Showing 1 - 10 of 152
A wander through pink hotel rooms
Life, Anna Neatpisarnvanich, Published on 21/03/2026
» We've all been there. You've paced all seven floors, had coffee breaks until you're full and stared at enough mannequins to last a lifetime. Bangkok moves at a rapid speed, and sometimes the "mall crawl" leaves you craving a quiet corner and a chance to actually make something rather than just buy it.
Gone But Not Forgotten
Life, Tatat Bunnag, Published on 23/12/2025
» 2025 really needs to slow down. The world is mourning as we lost so many talented people across film, television, music and more.
Where Festive Magic Meets Cultural Discovery
Published on 04/12/2025
» As the year draws to a close, the festive season returns as a moment to reconnect, reflect and welcome the promise of a new beginning. This year, Minor Hotels unveils an inspiring collection of festive programmes across Asia and the Maldives, each blending local heritage, seasonal traditions and unforgettable experiences. From mystical jungles and Mekong river trails to Maldivian shores and Bangkok’s glittering skyline, every destination offers its own interpretation of festive magic as 2025 gives way to 2026.
Reggae icon and 'cultural giant' Jimmy Cliff dead at 81
AFP, Published on 24/11/2025
» WASHINGTON - Jimmy Cliff, the iconic reggae star who helped transform the island's rhythmic music into a global cultural phenomenon, has died, his wife said Monday. He was 81.
Passing of a giant
Life, John Clewley, Published on 11/10/2025
» Sad news reached the World Beat desk this week that Prof Dr Terry E. Miller of Kent State University in the US passed away on Oct 1. He was 80 years old.
Exile songs resurface
Life, John Clewley, Published on 27/09/2025
» From the early 1970s to the 80s, Mogadishu boasted one of the Horn of Africa's liveliest night scenes with groups from this "Golden Era" like Dur Dur Band entertaining at clubs and hotels across the city. A coup in 1991 and subsequent civil war put a stop to the music and musicians had to go underground or migrate. Those who went by the latter route took their music and culture across the Somali diaspora (one of Africa's largest).
The lion roars on
Life, John Clewley, Published on 29/07/2025
» Musician and bandleader Thomas Mapfumo is 80 years old this month. The man, often dubbed the "Lion of Zimbabwe", is still hugely popular in his home country, despite having gone into exile and resettling in Oregon in 2000.
Sting returns to Bangkok in September
Guru, Pornchai Sereemongkonpol, Published on 08/06/2025
» The legendary English musician Sting will return to Bangkok as part of his "Sting 3.0" world tour to perform at UOB Live on Sept 25. It'll be his first performance in 13 years, his last being the "Back To Bass" tour at Impact Arena in 2012.
Revisiting a golden age
Life, John Clewley, Published on 04/06/2025
» Arabic popular music produced several divas in the 20th century, with each blessed with a powerful distinctive voice. Some of them included the "Egyptian Immortal" Oum Kalthoum, who dominated Arabic radio with her expressive voice; "Algerian Rose" Warda; Farouz, "The Star of Lebanon"; and "Syrian Mystic" Asmahan, whose life was tragically cut short at just 32.
Punta rock still rolls
Life, John Clewley, Published on 06/05/2025
» In 1987, a compilation of Central American Garifuna music, or punta rock, was recorded in Andy Palacio's Sunrise Recording Studio and released to great acclaim. It featured the unique sound created by Garifuna communities, mainly in Belize and Honduras. Palacio was the big star of punta rock, a popular style in the Caribbean and Central America.