Boyzone, one of the most popular of all the boy bands, have fresh tunes to share from their seventh and final studio album of the same title. The first three singles, “Because”, “Love” and “Normal Boy”, will doubtless be on the setlist at the Dome.

Thirteen weeks after its release, the album has sold 89,000 copies in Britain alone.

Helping sales are songwriting collaborations with Ed Sheeran (“Because”) and Gary Barlow (“Love”). Production duties were shared among Toby Scott of Xenomania, John Shanks of Take That and Westlife fame, Jason Mraz’s main man Steve Soloman and young Swedish hitmakers Goldfingers.

The band included a tribute to founding member Stephen Gately, the tune “I Can Dream”, which Gately originally recorded for his solo album in 2002. A demo tape of the song was discovered and the vocals lifted for this version.

Supporting Boyzone in Bangkok will be singer-songwriter Brian McFadden, who started out with Westlife in 1998.

Boyzone have sold 25 million albums and played stadiums all over the world. They’ve had six No 1 singles and five No 1 albums.

Tickets are from Bt4,500 to Bt2,000 available at Thai Ticket Major (02) 262 3456 and visit http://www.ThaiTicketMajor.com.

The 29-year-old singer from K-pop boy band BIGBANG is accused of lobbying potential investors by offering sex services at multiple nightclubs in Seoul’s posh Gangnam district. He faced police questioning at the weekend.

“It would be better for me to retire from the entertainment business at this point,” Seungri said in a statement posted on his Instagram account.

“As for the ongoing probe, I will take the investigation seriously to clear all allegations,” he added.

The singer, who also owns a global franchise restaurant business, suspended his entertainment career in February and cancelled concerts scheduled for later this month.

He is also linked to an ongoing police case over Burning Sun, a nightclub where he was a public relations director, for multiple investigations into illegal narcotics use and sexual assault.

“I have faced heavy criticism from the public for the last month and-a-half and I’m being probed by all investigative authorities in the country,” Seungri said.

“As I’ve been branded as a ‘national traitor’, I cannot stand the fact that I’m harming others for my own sake,” he added.

BIGBANG is one of Korea’s most popular boy bands, having sold more than 140 million records worldwide since their debut in 2006.

But its members have often been in the limelight for misconduct.

Rapper T.O.P received a suspended jail sentence in 2017 for smoking marijuana multiple times after he was hospitalised for a drug overdose.

Band leader G-Dragon was also investigated for smoking marijuana in 2011, although he was released without indictment.

“I give my heartfelt, sincere thanks to fans at home and abroad who gave their love for the past 10 years and I think this should be it for me for the reputation of YG Entertainment and BIGBANG,” he said.

Many fans have already turned their backs on him and signed a petition last week urging Seungri’s expulsion from BIGBANG, saying he had caused “unrecoverable damage to the group’s reputation”.

“I’m so embarrassed at myself for being your fan for the last 10 years,” a user responded to Seungri’s Instagram post.

Another user added: “He was my favourite among all BIGBANG members but he must be punished for what he has done wrong.”

Lany featuring Paul Klein, Jake Goss and Les Priest has set off on a tour that will see them play more than 100 dates across North America, Europe, UK, South America, Australia, New Zealand and Asia in support of their sophomore album, Malibu Nights released in October 2018 via Interscope Records.

When the LA-based trio first came together in 2014, their only aim was to work on a couple of tracks together, demo them, and have some fun in the process. Living on the West Coast, singer Klein was putting together a scratch band and played a handful of shows. But by the end of 2013, he says, he knew that something had to give. Which is where Goss and Priest enter the picture.

Klein conceived the idea of enlisting his friends’ help on a brief trip to visit college friends. What none of them knew was that the step they were about to take would turn out to be so significant. In the space of four days, the trio recorded two songs – songs that would lead to the formation of Lany and, not long afterwards, to the band signing to Polydor Records. Six days after putting the tracks online, the band found themselves fielding emails from major-label suitors.

“ILYSB” marked the moment where Lany reached over the heads of the A&R community and started connecting directly with fans. The song exploded online and a similar alchemy occurred repeatedly in the other songs Lany put online – a succession of singles, and the EPs “I Loved You” and “Make Out” – over the course of 2015.

The Los Angeles Times praised “Malibu Nights”, calling it “a sleek and tender document of a thoroughly modern band hitting all the right references for 2018”. It is the follow up to the band’s 2017 self-titled debut album, which tied for the highest-charting debut album on the Billboard Top Rock Albums chart in 2017. Lead single “Thru These Tears”, received massive critical praise and was named by Time Magazine as one of the “5 Songs You Need to Listen to This Week.”

