Thai Holidays
July 27, 30
There are two national holidays this month, starting with Asahna Bucha Day on July 27th, which marks the day when the Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon in India over 2,500 years ago. Then, on July 30th, Thais celebrate the Royal Birthday of His Majesty King, Maha Vajiralongkorn. This year these two days off work bookend a Saturday and Sunday, making for a long weekend of epic proportions.
Lovers Laments
July 6-7
For two consecutive evenings Check Inn 99 (1/1, Sukhumvit Soi 33) will play host to True Dating Stories, a hilarious live storytelling show about the one topic we all struggle with… dating! Professional storytellers share true tales of (mostly) disastrous dates—the times they got played, made, or just tangled up in that love stuff. And if you want to share in the fun, anonymously write your own dating story on a confession slip, as they will later be read out loud so everyone can laugh together at your amorous anecdote—good, bad, or ugly. Tickets are B200 and things get underway at 7pm.
www.facebook.com/checkinn99
July’s Hottest Tickets
July 23
A true international superstar, Celine Dion will be gracing the stage at Impact Arena (Muang Thong Thani) for one night only as part of her Asia-Pacific Summer Tour. It will mark the first time this French Canadian chanteuse has performed in Thailand, and tickets are selling fast. At 50 years young, this award-winning singing legend is still making headlines in the entertainment world, as evidenced by her viral-video hit “Ashes” from the movie Deadpool 2. Tickets range in price from B2,000 to B15,000, with exclusive VIP packages going for B25,000 and B30,000.
www.thaiticketmajor.com
July 23
American singer/rapper Anderson .Paak is coming to town and local hip-hop fans couldn’t be happier. Known for taking Motown influences in a contemporary funk direction, he and his band The Free Nationals will make their Bangkok debut at Voice Space (BBD Building, Viphavdi Rd). Tickets are B1,800.
www.ticketmelon.com
July 25-26
As part of the upcoming Mangosteen Music Fest, the English electro-soul duo Honne will be performing at GMM Live House (8F, CentralWorld) for two nights. Comprised of producer James Hatcher, and singer-producer Andy Clutterbuck, the band first burst onto the music scene in 2014, winning over listeners with their combination of synth-pop and contemporary R&B sounds. Tickets are B1,600 for this all-ages show, and doors open at 6:30pm.
www.ticketmelon.com/jamm/mangosteenmusicfest
If You Build It They Will Come
July 26-29
Attention Lego lovers… for four days in July the place to be is Plenary Hall, at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre (60 Ratchadaphisek Rd), because BRICKLIVE: Built for Lego Fans is coming to Bangkok! This will be the largest brick-themed event ever held in Southeast Asia, with a display area covering over 4,000 sq.m. It’s an all-ages, interactive experience, divided into zones that allow visitors to get their hands on a huge range and variety of different Lego elements, see rare collections up close, and check out life-size models that include tuk-tuks, ninjas, and the Krunk bear. Tickets are B350 and B500, and each ticket comes with a souvenir and a cashback coupon for B150.
www.thaiticketmajor.com
Italian Festival In Thailand
July 4
The six singers who make up the award-winning a cappella vocal group Upsweep include pop, rock, jazz, and even classical music in their varied repertoire. They’ll be performing at the Music Hall at Chulalongkorn University (254 Phayathai Rd) in a free concert that begins at 7pm.
July 6
The Small Hall at the Thailand Cultural Center (14 Thiam Ruam Mit Rd) presents an intimate production of Puccini’s operatic music featuring some of Thailand’s young opera talents, accompanied by members of the Siam Sinfonietta youth orchestra. Start time is 8pm and admission is free.
July 11
A theatrical presentation by Marco Luly—entitled Italian Comedy in Bangkok—will be staged at the Music Hall at Chulalongkorn University (254 Phayathai Rd). Described as a “feast made of many scenes”, it combines bits of traditional Italian Commedia dell’Arte, alongside elements from the plays of Carlo Goldoni, the father of modern Italian comedy. The actors will be basing some of the scenes on the real experiences of foreigners visiting Asia for the first time, so it’s sure to raise a chuckle. This free performance gets underway at 7pm.
July 11-12
Opera Siam presents Giacomo Puccini’s magnificent opera Madama Butterfly for two nights at the Main Hall of the Thailand Cultural Center (14 Thiam Ruam Mit Rd). Hong Kong-born Singaporean soprano Nancy Yuen (left) stars in the signature role she has performed in opera houses all over the world, while Thailand’s own Somtow Sucharitkul conducts the orchestra. Admission is free, and showtime is 8pm.
July 18
Italian classical guitarist Carlo Fierens, who in 2013 won the ‘Italian National Prize for the Arts’ and has taken part in many guitar festivals in Europe, will be performing solo in a free show put on at the Bangkok Art & Culture Centre (939 Rama I Rd). Start time is 7pm.
July 31
Jazz fans take note, the Fabrizio Sotti Trio will be performing at the City Campus Auditorium at Bangkok University (109, Rama IV Rd), in a free concert beginning at 7pm. Along with top NYC musicians Mino Cinelu and Francisco Mela, Fabrizio paints a dynamic sonic picture that presents him as not just an extraordinary and innovative improviser, but as the harbinger of a unique and distinctive sound.
For more information about the ongoing Italian Festival in Thailand 2018, visit the website at: www.ambbangkok.esteri.it
Patriot Picnic
July 7
The annual AmCham Independence Day Picnic is coming to Bangkok Patana School (643 La Salle Rd, Sukhumvit 105), starting from noon and continuing until 7:30pm. Whether American-born or not, everyone is invited to celebrate the 4th of July and enjoy good-natured games such as tug-o-war, egg toss, gunny sack races, and pie-eating contests. There’s also a charity raffle, featuring prizes such as hotel stays, meal vouchers, and more, while food vendors include Roadhouse BBQ, Conrad Bangkok, Dairy Queen, and Sunrise Tacos. Meanwhile, for musical entertainment, Matthew Fischer and the Fishes, Southern Cross, Cactus Terrain, Sticky Fingers, and Groove Junkies will be on hand to play American rock, blues, and folk favourites. Admission is B300 (free for children under 12) and shuttle vans will run from noon till 8:30pm between Bang Na BTS and Bangkok Patana School. For tickets call 02 254 1041 ext 226, or email: kittie@amchamthailand.com.
Dance Fest
July 29
Originating in Amsterdam, in 2000, Sensation is now a world-class electronic music event that even has a suggested dress code—all white. This year’s mega-EDM blowout event is entitled ‘Rise’, and features an all-star line-up of cutting edge DJs including Whoisjody, Dirty South, Mr. White, Ko:Yu, Dannic, Sam Feldt, and Dash Berlin. It all takes place at BITEC Bangkok (88 Bangna-Trat Rd) starting at 6pm and continuing till 2am. General admission tickets for this 20+ extravaganza start at B3,200, with privileged access to the deluxe zones tickets going for B5,100.
www.ticketmelon.com
