Sounding out for Lanna

The fifth edition of the popular Chiang Mai Fest returns next month with an interesting line-up of international artists from genres as varied as opera and hard rock. The ambience will also be cooler – literally – than in previous years as the event is being held in the comfortable air-conditioned confines of Promenada, the northern capital’s first resort-style shopping mall.

Among the artists jetting in for the two-day festival are indie rockers Take Two from Singapore who’ll be playing an eclectic set of numbers influenced by everything from Brit rock to jazz. The band has become known in the region for their infectious guitar riffs and groovy bass lines.

South African singer and songwriter Matthew Mole will also be present and covering tracks from his debut album “The Home We Built”, which recently hit the No 1 spot on the iTunes album chart. 

Iyeoka is an award-winning Nigerian-American poet, recording artist and TED ((Technology, Entertainment, Design) Global Fellow. Her music includes elements from soul, R&B, rock, hip-hop and jazz and her albums include “Black and Blues” and “Hum the Bass Line”. She also recorded a cover of U2’s “Desire” for the compilation tribute “In The Name Of Love: Africa Celebrates U2”.

From Malaysia come AkashA, an exciting new band made up of seasoned musicians steeped in both the traditional and contemporary. Their aim is to connect the “soul” of all ethnicities and from that fusion, create illuminating music with their audience. The band is made up of Sivabalan S Sundram on mridangam, Kumar Karthigesu on sitar, Vick Ramakrishnan on tabla), Jamie Wilson bin Abdullah (acoustic steel/nylon guitars), Greg Henderson (bass) Mohd Shah Nizam Bin Azis (percussion) and pianist Eric Li.

The Kolintang Group Mawar Merah (Red Rose), one of the top traditional music ensembles in Indonesia, are coming to Chiang Mai to build understanding and tolerance between cultures to bridge cultural understanding by music.

Hot Water’s music incorporates elements of traditional South African music such as kwela, mbaqanga, sokkie, maskandi, and kwasa kwasa with folk, blues and indie-pop rock. The band released “Home” in 2006 and the track “Thembi”, a salute to African mothers, was used for an Italian National Health Service commercial,

Germany’s Thomas Kiessling makes a welcome return to Chiang Mai with an operatic repertoire that includes “Rigoletto”, “Tosca”, “La Boheme” and “The Magic Flute”.

The international artists are being joined by local outfit Super Ritard, featuring Naprang “Tangmo” Manator on vocals, Jaruwat “Jun” Kitisith on bass, Prachya “Yim” Promsurin on saxophone, Thanet “New” Wongsing on guitar, and Phantawat “Phan” Nawig on drums. The band, who won the Singha Master of the Band contest, recently opened for jazz songstress Simone Kopmajer.

Another Thai star taking part in this year’s event is veteran vocalist Nadda Viyakarn, the first Thai artist to sign a contract with a British recording company.

The Chiang Mai Fest, staged for the first time in 2010, offers music fans a rare opportunity to enjoy a cultural exchange of performing arts and sounds from Europe, America, Africa and Asia. 

Best of all, it’s free.

 

 

Cultural feast

_ Chiang Mai Fest 2014 is being held at Promenada on March 1 and 2 from 5 onwards. 

_ Admission to the festival is free.

_ A free Promenada shuttle bus will be provided from 3pm until midnight on both days.

_ For more information, visit www.ChiangMaiFest.com, Facebook.com/ChiangMaiFest or www.PromenadaChiangMai.com. You can also call (053) 107 888.