Customers can purchase tickets for the additional show at all ThaiTicketMajor outlets and at http://www.ThaiTicketMajor.com. Ticket prices are Bt1,800 and Bt2,800. For more details, call (02) 262 3838. For the latest updates, visit http://www.BecTero.com.

In an unexpected surprise, RS Public’s adhoc album “Ruam Dao” took Thai music fans by storm in the mid-1980s. It featured the top male and female singers of the time pairing off for duets on 14 classic Thai love songs.

The album’s title referred to a gathering of “stars”, and that’s what they were.

The male singers were all frontmen of pop bands – Ronnachai “Od” Thomyapariwat from Khiriboon, Suthipong “Chompoo” Watanajang of Fruity, Peerapong “Tom” Pholchana from Inthanil, Ophas “Od” Thosaporn of Brandy, Optic’s Thana “Oe” Sirichansawang, the Atlas’ Chanchai “Tum” Bunratanapailin, and Prawit “Sam” Prueangaksorn from Sixth Sense.

The women all came from Puifai – Atcharapannee “Oe” Hannarong, Juthamas “Boom” Issaranukrit and Arida “Pak” Patchimapirom, plus Thawinan Kongkran.

The duets were “Oy Jai”, “Mon Rak Dok Kam Tai”, “Nok Khao Khoo Rak”, “Rak”, “Thui Ja Thui”, “Joob Yoei Chan”, “Jud Tai Tam Tor”, “Nee Mai Phon”, “Damnoen Sai”, “Sak Khee Mae Ping”, “Ther Yoo Nai”, “Jai Chai Jai Ying”, “Bot Rian Korn Wiwa” and “Rak Khun Khao Laew”.

The album’s still around, but wouldn’t it be lovely to hear them all again live?

That’s what Tissanu Teeyanardtanancha thought. The actor with the stage name Khet Thanthub put his T-Group Holding (Thailand) on the job and organised “Ruam Dao 18 Karat the Concert”, which will take place in Hall 106 at Bitec in Bang Na on April 27.

The “18 Karat” part of the title alludes to another album of duets by that name, released soon after by Nithithas Promotions and equally successful.

The album “18 Karat” featured Suthep Prayoonpitak, Tuangsit Riemchinda, Patchara Wangwan, Somprasong “Tum” Singhawanawat, Kamthorn Sornwijit, Niphawan “Kai” Thaweepornsawan, Forever’s Wirut “Dam” Sakulsappaisal and Sujitra “Poom” Inthraphakdi.

The tracks included “Hua Jia Kookik”, “Raeng Rak”, “Jai Ther Jai Chan” from the soundtrack of “Fan Chan” and “Jai Prasan Jai” from the movie also titled “18 Karat”.

“It’s my childhood dream coming true,” Tissanu says of next month’s. “I grew up listening to songs by Phi Od and Phi Chompoo and even Tom Rainbow, whose music video for ‘Sing Sudthai’ I starred in. I think putting on this concert will be a onceinalifetime experience for me.”

His wife Natt Tuksaya says she thought “Khet”, as she calls him, was crazy when he told her about the double reunion concert idea.

“I thought, ‘That’s going to be hard, gathering all those artists from the albums ‘Ruam Dao’ and ‘18 Karat’ on the same stage. But I agreed with him, simply because it’s never been done before.”

Chompoo Fruity agrees, and recalls a fan misunderstanding that he and his wife Boom Juthamas sang on “18 Karat”.

“Because both ‘Ruam Dao’ and ‘18 Karat’ were successful at about the same time, this is a good chance for all of us to perform together.”

Od Khiriboon is looking forward to it.

“It wasn’t easy at that time for a cassette album to sell a million copies, but both these albums did it 39 years ago!”

Thawinan too is keen to take a memory stroll back to 1984, the year “Ruam Dao” was released. “The concert will take me back to the heyday.”

Suthep, one of the singers on “18 Karat” calls that heyday “a page from the history of Thai music”.

“Earlier there was the era of Sunthraporn, but our era was ‘Ruam Dao’ and ‘18 Karat’. This is a great chance for the fans to see all the artists from both albums and two music labels on the same stage.”

Old Friends Are Best

– “Ruam Dao 18 Karat the Concert” will be held in Hall 106 of Bitec in Bang Na on April 27, starting at 6pm.

– Seats are on sale at http://www.AllTicket.com and 7Eleven.

– Find out more at (086) 381 9401, (083) 883 9347, Tgroupthai on Facebook and @tgroupmarket2 on Line.

With 10 studio albums, three live albums, three video albums and four Eps, they’ve got a lot of material to feed into the shredder.

