Taktaen Cholada and her beautiful dancers rock the stage on the final day of Pattaya International Music Festival. A year after crowds shunned the 2012 festival due to royal funerals and Songkran, the March 22-24 festival again filled Pattaya with nearly a half-million visitors who, the Tourism Authority of Thailand estimated, spent about 300 million baht. Four stages were filled with music and enthralled audiences for a festival unblemished by violence.
Pattaya International Music Festival roars with huge comeback
Like an aging rock star with a new hit record, the Pattaya International Music Festival staged a huge comeback, amassing standing room-only crowds for a weekend of Thai, foreign and reggae performances.
A year after crowds shunned the 2012 festival due to royal funerals and Songkran, the March 22-24 festival again filled Pattaya with nearly a half-million visitors who, the Tourism Authority of Thailand estimated, spent about 300 million baht. Four stages were filled with music and enthralled audiences for a festival unblemished by violence.
Taktaen Cholada and her beautiful dancers rock the stage on the final day of Pattaya International Music Festival. A year after crowds shunned the 2012 festival due to royal funerals and Songkran, the March 22-24 festival again filled Pattaya with nearly a half-million visitors who, the Tourism Authority of Thailand estimated, spent about 300 million baht. Four stages were filled with music and enthralled audiences for a festival unblemished by violence.
Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome, Tourism Authority of Thailand Pattaya office Director Athapol Wannakij and MP Poramet Ngampichet kicked off the festivities Friday as Pattaya Tourist Police and volunteers assisted foreigners with finding music to fit their tastes.
Split into four stages, the festival featured Thai country music at Soi 4 and Beach Road, with Sayan Nirandorn, Saensuree Rungroj, Nam Pamela, Rakchart Sirichai, Sornchai Mekhvichien, and Dao Bandon taking the stage.
Pattaya mayor Ittipol Kunplome (center) leads the official opening ceremony of the 2013 Pattaya International Music Festival, Friday, March 22.
At the Hard Rock Hotel, the blue stage featured Instinct, AB Normal, Tono, Flure, Bankk, Zeal, Big Ass, Kan-Dome-Kaengsom, Bee Sukrit, Tattoo Color, and Buddha Bless. The highlight performances came from Skarf, comprised of members from South Korea and the United States; and The United 5, a boy band consisting of members from five European countries.
Thai contemporary music took center stage at Central Festival Pattaya Beach, with 17 performers, including Jieb Nonthaya and Ford Sobchai, performing before a largely foreign crowd.
Finally, in South Pattaya, the reggae stage featured Madacuscs, Deep O Sea, Alum Sum Sum, Thai Dern Len, Super Glasses-Ska Ensemble, and Teddy Ska Band etc.
Euro boy band The United 5 gained a whole new raft of Asian fans following their debut at the festival.
Taktaen Cholada performs in front of a packed crowd at the Variety Stage.
Bee The Star takes the applause from his fans.
Popular Thai country singer Siripron Amphaiphong entertains fans with some old style melodies.
Big Ass put everything into their stage performance.
Dim & Rath blast out another number at the Pattaya International Music Festival 2013.
Bee The Star performs with dancers and sings his hit song ‘Na But Now’.
Rock n’ Roll Pattaya style.
A thunderous guitar riff signals Zeal’s entry on stage.
Tono’s fan club create an electric atmosphere for their favorite artist.
AB Normal drew a huge following as usual.
Leading Thai rock band Instinct are perennial favorites with Pattaya Music Festival goers.
A festival fan gets into the party spirit.
Fans flocked to the festival in their thousands to see the star music line-up.
Dancers perform on the final day of the festival.
Korean girl band Skarf perform ‘Stupid Cupid’ for their fans.
