No, the cops didn’t vow to turn off the water because of the drought. The bash is just postponed until next month.

Dome’s plan to kick off the Thai New Year with a roster of foreign DJ talent, a food and fun fair and, yes, generous lashings of alcohol, ran up against the Chiang MaiCultural Council, which thought it sounded like way too much fun for Songkran.

North Fest, booked from April 13 to 16, was billed as the city’s first full-scale EDM festival, with everything arranged in the northern style and intended to boost Chiang Mai tourism. The local custodians of culture deemed it improper, though, and even “begged” the organisers to reconsider.

Dome did, but rather than cancelling the party outright – which would have cost him and his partners a fortune – he strategically postponed it to May 6 and 7 and dropped the EDM angle, so it’s “just another music festival”.

“My only intention was to promote Chiang Mai among both Thais and foreign tourists as one of the best destinations to celebrate Songkran,” Dome told the press.

“The whole concept had cultural propriety in mind, with our utmost respect to tradition and the local community. We’re also firm about abiding by the law, so only people over 18 would be admitted and alcohol would be served only to people of the legal drinking age.”

Salute to the stars

We’ve been snickering about the male celebrities dodging their duty to spend time in the military, but a couple of other stars are ready to serve. Amid the flurry of excuses both acceptable and ludicrous being offered as per annual tradition this time of year, 25-year-old Thai-French actor Louis Hesse d’Alzon has actually asked to undergo training with the Army.

“Last year I asked for an exemption because I was studying,” Louis said this week. “But I think it’s a great honour and the responsibility of all Thai men to complete this training, so I thought, ‘Why not?’ I’m always looking for ways to serve the country, and this is one, so I’m happy to do it. And I’m very proud to do it because my French grandfather was a soldier.”

Another exemplary star ready to put on the uniform is Kitkong “Boom” Khamkrit, who was the first guy from his district to volunteer. He’ll commence training next month.

“It’s always been my intention to serve our country this way,” Boom told Dara Daily. “I didn’t apply for Reserve Officer Training when I was in high school and I didn’t want to go through the draw. Instead, I made up my mind a long time ago that I’d volunteer.

“Plus, since I’m afraid of heights, I want to overcome my fear and train with the Air Force.”

Well done, gentlemen!