Tickets cost Bt1,000 to Bt3,500 at http://www.ThaiTicketMajor.com and (02) 262 3456.

Soybad not bad at all

The Zaap and Clap-produced event series D15 Nights Freestyler will be back at Arena 10 on Thonglor Soi 10 on March 9 with a live performance by YouTube phenomenon Soybad and Korean DJ Danu.

Book a table at (085) 253 2000 or on Line at @barbarbarbkk.

Rooftop ‘Envision’

Trance Lovers Thailand is throwing a trance-music party called “Envision” at Club XS on top of the W District building on March 9, featuring top local and foreign DJs such as Simon O’Shine, Dan Buri and Sam Laxton. Get a pass from Ticketmelon.com.

Popped in from Bali

Up-and-coming Dutch DJ-producer Nick Sijmen will be hammering out tunes at Bangkok’s Insanity Nightclub on March 13.

He’s played major venues in Europe and Asia and performed alongside Afrojack, Axwell, Bassjackers, DJ Chuckie, Sidney Samson and Wiwek. He now hosts his own monthly night at Sky Garden Bali.

Make a date at (082) 731 8885 or via Line at @insanity.

Russians are coming

The Royal Bangkok Symphony Orchestra conducted by Michel Tilkin is presenting “Russian Virtuosity” at the Thailand Cultural Centre on March 29, featuring Bulgarian pianist Dora Deliyska.

The programme includes Glinka’s “Russian and Ludmilla Overture”, Prokofiev’s “Piano Concerto No 3” and Tchaikovsky’s “Symphony No 6 (Pathetique)”.

Tickets cost Bt400 to Bt2,000 at http://www.ThaiTicketMajor.com and (02) 262 3456.

Special screening

The Mexican Embassy in Bangkok and the BACC mark International Women’s Day with a special screening of triple Oscar winning film “Roma” by Alfonso Cuaron.

It shows at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre’s BACC fifth floor Auditorium tomorrow at 2pm and again at 5. The film is in Spanish with English subtitles.

Admission is free but seating is limited. Donations will be welcomed on site to #saveyourbacc#yourbacc.

Much has been written in recent months about Thailand’s idol trend and with good reason. Since BNK48 – one of the overseas sister groups of Japanese idol girl group AKB48 – came into the world in 2016, the attention span of their tough-looking male fans, known as “otaku” in Japanese, has grown exponentially and this has led to other idol groups being formed and following in their sisters’ success.

Now the time has come for BNK48 to expand its territory and strengthen its presence.

“First of all, we will not after all be auditioning for the third generation of BNK48,” said Jirath “Tom” Pavaravadhana, chief executive of the BNK48 Office during the recent “We Talk to You” event held at Siam Pavalai Royal Grand Theatre on the sixth floor of Siam Paragon.

“We feel it is essential to turn our attention to improving the skills of the first and second generation BNK48 members in order to get more jobs. And so the auditions have been on hold,” he explained, much to the disappointment of the otaku.

“Our first territorial expansion, called ‘Location Base’ is an important mechanism for bringing a wider dimension to the story of BNK48. We will be king the girls around the country and across borders for several events and activities with our neighbours, namely Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia.

“The second expansion will see BNK48 members becoming part of the worlds of entertainment through movies and TV series as well as mobile games and other digital content. Those kind of showcases will help BNK48 cross the border from Thailand into other parts of Asia and around the world. I like to joke that if BNK48 members were warlords, they would come with their warhorses to conquer other nations. Right now, we are looking for business partners to co-develop the contents, which will help BNK48 members to have a new image in addition to their music. The content is very important to complete the strategy,” he explains.

Last year saw some of BNK48’s 51 members make their movie debuts with roles in the films “App War”, “Girls Don’t Cry”, and “Homestay” as well as the series “Great Men Academy” in a collaboration with film producers Nadao and GDH.

Coming out soon is “BNK48 Story”, a documentary based on the back stories of all 51 members, which will be translated into several languages. It will first be aired on PB5 in Cambodia then screen in Myanmar and Laos.

“It will introduce BNK48 to our neighbours,” says Jirath.

The BNK48 Office has also co-invested with Sahamongkol Film International in Prachya Pinkaew’s movie “Krasue Siam” starring Nannaphas “Mewnich” Loetnamchoetsakun, in Kongdej Jaturanrasmee’s “Where We Belong” – a movie receiving funding as part of the Busan International Film Festival’s Asian Project Market and which features eight BNK48 members, and with Serng Production and Organiser in Surasak Pongsorn’s “Thibaan The Series”, in which BNK48 members star and speak the Isaan dialect.

