'The Voice' goes live

Channel 3’s reality TV singing competition “The Voice Thailand: Sieng Jing Tua Jing” is aiming to take its popularity a step further next month with a live concert on March 2 at Rajamangala Stadium expected to draw 30,000 fans.
All stops are being pulled out for the show, which will feature a 22-metre centre stage with 360-degree projection and four 10-metre stages with two LED displays on each surrounding the big one. Four adjacent catwalks will allow the artists to strut their stuff while performing. The budget, says the organiser, is about Bt30 million.
“Most of the previous concerts organised at Rajamangala Stadium have featured just a normal, theatre-style stage. We brought the phenomenon of ‘The Voice’ to Thailand and we want our first concert to be as great as the number one reality talent show,” says Wanchana Pongquan, senior sales and marketing executive of True Music.
“The concert’s title and concept comes from the name of the reality show, ‘Sieng Jing Tua Jing’ [‘real voice, real singer’]. All the contestants appearing in this concert will be showing off their powerful voices without being mixed and dubbed by machine.”
Because the concert isn’t in any way tied to the original programme and series pioneer, “The Voice of Holland” several countries have been able to stage their shows. Thailand’s will feature all 59 contestants as well coaches Saharat “Kong” Sangkapricha, Jennifer Kim, Apisit “Joey Boy” Opasaimlikit and Apiwat “Stamp” Eurthavornsuk.
“We just want the contestants to have a stage to show off their abilities. Each has his and her own different character and talent, like Keng who studied traditional Thai music and is a music instructor, while Max looks like Jason Mraz,” says Wanchana.
Organised by Coke, the three-hour concert will bring the blind audition and battle of the reality show to the stage. It will be divided into three parts, with the first segment devoted to a grand opening with all contestants joining up to sing a medley of songs. The second part will be a kind of battle tentatively with 5 to 6 couples while the last is the finale and will again feature all the players. The highlighted part of the battle will link up with a live broadcast.
“We saw the couples from each of the four coaches’ teams battle it out in the reality show. For this concert, we will surprise the audience with unexpected couples,” says Wanchana.
The eight semi-finalists will also perform solo sets, with the first four - Trakarn Srisangchan, Thachaya “Keng” Prathumwan, Thanon Chamroen and Pichet “King” Buakham - performing their first singles. Sarocha “Suay” Senarat, Bongkoch “Film” Charoentham, Natthawut “Max” Jenmana, Wichaya “Tak” Wongsuriyan promise to surprise with their choice of numbers.
A mock-up of the red coach seat with the words “You Win” will be set up outside the stadium for photo opportunities and a few lucky fans will have the chance to meet and greet the contestants.
“During the concert, we will switch pictures from the audience’s instagrams to the LED displays throughout the stadium and on the stage. It will be an interactive activity,” says Wanchana.

PLAY IT AGAIN
 

The “Sieng Jing Tua Jing” concert takes place at Rajamangala Stadium on March 2 at 5pm.

Tickets cost Bt200 with five Coke caps at Thai Ticket Major. Call (02) 262 3456 or log on to www.ThaiTicketMajor.com.
 

Proceeds will go to the Utokapat Foundation under the royal patronage of HM the King for community-based water resource management.