• TRAVEL

  From melons to molam

  Life, John Clewley, Published on 02/01/2024

  » The Jim Thompson Farm Tour in Pak Thong Chai, Korat, is back after the challenges of Covid lockdowns and economic slowdowns, with a leaner, more focused tour which this year runs from now until Friday.

• LIFE

  Forest folk

  Life, John Clewley, Published on 11/04/2023

  » As part of an attempt to keep fit and enjoy what little green space we have in Bangkok, I have been a regular visitor to Benjakitti Park and its recently added section known as Benjakitti Forest Park. The new site, situated on land formerly occupied by the state tobacco company, has been transformed into a green space with different forest types such as mangrove, lowland forest swamp and so on.

• 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

  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

  African releases enchant

  Life, John Clewley, Published on 01/02/2022

  » The World Beat desk has been inundated with new releases in the past few weeks as record labels begin to get back on track. Three outstanding albums from Africa have been playing regularly on the World Beat sound system: Pape Nziengui's Kadi Yombo (Awesome Tapes From Africa); Rokia Kone and Jacknife Lee's Bamanan (Real World); and the Ano Nobo Quartet's The Strings Of Sao Domingos (Ostinato).

• LIFE

  Christmas carols, Isan music end troubled year

  Life, John Clewley, Published on 22/12/2020

  » This has been a tough year for everyone involved in the music business, here in Thailand and everywhere else.

• LIFE

  A whole different sonic vibe

  Life, John Clewley, Published on 09/06/2020

  » Sega is the traditional and popular music of the island of Mauritius, which sits in the vast Indian Ocean; some call sega the blues of the Indian Ocean but I think of it as the soundtrack to the sea.

• LIFE

  Verbal duels and bawdy lyrics

  Life, John Clewley, Published on 18/04/2018

  » World Beat was at the Korat Festival recently to check out the activities based around paying homage to the Thao Suranari Monument, or Ya Mo, as it is known locally. Korat, or Nakhon Ratchasima, is often thought of as the gateway to Isan, the northeastern region of the country.

• LIFE

  The fast-rising Welsh folk singer

  Life, John Clewley, Published on 03/10/2017

  » On a recent trip to Wales to visit family and friends, I found some interesting Welsh-language music, much of which seems to originate in North Wales. One of the bands, 9Bach, I have already reviewed, for their new album Anian (Nature). The band's previous release Tincian (Resonate) won Best Album at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards in 2015 and the new album has been nominated for this year's awards.

• LIFE

  Hail! Hail! Rock'n'Roll!

  Life, John Clewley, Published on 21/03/2017

  » The headlines in the media have been dominated by politics for what seems like an age but suddenly changed a couple of days ago when the sad news that the "King of Rock'n'Roll" Chuck Berry had died at his Missouri home. He was 90 years old and, supported by some of his children, had just recorded his first studio album for 38 years; the album, simply called Chuck will be released later this year.

1 2 Next Last