THIS WEEKEND AND BEYOND
Guitar fest
Sukosol Hotel, Si Ayutthaya Road Until June 10 from 9.30am onwards The “Asia International Guitar Festival & Competition 2018” features many internationally acclaimed musicians and classical guitar aficionados from around the globe in a varied programme of master classes, guitar exhibits, competitions and concerts. The line-up includes Gérard Abiton (France), Ruben Parejo (Spain), Roberto Aussel (Argentina), Giovanni Grano (Italy) and several prominent Thai guitar players.
The fee to observe each master class and competition session is 200 baht. Evening concert tickets cost 600 baht (400 baht for students) and afternoon concert tickets cost 300 baht. Visit aigf.weebly.com or call 02-247-0123 ext 1916—8.
Happy with Brahms
Prince Mahidol Hall
Mahidol University, Salaya campus June 8 at 7pm and June 9 at 4pm Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra presents the “Free But Happy — Brahms 3” concert featuring two masterpieces — Brahms’ Third Symphony and Dvorak’s
Cello Concerto. It will be led by German guest conductor Christoph Poppen, with Gunwoo Park, a young and exciting new cello talent from South Korea, as guest soloist.
Tickets cost 400, 600, 800, 1,000 and 1,500 baht from thaiticketmajor.com and PMH Box Office (call 062-526-6645 or 02-849- 6565/6 ext 6603/4 and 6624).
Hip-hop fest
6th floor of JJ Mall Kamphaeng Phet 2 Road, Chatuchak June 9, 2pm-midnight
Presented by Heavy Organiser, the “Thailand HipHop Festival 2018” will gather the legends of Thai hip-hop including Thaitanium, Dajim, Rastafah, B-King, Chom Chumkasian and 1 Flow, PP’ Dreams, Pok Mindset, Urboytj, CP Sming, JSR, VKL X Sweed Gangz and Rap Ake. They will be sharing the stage with famous B-Boy groups and DJs while leading graffiti artists will create artworks on a 20m wall.
Tickets cost 600 baht from Counter Service at all branches of 7-Eleven. Visit allticket.com.
French night
Payap University’s CRK Recital Hall Chiang Mai
June 9 at 7pm
Celebrated violin and piano duo — Tasana Nagavajara and Pornphan Banternghansa — will present “The French Alternative” recital featuring works by Claude Debussy, Erik Satie and Gabriel Faure. They will once again perform the repertoire at Siam Society, Asok Road, on June 12 at 7pm.
Tickets cost 500 baht (100 baht for students) for the June 9 show (email vivazdanceandmusicschool@gmail.com or call 091-140-1248 and 085-036-7752); and 600 baht (100 baht for students) for the June 12 show (visit promusicabkk.com or call 02-661-6470—7).
Guitar recital
Sala Sudasiri Sobha, Lat Phrao 41 June 10 at 4pm
The Embassy of Italy and the Gift of Life Foundation present a guitar recital by Italian guitarist Antonio Fruscella. The programme features works by Miquel Llobet, Niccolo Paganini, Roland Dyens Francisco Tarrega as well as his own composition, Children’s Scenes. He is an active performer with a busy concert schedule, playing as soloist and with ensembles at many festivals and concert series across Europe.
There is no admission fee but donations are welcome to help blood disease patients. Visit salasudasirisobha.com or call 02-541-8662 or 080-407-8231.
Grand Portuguese show
Thailand Cultural Centre’s Small Hall Ratchadaphisek Road
June 12 at 7.30pm
To mark the 500th anniversary of the First Pact of Friendship and Trade between Portugal and Siam (1518), the Embassy of Portugal presents the Bangkok debut performance by internationally acclaimed Portuguese musician Rodrigo Leao. He will present a of Os Portugueses
( The Portuguese), which collects all his material sung in Portuguese along with the instrumental material written for
Portugal — A Social Portrait, a seven-episode TV documentary series about the evolution of Portuguese society during the last 50 years. He will be accompanied by Mozambican singer Selma and a line-up anchored in a string suit (violin, cello and viola), as well as a multi-instrumentalist set that will allow him play back the multiple sound environments of the original recordings.
There is no admission fee. To reserve a seat, email ambassador@embassyofportugal.or.th or call 02-234-2123 ext 403/4.
Charity concert
Thailand Cultural Centre’s Main Hall Ratchadaphisek Road
June 16 at 6.30pm
Presented by Rotary Thailand and National Artist Setha Sirachaya, “The Lake Of Love Charity Concert” will feature a myriad of acts and artists of all generations. The line-up includes Winai Panturak, Viyada Komarakul, Uthen Prommin, Chompoo Fruity, Nueng Jakkrawal, Nueng ETC, Tee Jetset’er, Lukwah Pijika, Ton Thanasit, Praew Kanitkul and Setha himself. Providing music will be Ton Siang band. All proceeds will go to the Nong-Norn-Tai Monkey Cheek King Project in Sakon Nakhon.
