Music in the fields

Southern songs-for-life band Maleehuana turns 20 this year and it’s marking the occasion by organising the sixth edition of the arts, culture and music festival known simply as “Music Camp” at the Silapasthan Homepark inside the Hub Kapong Royal Project Centre in Cha-Am. 

“Music and arts are a great way to connect families and the young people to culture,” says Kathawut “Khai” Thongthai, the band’s founder and the brains behind the camp.

“The festival has really grown over the last five years and last year we welcomed some 10,000 people. I expect even more this year as fans of Maleehuana come to celebrate our 20th anniversary.

“Music Camp is like a workshop and it’s designed to explore the connections between audience members and musicians. For us, it’s a lot of fun because we can include a chamber and string section, which isn’t possible when we play pub gigs because of the cost.”

The festival will be divided into several zones with some devoted to music and activities and others for food & beverages, camping and parking. There’s plenty to do for the whole family during the day with members of Poh Chang Academy of Arts holding demonstrations of portrait drawing and painting, caricatures and sculpture.

 “Art & Environment” is an installation exhibition featuring products made of sisal – the Royal Project’s main focus – and will also explain the aims of the project in allocating land to poor farmers in the form of village cooperatives. Shutterbugs meanwhile can take part in the photo contest.

 “Master sculptor Samruay Aimaot will demonstrate his technique for sculpting stucco, which is unique to Phetchaburi,” Kathawut says.

The concerts will take place after night falls with Maleehuana taking the stage to perform tracks off the “Yann Folk” (“Charming Folk”) album series. The latest release has 13 songs that explore politics, ideology, love, the environment, philosophy and the lives of Southern fisherman.

“Wang” is a new song that reflects society’s boredom while “Khon Pak Bara” is a Malay song about the environment that includes the reading of poems by SEAWrite authors Jitanan Pitpreecha, Sakariya Amataya and Pojanat Pojanapithak. 

Several big names have contributed to the album including flautist Thanis Sriklindee, cellist Ed Footpath and his daughter, and Bee Khanakham.”

Kathawut will also jam with luk thung singer Duangchan Suwannee, Dam Khwan’s Yongyuth and Ed Footpath while Hin Lek Fai’s Pong and Pop will perform their own version of the songs-for-lifers’ ‘Khon Laew’.

Other artists taking part in the camp include Nakharin “Pang Kingsak, Khon Dan Kwien and Suthin Khonchonabot.

Kathawut is also making plans for the future. 

“I’m launching my first book ‘Sieng Huajai Dokmai Dontri’ through Thongthai Publishing and also introducing online TV through Maleehuana’s website. It should be possible to broadcast this festival live around the clock,” he says. 

 

Creating culture

_ Music Camp takes place on December 6 at the Hub Kapong Royal Project Centre. Activities will run from 1 to 6pm while the music continues for 12 hours between 6pm and 6am.

_ Tickets are Bt1,200 including space in the camping area available at Maleehuana Art Record (02) 548 0452, (085) 373 4616 and www.Maleehuana-ArtRecord.com.