Music Festivals Latest Niche in Thai Tourism Portfolio

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(Free-Press-Release.com) December 15, 2011 -- Thailand has long been associated with the Fine Arts: dance, painting, performance, film, and it is becoming increasingly recognized as being on the cutting edge of music as well, playing host to a growing number of popular music festivals.

Following on the success of the Pattaya Zoom Festival, the Phuket Electronic Music and Dance Festival 2011, and New Year Countdown 2011 on 30-31 December at Karon Beach, Phuket, is one such event generating a great deal of interest. This is being sponsored by the Department of Intellectual Property, Ministry of Commerce, Tourism Authority of Thailand and Karon Municipality in Phuket, together with Fashion TV and Elite Entertainment, so it is bound to be a huge happening, and a real boon for the Thai music industry.

The objective of this festival is to further develop the image of Thailand as a center of Asian electronic music in order to attract and enthuse both the Thai and foreign younger generations. Additionally, Phuket will become even more famous as a destination where the world electronic music festival is held. It boosts the Thai economy and tourism sectors, including those who enjoy electronic music in Thailand and foreign countries.

Many famous Thai and foreign artists have been invited to this festival. There are two stages for the electronic concerts, and from 7 p.m. onwards the festival will feature over 20 DJs from top 10 clubs such as Seduction, Sanook Club, White Room, Tiger Club, and more. Moreover, many leading foreign artists will highlight the festival, including Mark Brain, Slick, Domination Winter of Asia, and famous Thai DJs Dom Pakornlum, J Monthon, and others.
IP-DJ Hunt2011 will also take place at this time, an event that has launched the careers of several successful professional artists in previous years. An expert panel comprised of aficionados from Pioneer Thailand and others will choose 3 winners, the first prize being 20,000 baht and 1 set of Pioneer ear set model HDJ-500, valued at 4,500 baht. The performance queue will be announced on the websites www.ip-djhunt.com and www.pioneer-thailand.com.

The festival will be broadcast via Fashion TV, the world’s number one network channel. Thus, this dance festival will definitely showcase Thailand as a center for electronic music. Everyone is invited to enjoy the concerts and the competition free of charge as well as the tumultuous countdown activities.

Another really big festival – called “It’s Really Big!” in Thai (mun yai maak) – just held from December 10th to 11th at Bonanza, Khao Yai, Nakorn Ratchasima, was the Big Mountain Music Festival, which rocked the Thai countryside. The last two festivals have attracted crowds of over 65,000 with more than 400 artists taking part. This year, Big Mountain was back and things have been changed, improved and expanded. This is definitely the festival to watch – and attend – in coming years.

Big Mountain is on its way to becoming the biggest music festival in Thailand, with such hot acts as Palmy, Modern Dog, Bodyslam, T-Bone, Christine Aguilar, Thaitanium, Paradox, Four-Mod, Da Endorphine, Singular, Boy Peacemaker, Faye Fang Kaew, Tono, Scrubb and Caliries Blah Blah. Set this in the idyllic atmosphere of Khao Yai (Big Mountain), and you’ve got an annual Asian Woodstock happening just a few hours from Bangkok.
Back in Bangkok, the Thailand International Jazz Conference 2012 (TIJC) will take place 27-29 January 2012 at the College of Music, Mahidol University. TIJC 2012 is an annual event that features performances by various jazz artists from Thailand and the world over, discussions, workshops and lessons by world class jazz musicians and a jazz solo competition.

The southern islands of Koh Samui and Phuket have always had a very eclectic musical scene, and it has been developing substantially in recent years, from the Phuket International Blues Rock Festival, taking place next year on February 23-26, 2012 to the Koh Samui Music Festival, now one of the biggest musical events in the country. Also known as the Songkran Music Festival, this is held during the Songkran Festival every April and is a wonderful, exciting event that attracts thousands of music-lovers.
Started in 2004, the music festival in Koh Samui provides a platform for both budding and professional musicians to showcase their talents. From jazz to rock n' roll to reggae, the Koh Samui music festival is the ideal place to listen and perform different genres and styles of music.

Likewise with the Hua Hin Jazz Festival, which takes place mid-June, where both jazz and traditional Thai concerts are held in nearby Prachuap Khiri Khan at various venues and open-air locations. Thailand’s natural environment breeds many refreshing outdoor events, which are very popular with people of all ages who prefer and enjoy the more informal atmosphere.
The year ends with the Bangkok Jazz Festival – throughout December – a relatively new festival which has grown greatly in popularity, now being attended by over 30,000 people, including many notable jazz musicians. Obviously, Thailand has added yet another niche to its tourism portfolio, already laden with so many treats: music. And it is clear that 2012 is to be a banner year in this regard.