Tickets cost 500, 800, 1,500, 2,000, 3,000 and 5,000 baht from thaiticketmajor.com.
Flute and piano
Sala Sudasiri Sobha, Lat Phrao 41 June 17 at 4pm
The Embassy of Italy and the Gift of Life Foundation present a flute and piano recital by Italian flautist Luisa Sello and Thailand’s leading classical pianist Nat Yontararak. They will render a challenging repertoire of works by Mozart, Gluck, Chaminade, Donizetti, Rossini, Ponchielli, Bizet and Borne. Sello is Ambassador of Music and Italian Culture while Nat is a Steinway Artist with two decorations of honour — from the Polish and Italian governments.
There is no admission fee but donations are welcome to help blood disease patients. Visit salasudasirisobha.com or call 02-541-8662 or 080-407-8231.
An immersive spectacle
Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani June 14-24 at 7.30pm, plus a 3.30pm show on June 20-22 and 1pm and 5pm on weekends
(no 5pm show on June 17)
The world’s top theatrical troupe Cirque du Soleil will return to the Kingdom with a new breathtaking show, “Toruk The First Flight”. Inspired by James Cameron’s blockbuster Avatar, the touring production will transport the audiences to the world of Pandora in a visually stunning live setting enhanced with a riveting fusion of cutting-edge visuals, puppetry and stagecraft buoyed by a soaring cinema score.
Tickets cost 1,000, 2,000, 3,000 and 4,000 baht from thaiticketmajor.com. Call 02-262-3456.
Picture of Dorian Gray
Culture Collective Studio Chatrium Residence Riverside Charoen Krung 70
June 14 and 21 at 7pm and
June 15-17 and June 22-24 at 8pm Culture Collective Studio is staging The Picture Of Dorian Gray, based on the classic novel of the same title by Oscar Wilde. Directed by Loni Berry, the story is set in a Bangkok cabaret in the 1940s and 1950s and features jazz standards crooned by American singer Keithen Carter. The cast includes South African, Swiss, Lithuanian and French actors and Thai actresses.
Tickets cost 1,000 baht from culture-collective.com/productions/the-picture-ofdorian-gray. Call 089-876-5400.
Amazing Thai taste
Siam Square, Rama I
June 8-10, noon-midnight
Held under the theme “Eat Thai Food, Feeling Good”, the “Amazing Thai Taste Festival 2018” is divided into seven zones, offering a wide variety of Thai recipes including six internationally renowned dishes — pad Thai, massaman, som tam, tom yum goong, gang kiew wan and tom kha. This is a chance to indulge in outstanding recipes from the five regions of Thailand, organic food and products, fruit-based dishes, design food and signature dishes from Michelin-starred restaurants in Bangkok. There are also food demonstrations, food workshops and entertainment by famous stars.
Visit tourismthailand.org/ thaifest or call 1672.
Art fair at hotel
Pillars Suites & Residences Sukhumvit 39
June 9-10, 10am-8pm
The “Hotel Art Fair Bangkok 2018” gathers around 500 art masterpieces from 30 leading galleries from Thailand, Japan, China, Malaysia, and the Philippines, including works by Spanish illustrator Joan Cornella, Japanese underwater photographer Suishi Niso and Thai painter Niam Mawornkanong.
There is no admission fee. Call 02-079-7222.
Vegan mini market
Nowhere BKK, 6th floor
THA City Loft Hotel, Ekamai 6 June 17, 1pm-9pm
Held in collaboration with Friends of Friends BKK, the monthly “Sunset Society Vegan Market” will feature gourmet food and quality beverages for families and friends to celebrate a healthy lifestyle. A vegan menu will be crafted while vegan and raw food by local producers will be available. Set to perform against the panoramic rooftop view will be NK Chan, Alex Imix, Superstar Panda and guest DJ Django (UK).
There is no admission fee. Visit goo. gl/3CvxMT.
From trash to gold
TCDC Bangkok’s Gallery, Grand Postal Building, Charoen Krung Road Until July 22, 10.30am-9pm Tuesday-Sunday
“Pure Gold — Upcycled! Upgraded!” is a touring exhibition to propose current upcycling approaches. Presented by ifa, an institute for cultural and international relations in Germany, it compiles 76 exhibits from 53 designers under seven curators. The exhibition is divided into two complementary parts — a physical and material exhibition and a virtual platform for dialogue.
