name just a few) in a day-long `festival', where people don't just go for music appreciation, but a `life experience' and a reward after a long year of hard work.

Obviously, music isn't the only selling point when it comes to winter concerts. Most organisers usually seek high and low for the coolest, most romantic and most imaginative venue that promises to thrill both concert lovers and music nitwits. Music on the beach which has been `in' for the past several years is now conquered by concerts in a mountain village or a valley next to a well-preserved National Park. And you'll be surprised to learn where Thai concert organisers have gone nowadays to attract audiences. How about a zoo, a dairy farm, a winery and a national corn field?

BIG MOUNTAIN, DAIRY FARM AND CORN FIELD

Ever since the phenomenal success of Khao Yai Winter Music Festival founded by KTC and LOVEis in 2006, valleys in Khao Yai _ especially in Bonanza Ranch _ and nearby areas have become all-time sought-after locations for outdoor concerts. This has also made the agricultural provinces, Nakhon Ratchasima and Saraburi, a hub of music festivals. They started with the valleys, had success with dairy farms, and now it's time they experiment with corn fields.

MUAK LEK COWBOY PARTY

Thai pop-rock of '80s and '90s and cowboy-reggae music at Thai-Denmark Dairy Farm, Muak Lek district, Saraburi, on November 27 from 6pm onward, and on November 28 from 3pm onward. Tickets cost 900 baht and 1,500 baht for two days, call 02-262-3456.

The concert, dubbed ``Jed Sing Dan Suea'' (literally ``seven lions in the land of tigers''), will feature homegrown rock legends including Pongpat, Billy, Tao Somchai, Pong Hin Lek Fai, Suea Thanapon, Rang Rockestra and Peh Hi Rock. The mood will swing to cowboy-style reggae on Saturday with Job To Do, Kaijo Brothers, The Exotic, Madagascar, Joy Boy, Sabai Buri and many more.

HONDA WINTER FEST

Pop, rock, bossa nova, jazz, indie music at Bonanza Ranch, Pak Chong district, Khao Yai, Nakhon Ratchasima, on November 28 from 3pm onward. Tickets cost 1,500 baht, call 02-262-3456.

This prototype of Thailand's winter music festivals originated in 2006 and its success has been phenomenal with the numbers of audiences increasing dramatically every year. The 2009 festival will feature more than 30 local artists, from several genres, such as Maleewan, Kob Songsit, Tik Shiro, Charas Fueng-arom, Surasee Itthikul, Wan Thitima, Pun Paiboonkiet, Ford Sopchai, Oui Rawiwan, Palmmy, Joey Boy, Four-Mod, ModernDog, Girly Berry and DJ Spydamonkeeto, to name just a few.

DEE-BOYD POP FEST

Pop concert at Suwan Farm, National Corn and Sorghum Research Centre, Pak Chong district, Nakhon Ratchasima, on December 5-6 from 4pm-2am. Tickets cost 2,000-3,000 baht, call 02-262-3456.

This two-day music festival is organised by two prominent local songwriters, Nitipong `Dee' Honark and Boyd Kosiyabong. Dee's first music festival dubbed ``Thoong Ya Sai Lom Lae Nom Woa'' (prairie, wind and cow's milk), which was held in February at a dairy farm in Pak Chong, was very successful. While Boyd is among the country's pioneers when it comes to organising music festivals in the valley of Khao Yai. His first Winter Music Festival in 2006 in Bonanza Ranch was a phenomenal hit.

Expect to find a myriad collection of easy listening songs written by the two musical prodigies and performed by well known artists including Kong and John Nuvo, Inca, Hydra, Nat Meria, Mum Laconic, Jieb and Tang Chalieng, Viyada Komarkul, Rudklao, ModernDog, Flure, Od Khiriboon, Nop Ponchamni, Phusaming, To Saksit, Po Yokee Playboy, James Ruangsak and Namcha.

The festival on the 400-rai agricultural plantation surrounded by sunflower fields will also be turned into a hub of food, outdoor activities and thrill rides as well as camping facilities.

BIG MOUNTAIN MUSIC FEST 2010

Pop, rock, bossa nova, ska, reggae and indie music at Bonanza Khao Yai, on February 5-6, 2010. Tickets cost 1,400 baht for two days, call 02-262-3456.

The music festival in a one-square-kilometre ground expects to welcome more than 30,000 at tendees over the 48-hour event. Produced by radio DJ-turned-producer Yutthana Boon-om, the event is designed to be illustriously lively, extraordinarily huge and remarkably abundant with more than 100 artists from over 30 local bands including Big Ass, Bodyslam, ModernDog, Groove Riders, Apartment Khunpa, Paradox, Scrubb, Lula, T-bone, Kaijo Brothers, Teddy Ska Band, Friday, Mild, Lipta, Calorie Blah Blah, Monotone, Crescendo and Siam Secret Service and Abuse the Youth.

Apart from the music that will run continuously on two stages, on the imaginatively set fair ground will be three cutting-edge music pubs, a state-of-the-art dance arena, food markets, shopping streets, an amusement park, an art gallery and spa.

ROMANTIC MAE HONG SON

There's no place as `in' as Pai at the moment. Thanks to its romantic setting with tranquil rivers at its forefront and high mountains as a backdrop, this peaceful community-turned-backpacker-paradise in a rural district of Mae Hong Son has been a hot location for movies, an extremely popular destination for romantic travellers and, now, the most chic venue for outdoor concerts.

However, don't let the rustic image of this small town scare you away (which means you can't have high expectations about its originality, either). Pai, aka the Khao San of Mae Hong Son, is now loaded with stylish resorts, convenient stores, shopping places and banks.

