Let there be music

Now in its third year, the annual Chiang Mai Festival at Three Kings Monument Square seems to be going from strength to strength. A bigger crowd than ever before turned out for last weekend’s event with hundreds of foreigners packing into the square to dance along to the international sounds.

There were many more booths this year too,  especially those promoting the culture and tourism of such countries as Nepal, India, Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines and Australia in preparation for the launch of the AEC in 2015.

The first day of the three-day festival opened with Northern music and arts performances and also featured the first artist from Indonesia, the 50-piece all-women Balitbang Angklung Group, who impressed the Thai contingent with their performance of HM the King’s composition “Sundown” and the festive number “Loy Krathong”.

“Angklung is traditional music and the instrument was always played to lift the spirits during to the harvest season. It’s all about peace and harmony.” said Kusumastuti Sutade, the head of Balitbang Research and Development Agency of Indonesia’s Public Works Ministry, who formed the group in 2010 to promote tourism and culture.

“Today, as in the past, it is promoted to students in primary schools and even kindergartens. We add one extra subject to the school curriculum, offering students the choice between angklung, basketball or futsal. It’s a very versatile instrument, suited to jazz, cha cha cha and disco as well as traditional Indonesian music,” she explained.

Next up was the duo Yurai from Japan who entertained with a set of new age music that had me thinking of African music,

“It depends on what listeners hear and feel,” said arranger Esoh after the show. Songwriter Ema added: “Just like Yurai means ‘origin’ or ‘vibration’, our music has no categories and no boundaries.”

Los Landrones, Bamako Express and Drums United stirred up with crowd with lively music that made everyone want to dance.

The second day featured guitarist and singer Emily Elbert from America and mouth organ player and singer Rachelle Plas from France, both of whom wowed the audience with their indie rock sounds.

The only blip was the quality of the sound system but with plans to move to a bigger venue next year, even this is likely to improve.