Visit puregold.ifa.de or goethe.de/ thailand.
Movies by the river
RBC Forum, 2nd floor
River City shopping centre Charoen Krung 24
Until June 30, every Saturday at 4pm The River City Bangkok Film Club is screening four movies of different genres by top filmmakers from Germany, Denmark, Cambodia and Kazakhstan. The line-up includes Welcome To Germany
directed by Simon Verhoeven on June 9,
Walk With Me by Lisa Ohlin on June 16,
The Last Reel by Kulikar Sotho on June 23 and Myn Bala: Warriors Of The Steppe
by Akan Satayev on June 30. All films come with English subtitles, plus Thai subtitles for the opening film Welcome To Germany.
There is no admission fee. Call 02-237-0077.
Save the environment
Ecotopia, 4th floor of Siam Discovery Phaya Thai Road
Until June 30, 11am-9pm
Held to raise awareness on environmental protection, the “Siam Discovery World Environment Day — Strawless Challenge” event features a range of DIY workshops showing how to make things out of waste materials every Saturday and Sunday. Learn how to make chic organic lipstick, create a wallet and key ring from wasted sacks, tie-dye fabric with natural indigo, decorate your favourite jeans with used clothes and make bath cream from tea leaves and natural salt. A wide range of eco-friendly products are available and 5,000 stainless steel straws will be given away.
Call 02-610-8214.
e-biz expo
Bitec Hall 106, Bang Na-Trat Road Until June 9, 10am-6pm
Held under the theme “Gateway To Endless Opportunities”, the “e-Biz Expo Asia 2018” is the country’s largest trade show covering all areas of digital business. This is an opportunity for anyone interested in operating online businesses in both amateur and professional levels to get some tips from successful online entrepreneurs. They will also learn to develop their skills on occupational tools used in digital era as well as obtain consulting on marketing, transportation, and online transactions. Running at the same time under the same roof will be the “OEM Manufacturer Expo 2018”.
Visit ebizexpoasia.com.
Comic con
Royal Paragon Hall
Siam Paragon, Rama I
June 8-10, 10.30am-8pm
The “Asia Comic Con 2018” will gather pop culture from many countries in Asia. There will be TV series, movies and animations from top movie studios; games, toys and premium collectibles from Hot Toys, Bandai, XM Studio, Gunpla, Medicom and Prime1 Studio; a cosplay competition and concerts by popular idols such as Sweat16!, Tokyo Flavor and The World Standard (Wasuta).
Tickets cost 540 baht for three days (450 baht for early birds). Visit eventpop.me or call 062-593-2224.
Future rising of Bangkok
W Bangkok Hotel, Sathon Road June 9
W Bangkok is hosting the Bangkok edition of “Future Rising”, a platform for the most exciting names in music and culture in Bangkok to create one special night of music, art and talks to explore the local creative scene and how they are creating the future they want to live in tomorrow. There will be a panel discussion with influential icons, a live production workshop with rappers, a live art installation and a party.
To register, visit futurerisingnow.com/ event/w-bangkok.
Boutique festival
Baan Tai Had Resort, Amphawa Samut Songkhram
June 9-10
The “Day Trip” is a picnic-style boutique festival that will allow the exhausted Bangkok crowd to enjoy an intimate break from the hectic city and a trip to Amphawa Floating Market.
Tickets cost 1,100 baht (4,200 and 4,700 baht per package which includes two tickets and a one-night accommodation and breakfast for two). Visit ticketmelon. com/dt/daytrip.
Czech and Slovak night
Music Hall, Art and Culture Building Chulalongkorn University
Phaya Thai Road
June 11, 6pm-9pm
To mark the centenary of Czechoslovak independence, the Centre for European Studies at Chulalongkorn University and the Czech and Slovak embassies present “Czech And Slovak Century — An Evening Of Traditional Music And Dance,” featuring 10 musicians and dancers of the Olsava Dance Group from Moravia. It will be preceded by a screening of a documentary titled Independence Day 28 October 1918 In Prague.
There is no admission fee. To register, visit goo.gl/6UxBLP.
Money talk show
Aksra Theatre King Power
Rang Nam Road
June 16 and 17 at 2pm and 7pm
The “SCB Presents Money Coach On Stage 4.0 Revolution” will see the return of Jakkapong Mespan, aka Noom the Money Coach, who will guide on how to solve financial problems. Audiences will learn to break free from their old way of money spending, change they old way of thinking, and have the courage to do the difference for a better future. Appearing as guest to perform live music will be singer/composer Su Boonliang.
Tickets cost 900, 1,200 and 1,500 baht from thaiticketmajor.com (call 02-262-3456).