Thank you Pattaya! (From left to
right) Pee Saderd, Kitti Guitarpuen, Thanit Sriklindee and Pancake perform the
final song at the closing of the Pattaya Music Festival 2014. Despite dropping
the “International” from its name, the 2014 Pattaya Music Festival brought tens
of thousands to Pattaya for standing-room only concerts on six beachfront
stages.
Warunya Thongrod
Despite dropping the “International” from its name, the 2014 Pattaya
Music Festival brought tens of thousands to Pattaya for standing-room only
concerts on six beachfront stages.
Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome and Sakol Phonlookin of the Chonburi Administrative
Organization opened the March 21-23 concerts at the main “orange” stage, with
sponsors and guests attending.
The highlight of the opening ceremony was a contemporary Thai music performance
from Khun In, a professional alto-xylophonist who appeared in the movie
“Homrong.” The artist mixed the aesthetics of Thai music with international
sounds to the simultaneous release of fireworks.
The Somkiat band from the Small
Room label performs for fans on the blue stage at Central Festival Pattaya
Beach.
Despite the bombast, the 13th annual festival lacked the
punch of earlier shows, thanks to the absence of every international artist
originally booked. At a pre-show press conference, Itthiphol said a last-minute
decision to change the festival’s date resulted in the mass cancellations.
However, the fact that Thailand has been under a state of emergency amid deadly
street protests in Bangkok was not mentioned may also have played a role in
their foreigners’ absence.
Khun-In, playing alto-xylophone,
mixed the aesthetics of Thai music with international sounds to the simultaneous
release of fireworks during the opening.
“We promise that next year there will be foreign artists
performing at the festival, plus we will even invite artists from neighboring
countries to give a performance as a welcome to the era of the ASEAN Economic
Community, adding fun to the concert where music can bring all nationalities
together,” Itthiphol said.
At Soi 4’s “purple” stage, disco music poured out for an exhibition of more than
50 cars with booming audio systems, complete with coyote dancers performing
their hottest moves.
The orange stage at the entrance of the Hard Rock Hotel had Thai headliners
including Tattoo Color, Da Endorphine, Big Ass, Thaitanium, The Richman Toy,
Khun-In, Cocktail, Got Jakapun and Pee Saderd.
Da Endorphin shows the power of
her voice singing ‘Ying Roo Juk Ying Rak Thur’ (The more I know you, more I love
you) as her opening performance on the orange stage.
A little bit further was the “green” stage at the Central
Road intersection where mellower sounds from the BEC-TERO label performed,
including Sugar Eyes, 60 Miles, Bleed, Magenta, Shopping Bags and Mohlum.
The “blue” stage was devoted to indie artists at Central Festival Pattaya Beach,
including Summerstop, When, Slur, Lomosonic, Lemon Soup, Barbie and Polycat.
Those preferring house, trance and techno visited the “pink” stage in front of
Royal Garden Plaza and the final stage was at South Road, which was the reggae
venue, a favorite of tourists over the years.
Thaitanium interacting with fans.
Crowds hit their peak on Saturday, thanks to a
traffic-strangling influx from Bangkok, with the masses thinning a bit on the
final day. Still, the festival venues were packed with Pattaya residents and
tourists shopping and enjoying the shows, particularly, at the main stage and
the green stage, where country and Mohlum artists created a dance floor.
The closure of Beach Road crippled traffic on Second Road and stoked huge
amounts of congestion on South and Central roads.
Thanit Sriklindee (left) showing
off his flute skills as a special guest of Thanit Sriklindee surprising his fans
at the Pattaya Music Festival on the final day.
Pancake, the popular actress,
performs with Pee Saderd their hit song ‘Jee Hoi’ (Roasting shell).
Big Ass cranks out the tunes.
The Ko-khai and Mr. Son band
thrill their fans.
Sirasak Ittipolpanit sings his hit
song, ‘Thaen Jai’ (My heart for you), amidst the applause.
Rattana “Na” Janthraprasit, the
lead singer and lead guitarist from Polycat, sings ‘Mua Thur Sang Ma’
(When you call my name).
Sangsuri Rungrote, a hot country
singer for over 30 years, sings ‘Rak Sao Sua Lai’ (Love girl in striped shirt),
and ‘Hae Khan Mak’ (Gifts from groom to bride).
The prince of country, Got
Jakapan, surrounded by majestic costumes.
The lead singer from Mild performs
on the main stage, welcoming fans to the first day of the Pattaya Music Festival
2014.
Pimpa Pornsiri performs fun and
sad songs, such as ‘Nam Ta Mia Sa-u’ (Tears from wife in Saudi Arabia).
Dancers in feather costumes
perform to ‘Jai Sarapaap’ (Heart confession).
Rachat Sirichai sings ‘Pid Fai Sai
Klon’
(Turn off light, lock the door).
Taktaen Chollada opens her
performance on the orange stage in front of thousands of her fans.
Beautiful coyote dancers perform
to blasting audio systems at the purple stage around Soi 4.
Rakchart Sirichai’s dancers
impressing his fans.
Taktaen Chollada sings ‘Laek Jai
Kho Bur’ (Heart for phone number), her final number.
Thaitanium fans hold their hands
high and dance to ‘Kuan Teen’ (Teasing teen).
Oui from Buddha Bless thanks his
fans for staying until his last song.
Step right up! Hit the target and
watch the poor girl fall into the water barrel. Three chances for 20 baht.
Civil defense officers
maintaining peace and order and helping tourists at the event.
