I Sky and Toyota get together for Thailand's first-ever drive-in pop festivalMusic fans are being offered the chance to celebrate Valentine's in a different way with the Vios We Love Music Festival, touted as Thailand's first-ever drive-in music fest, set for next month in Nakhon Ratchasima.
"It's not been done before," says Theerawich Thammakha, marketing director of I Sky, the event organiser. "The concept has been in my mind for a while and this year, we were finally able to collaborate with Toyota Motor Thailand to put things in place.
The venue will be the thongsomboon Club, the adventure park in Pak Chong, Nakhon Ratchasima.
"Usually, Thongsomboon isn't open to event organisers or promoters but they are allowing us to go ahead because they agree with our concept of environmental protection," Theerawich says. "We are providing incentives to keep the site clean and have promised that the festival will have no adverse effect on the farms or animals nearby. That's why we are only focusing on easy-listening music and romantic love song.
"I've also been interested in doing something in Khao Yai, which isn't far from Bangkok and has many attractions, great potential for accommodation and restaurants. The club is situated in a wonderful valley."
Environmental measures will include garbage-collection stations with three bins - dry, wet and chemical - for waste separation.
"We will imbue a sense of responsibility in festival goers by exchanging every piece of garbage with a bottle of water," Theerawich says.
The "drive-in" festival will take place on 50,000 square metres of sloping land. Parking is provided for vehicles to the left side of the stage and there are 1,000 tents beyond it.
"The vehicles will be parked on sloping land and won't be blocking each others' views," says the organiser, a 10-year veteran of the music show and light and sound production business.
Artists taking part include POP, Saksit "Tor" Vejsupaporn, Ben Chalathit, Room 39, Two Poptorn, Stamp, Thee Chaiyadej, Jo-Kong, Da Endorphine, Jo Waan, Toey Jarinporn, Rose Sirinthip, Knot Warut, Slur, Superbaker, Toey Jarinporn, the Begins and Shining Star.
During the press conference at Crystal Design Centre, Tor, Toey and Superbaker offered up their personal belongings for auction. Tor's white T-shirt emblazoned with "Save Me" went for Bt2,500, Superbaker's tee autographed by all its members was snapped up for Bt1,700 while Toey's Coach wallet was a steal at Bt6,000.
The festival will also feature booths selling handmade products plus food and beverages and a place for loving twosomes to have their photos taken.
"I'm expecting at least 25,000 people to show up," says theerawich, who is planning other major project at the end of the year.
Start your engines
_ The Vios We Love Music Fest will be at the Thong Somboon Club in Pak Chong, Nakhon Ratchasima on February 11, from from 4pm to 3am.
_ VIP tickets cost Bt20,000 for four people in one car, including four coupons for adventure games and Bt1,200 per person with one game. They're available at ThaiTicketMajor.
_ Proceeds will benefit flood relief.
_ Toyota customers showing their car keys receive a 50-per-cent discount.
_ Call (044) 316 279, search on Twitter for #ILoveMusicFestival, check out Facebook.com/LoveMusicFestival or visit
www.ThongSomboon-club.com.
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