Held continuously at Santichaiprakarn Park for the past 12 years, this festival has become synonymous with winter for theater devotees. It returns this year, though with a change in location, due to mourning rites for the Supreme Patriach being held in the area. Shows will now be held at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre with a few performances at Pridi Banomyong Institute. We’ll miss the park’s atmosphere, but the BACC (BTS National Stadium) is a lot easier to get to.

 

The Bangkok Symphony Orchestra continues its much-loved winter tradition of playing popular favorites with different guest vocalists every Sunday at the adorable Sala Bhirom Bhakdi. Expect anything from Thai and Western classical music to popular Broadway scores amid Lumphini’s vegetation. Get there early to choose a good picnic spot and make sure you bring your booze in fruit juice bottles to avoid detection.

 

After debuting last year under the theme of New York and London Inspired, this festival returns with a much simpler theme, “winter.” This weekend gathering held by Sansiri on its bridge across Khlong Phra Khanong is pretty similar to a farmers market with over 70 booths offering everything from food, vintage clothing and live performances. Judging from last time, it’s suited mostly to families and couples.

 

 

 

Many would say it’s bigger and better this time. For me, the festival just continues to grow naturally. We started out very small and now we are hosting a number of dance groups from many countries. The festival is gaining more attention every year. With such renowned and exciting groups in attendance, it’s really a no-brainer for dance fans. But for those new to performance art, too, I’m sure you will have an enjoyable time.

It must be the spectacular performance by the Il Posto Vertical Dance Company from Italy. With a soundtrack of saxophone and a strong rhythm section, it’s really engaging. We are fully aware that it’s not easy for people who are not really into dance to sit through an hour-long performance. That’s why we have these kind of preview shows where each group performs briefly for about 15 minutes. The audience can experience every show that way, be entertained and slowly be introduced to performance art.

It’s completely different from 10 years ago. We have so many great talents in dance and performance art—but we mustn’t take it easy. We need a sustained effort in order to keep Thai performance art growing. I’m not worried at all about Thai performers’ skills or creativity.

The reason we’ve been continually doing festivals and smaller events like this is to lay the foundation for the young generation of Thai artists. That’s why it’s not just about bringing in these international groups to perform, but also to hold workshops and master classes for our young talent. We also give them the opportunity to perform at the festival. It’s very important we nurture our talent as well as our audience.

 

 

 

The yearly free film screenings return to BACC under the theme of Director’s choice, with movies selected by five prominent Thai directors including: Pen-Ek Ratanaruang, Nonzee Nimitbutr, Jira Maligoo and Tanwarin Sukkhapisit. It kicks off this week (Nov 9) with Director Kondej Jaturanrasmee’s choice, Synecdoche, New York (2008), Charlie Kaufman’s award-winning surrealist film. Screenings are in English with Thai subtitles and each director will give a talk after each screening.

The next screening on Jan 25 is chosen by the director of Insects in the Backyard, Tanwarin Sukkhapisit, who will screen a Japanese drama, Himizu (2011), about two teenagers whose lives take a dark turn after a tsunami hits Japan.

 

 

 

 

 

The mother of all the big out-of-town music festivals, Big Mountain, will take place at Bonanza in Khao Yai. Headliners span a range of genres from the 90s pop of 2 Days Ago Kids, sweet-pop of Armchair to the hard-hitting alternative rock of Abuse The Youth. Of course, all the big name rockers, like Bodyslam and Big Ass will be there too, along with indie mainstays The Standards. International acts include Austra from Canada, Bombi and the Shuta Hasunuma Group from Japan and Cells from Laos. It sounds a lot like last year, but you’re going for the atmosphere, not a ground-breaking lineup.

 

 

 

 

If you prefer a more folky, experimental and less conventional kind of festival, this one’s for you. Founded back in 2011 by the Panda Records crew led by Pok Wannarit Pongprayoon (Stylish Nonsense, Basement Tape) and Tokin Teekanun (also in Triggs & The Longest Day), the third edition's lineup hasn’t been announced yet but going on previous years you can expect experimental sounds that traverse electro-pop, noise-rock and folk from bands like Stylish Nonsense, Abstraction XL, Basement Tape and Desktop Error, as well as underground acts from labels like So::On Dry Flower, along with the promised mixed media installation, A Part Of You, A Part Of Me, by Tokin.

 

 

 

This intimate, romantic and chilled-out festival promises the likes of Tu Phobtorn, Toe Saksit, Nat Sakdatorn, Sani and Patcha from Academy Fantasia, 123 Soul, Watcharawalee, Friday, POP, Singular, Tattoo Colour, Better Weather, Mild, Lipta, ETC and 25 Hours. Perhaps not a lineup to get the pulses racing but a great excuse to take a tumble on the lush green grass of Starlight by Jolly Land.