Thailand : Back in the groove
Back in the groove
Manta Klangboonkrong
January 8, 2011
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Clapton, Santana, Slash, Eagles, Deftones and many more big acts are ready to play in Bangkok
Last year was quiet in terms of foreign bands performing in Bangkok, although America's Green Day kicked things off early. Welshman Tom Jones and Canadian David Foster followed, but fans were still left hoping in vain for bigger names.
Things might have been a little different if not for the political unrest, and sure enough, with the chaos subsided, a slew of foreign acts have booked dates in 2011.
Promoter BEC Tero Entertainment is bringing back four favourites next month through April. Established names and big fan bases guarantee that Eric Clapton and Santana will fill Impact Arena. This is the third appearance here for both.
The Eagles - reunited despite their 2004 Farewell Tour - will pay Bangkok another visit as part of their "Another World" tour.
And rock outfit Maroon 5, who've also previously seen the inside of Impact Arena, will be back in April.
"I believe 2010 was a prelude for 2011, showing a strong demand for international music, both Western and Asian," says Neil Thompson, BEC Tero's deputy managing director.
"In 2011 the sponsors are looking to offer their customers a truly unique experience.
"In Asian music, the Korean acts still ruling the market, but there's a change in the marketplace, and I see J-Rock and J-Pop growing in 2011.
The Koreans look and dance great, but the Japanese are really talented performers.
"We have some real out-of-the-box surprises planned," Thompson hints.
Rising event organiser Lullaby Entertainment is meanwhile bringing in younger independent acts. It scored success with the decently organised Smiley Festival in Pattaya in 2009, which featured the Skatalites and Big Mountain, and two sold-out concerts by the Norwegian folk duo Kings of Convenience last year.
"We found that the Thai audience, particularly teenagers and other young people, is more open to new choices of music," says executive director Potchara Vichitranon.
"We saw that the concerts we organise don't have to involve 'classic' singers or bands that are well known to everyone.
"We aim to bring in more world-class artists. They don't have to be A-list artists, just ones that will provide a new experience in music for Thais."
Lullaby has booked the Whitest Boy Alive for March. Erlend Oye of the Kings of Convenience leads the German-Norwegian electronic-pop group.
Engine 9, who pulled in the Madchester group the Charlatans a few months back, is preparing a venue for Californian hard-rock band the Deftones in mid-February.
The Deftones have been on the scene for more than a decade and are still ahead of the game with their sophisticated, highly individual and constantly evolving sounds and lyrics.
Other upcoming acts include pop singer Lea Salonga from the Philippines, who'll sing greatest-hit love songs on Valentine's Day, and American pop-punk band New Found Glory, slated for late February.
Mainstream rockers can save up for two serious head-banging concerts - by Germany's Scorpions on February 10, and Slash, the former Guns N' Roses guitarist, on March 10.
The Scorpions chose Bangkok to open their Farewell World Tour, while British-born American axe-slinger Slash is touring behind his self-titled solo album.
Among Asian acts, two huge line-ups are causing quite a stir: Korean boy band Super Junior the Third will sell out Impact Arena, and Japanese idol Yamashita "Yamapi" Tomohisa is touring the region on a break from his group NEWS.
Concerts by other big names are expected to be announced soon.
Calendars ready?
- January 15-16 - Super Junior the Third at Impact Arena
- February 10 - Scorpions at Impact
- February 14 - Lea Salonga at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre
- February 15 - Deftones at the Thunder Dome
- February 16 - Eric Clapton at Impact
- February 20 - The Eagles at Impact
- February 21 - New Found Glory at the Thailand Cultural Centre
- March 1 - Santana at Impact
- March 10 - Slash at Impact
- March 19 - The Whitest Boy Alive (venue not set)
- April 23 - Maroon 5 at Impact
- April 23-24 - Yamashita Tomohisa at the Thunder Dome
- Get more details at www.ThaiTicketMajor.com and www.TotalReservation.com.
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