SEARCH

Showing 1-10 of 59 results

  • LIFE

    Country comes to the city

    Life, John Clewley, Published on 31/01/2023

    » The All-Thidsa Molam Band was in Bangkok this past weekend to perform at the Thailand International Jazz Conference. World Beat caught up with band last Friday when they played two sets at Isan Spicy BBQ, a rooftop bar at the Jim Thompson Art Center.

  • LIFE

    Likay lives on

    Life, John Clewley, Published on 07/08/2018

    » My first experience of popular theatre in Thailand was a likay performance in the main market in Chumpon. I had not been in Thailand for long and was on my way back from a trip to Malaysia, travelling by local bus and train.

  • LIFE

    Farewell to a maestro

    Life, John Clewley, Published on 10/04/2024

    » The world of molam has been in mourning since news emerged that Thailand's greatest phin player Thongsai Thap Thanon passed away on March 20 at his home in Warin Chamrap district, Ubon Ratchathani, at the age of 77. The phin is a two- or three-stringed Isan Lao lute that is part of the trinity of molam instruments, along with the iconic khaen (free reed bamboo mouth organ) and the sor (fiddle).

  • LIFE

    Echoes of Isan

    Life, John Clewley, Published on 12/03/2024

    » Sombat Simla is one of Thailand's top khaen players. He's been bending the notes of his khaen baet (eight rows of double pipes, sixteen in total) for more than 50 years.

  • LIFE

    Stories of migration and hope

    Life, John Clewley, Published on 12/09/2023

    » In 2016, the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto invited musicians, mainly immigrant musicians, to audition for a new global orchestra.

  • LIFE

    Mourning three legends

    Life, John Clewley, Published on 13/08/2019

    » Three legends died recently, each one of whom made important and distinctive contributions to their own musical cultures -- molam producer and impresario Theppabutr Satirodchompu, South African musician and bandleader Johnny Clegg, and New Orleans songwriter, pianist and bandleader Art Neville.

  • LIFE

    The sounds of the jungle

    Life, John Clewley, Published on 10/05/2022

    » The acclaimed traditional music ensemble Fong Naam was founded in 1981 by American Bruce Gaston and "Teacher" Boonyong Khetkong. Even after the death of some of the original masters, all of whom were national artists, the band remains Thailand's most well-known musical group internationally.

  • LIFE

    The great gig in the sky

    Life, John Clewley, Published on 09/02/2016

    » Musician David Bowie was the biggest name in the music business to pass away recently. His death at 69 prompted extraordinary media coverage across the world. Bowie was more than just a rock musician, he was also a pop culture icon. Like many people, Bowie was part of the musical landscape I grew up in, from his art/glam rock early days when I was at school to his Thin White Duke days when I was at university, Bowie was always there as part of the sonic furniture.

  • LIFE

    Saying goodbye to cultural giants

    Life, John Clewley, Published on 18/01/2022

    » The world of Thai country music (pleng luk thung) was reeling from news of the death of luk thung legend and National Artist Waipoj Phetsupan last Wednesday. Waipoj, 79, was one of the Big Four central Thai luk thung stars -- Chaichana Boonachote, Chai Muang Singh and Kwanjit Sriprachan, all National Artists, are the others -- all of whom are masters of all the central folk styles.

  • LIFE

    Eclectic music to soak in

    Life, John Clewley, Published on 08/06/2021

    » I once spent several weeks travelling around Southern Italy, camping in Puglia and Calabria.

Your recent history

  • Recently searched

    • Recently viewed links

      Did you find what you were looking for? Have you got some comments for us?