T.G.I. (THANK GOD IT'S) PAI DAY

Acoustic music concert at Lan Lub Fun Dee, Pai district, Mae Hong Son, on November 21 from 6pm-midnight. Tickets cost 900 baht, call 02-262-3456.

Tomorrow (Nov 21) evening the small activity ground next to the serene Pai river will become a romantic sanctuary for acoustic music lovers. Among the artists who will lull the night with their sweet songs are Am Saowaluck, Jieb Wattana, Ou Haruethai, Patchara Dila, Um Waruetada, Silly Fool, Kiew Karabao and Ki Kiratra.

CHANG IN LOVE @ PAI

Rock and easy listening love songs at Coffee in Love ground, Pai district, Mae Hong Son, on December 25-26 from 3pm-3am. Tickets cost 1,200 baht for two days, call 02-262-3456.

The small music festival held on the banks of a river presents two romantic evenings of love songs by more than 20 local acts including ModernDog, Micro, Ice Sarunyu, Golf-Mike, Boy Peacemaker, Slot Machine, Ben Chalatis, Calorie Blah Blah, Jennifer Kim, Lydia and Sek Loso. Friday will be an evening of rock tunes and the mood will switch to easy listening and jazz on Saturday.

BEAUTIFUL BREEZY BEACHES

The sea splash and the soothing sound of waves still remain classics when it comes to an outdoor concert setting. And the noble resort town of Hua Hin with its sophisticated image is ranked number one for jazz events while Pattaya is known as a temple of rock affairs. Yet, when it comes to winter concerts, the lively atmosphere on beaches is second to the romantic ambiance of the mountains.

SEEFA MUSIC ON THE BEACH

Pop concert at Prime Nature Villa Hua Hin, Cha-am district, Phetchaburi, on November 28 from 5pm onward. Tickets cost 999-2,500 baht, call 02-262-3456.

Tickets for this seaside romantic concert, which will kick off next weekend, sold out several weeks ago. It presents seven artists from GMM Grammy who will sing a collection of songs by Seefa, an all-time popular female songwriter. Among the artists are Am Saowaluck, Off Pongsak, Ou Haruethai, Calorie Blah Blah, Da Endrophin, Boy Peacemaker and Shin Shinnawut.

SMILEY FEST _ THE SKA & REGGAE INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL

Ska and reggae music at Ban Amphoe, Beach, Pattaya, Chon Buri, on December 19 from 4pm onward. Tickets cost 800 baht, call 02-262-3456.

Ska and reggae fans can't miss the country's biggest ska and reggae music festival of the year which will take place on a Pattaya beach.

Among the artists to perform are international reggae legends including The Skatalites, the world's first ska band established in 1963 from Jamaica; Ska Cubano, a well known band from Cuba; Babyhead from UK; Prince Fatty featuring Little Roy from Jamaica and Windy City from Korea.

The globally famous artists will be joined by local talents such as T-Bone, Ga-pi, Srirajah Rockers, the Super Glasses, Kaijo Brothers, Skalaxy and Teddy Ska Band.

BANGKOK AL FRESCO

The country's capital also has its own share of the winter tunes. Metropolitan structures like glorious palaces and modern skyscrappers play a great part in providing a magnificent setting for concert lovers who would like to savour the music in a special, memorable atmosphere but don't want to travel far.

LET'S JAZZ UP IN ARTE' CONCERT

Local and international jazz music at Arena 10, Thong Lo Soi 10, on November 28 from 5pm onward. Tickets cost 800 baht, call 02-262-3456.

This musical event-cum-market fair in a new, spacious ground in the middle of the ritzy Thong Lo strip presents six songstresses _ Panadda Ruangwut, Nan Watiya, Lukpad Chonlanud, Lukwah Dubadu, Nara and Calorine.

The fair will also features lots of food, second-hand goods from celebrities, fun activities and art exhibitions.

NIU'S 1ST INTERNATIONAL BANGKOK JAZZ FESTIVAL

Jazz concert at Niu's on Silom jazz club at Baan Silom Arcade, (corner of Silom Soi 19) on  December 11 and 12 from 6:30pm onward. Tickets cost 3,500 and 6,000 baht, call 02-262-3456.

The two-day festival will see a world-class line-up of four bands on both nights performing outdoors in the atmospheric European-style piazza of Baan Silom Arcade.

Friday evening will feature Thai jazz star Koh Mr Saxman with multi award-winning pianist Gwilym Simcock, harmonica player Phil Wiggins, guitarist Corey Harris and saxophone virtuoso James Carter, all from the US.

On Saturday, Francois Lindemann from Switzerland will lead musicians from multi-ethnic backgrounds to build an exhilarating hybrid of cross-cultural jazz using a mix of traditional instruments. Playing in the band alongside Francois at the festival will be trail-blazing Thai jazz and fusion legend Tewan Sapsanyakorn.
 
BANGKOK DECEMBERY

Pop and jazz concert at Sanam Sua Pa, Ratchadamnoen Nok Road, on December 19 from 4pm-midnight. Tickets cost 1,200 baht, call 02-262-3456.

Organised by Terminal Extra, the company which founded Bangkok Jazz Festival, the city's biggest jazz affair that has been running for five years, Bangkok Decembery is the company's new music festival project that highlights music, setting, food and shopping at the same time. With the illuminated Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall as a backdrop, the event will present a selection of local and international artists including Lenka, Swingout Sisters, Boy Trai Phumirat, Groove Riders, Ben Chalatis, Q Flure, ETC, Jetsetter, Stamp and Mint. In the festival, there will be booths selling tasty food and brand name goods as well as activities and games corners.