Surfing on gentle sound

Singer, artist, songwriter, photographer and actor Apichai “Lek” Tragoolpadetgrai recently headed down to the beach in Prachuab Khiri Khan not, as one might assume, to enjoy the sea, sand and sun but to stage a concert for his many fans.

Lek, who is also known as Greasy Cafe, set up stage on the beach using the sound of the waves as his orchestra and Khao Kalok cliff in Pran Buri as his backdrop. 

Sponsored by Sang Som and You2Play, the concert, dubbed “Until Tomorrow, Home”, aimed to promote love and friendship in a country that’s beset by seemingly unending political conflict.

There were plenty of other activities for fans to enjoy too with local housewives setting up on the beach to demonstrate the arts of batik painting and henna work. Other locals showed participants how to make a kite from next to nothing, helped them paint Sang Som buckets and take Polaroid photos of themselves and each other. Stalls offered lots of delicious seafood and cold drinks while You2Play’s DJs manned the decks and by the time darkness fell, everyone was in the mood for some live music,

 Screams echoed round the cliffs as Lek Greasy Caf? and his 22-strong acoustic band launched into a set that opened with “Chor Makok”, a soundtrack from Kongdej Jaturanrasamee’s award-winning tale “Tang Wong”.

Lek switched effortlessly between acoustic guitar and piano, playing a staking his fans on his all albums including “La Ong Saeng”, “Mhoon”, “Prayok Bork Lao” and “Pa Son Nai Hong Mai Lek 1” from “The Journey Without Maps”, “Phap Khong Rao”, “Kwam Luean Lang” and “Phai Tai Thong Fah See Dam” from “Tid Tang” and “Phap Bang Ern”, “Fuen”, and “Mai Me Wan Klab Ma” off “Sing Lhao Nee”.

He also clambered down from the makeshift stage and sat on the beach among his fans to serenade them with “Rueang Tham Ma Da” and “Phap Chin Ta”.

And even more remarkably, Lek stayed in his spot as did the fans, letting the incoming tide soak through their clothes as the music embraced them.