Cherprang presents her collectible figurine, which will be sold to raise funds for the BNK48 Foundation.

“We will not make a second episode of the documentary ‘Girls Don’t Cry’ but instead film ‘Real Me’ directed by Donut Manasnan. “One Year”, a new series produced by GDH and Nadao Bangkok, is getting good feedback and other countries are interested in purchasing the movie copyright. That’s why the content is essential to us. It is also a good chance for us to create new senbatsu members from other projects,” says Jirath. “We will not wait for luck like a hit with ‘Fortune Cookie’.”

“BNK48 Oshi Festival” is the idol group’s new game and is expected to draw even more fans.

The BNK48 application has been further developed from just live chat into a centre for BNK48 content, including a theatre show and ticket sales. Mobile game “Star Keeper” is being upgraded with more stages, more bosses and more spaceships, and new game, “BNK48 Oshi Festival”, will soon be released in cooperation with Gameloft video game developers from France.

BNK48 members take part in the CSR event, “Love & Hope”.

Fans attending the recent press conference were delighted when BNK48’s captain Cherprang Areekul came out on stage and greeted her with loud screams. She talked about BNK48 Office’s CSR events held under the name of “Ruam Palang Rak Lae Wangdee” (“Love and Hope”) and the launch of BNK48 Foundation to help children, women and victims of natural disasters.

Her collectible premium figurine dressed in the costume the girls wore for their single “Aitakatta”, is priced at Bt9,990 and the proceeds go to the foundation.

Jirath Pavaravadhana, Cherprang Areekul, Oraphan Monphichit Pavaravadhana, and Natapol Pavaravadhana talk about BNK48’s plans for the coming year.

For her part, Oraphan “Rose” Monphichit Pavaravadhana, chief operating officer of the BNK48 Office, spoke about the management system upgrade to ISO 9000 and the recruitment of more personnel. These include a psychologist who will observe BNK48 members and a legal team to protect members’ rights and benefits in cooperation with Royal Thai Police Headquarters and the Technology Crime Suppression Division.

And the fans once again roared their delight when Natapol “Job” Pavaravadhana, chief marketing officer of the BNK48 Office, came out on stage to announce the idol group’s upcoming activities. Among them is the release of a three-single album a year starting with “The Beginner” together with the debut performance of BNK48 senbatsu members led by Cherprang. A handshake event is being held from April to September, along with a solo concert, a fan fest, and a Sport’s Day.

And then there’s the BNK “Thank You & The Beginner” road show, which will see the members travel to five provinces. It kicks off in the parking area in front of Hard Rock Café in Siam Square, before heading to Hat Yai on March 23-24, Khon Kaen on April 27-28, Chiang Mai on May 4-5, and Rayong on May 11-12. Each two-day event will feature a Hi-Touch group and a mini concert.

“Fans asked me why we are kicking off in Siam Square. The answer is simple: to show off BNK48 members to a wider range of people in addition to their fans,” Natapol explained.

As was widely expected, pop artist Eve Pancharoen, aka Palmy, swept the Guitar Mag awards on Tuesday night, smiling as she went up on stage to the applause and cheers of the audience packed into Ultra Arena at Show DC.

Out of four career nominations, the Thai-Belgian pop sensation won three – Best Songwriter, Single Hit for “Sorn Klin”, the music video of which has been viewed more than 129 million times on YouTube, as well as Best Female Artist. She lost out on Best Producer, which went to Polycat’s singer and guitarist Rattana Chanprasit for the soul-R&B song “Aworn” (“I Want You”).

“I’m overwhelmed. Thanks to Phi Nick (Wichian Rerkpaisan of Genie Records) for persuading me to be part of this music label and all the producers who have given me so much experience and knowledge. And thank you to The Guitar Mag for presenting me with Best Female Artist, which confirms I made the right decision in returning to the scene after a long break. My thanks also go to everybody who has sup¬ported me to reach this point,” Palmy said.

Rattana also expressed his delight. “This award reminds me of the beginning of the band. I had long dreamt of being a producer or a songwriter but after many years as a guitarist, that was gradually fading. This award has made my dream come true,” he said.

The ceremony got off to a lively start with a red carpet event outside and also kept up with the growing idol trend of today by bringing in as guests BNK48, CM Café, Akira Kuro and Black Dolls.

The sixth floor foyer was jammed packed with pop stars and hip-hoppers, especially those nominated for the inaugural Rising Star Hip Hop of the Year. Among them were D Gerrard and Wonderframe from Wayfer Records, Tong Twopee Southside from Thaitanium Entertainment, and indie rappers Young Ohm and OGANIC, who have made themselves known through reality shows.

The ceremony opened with a show by Krissada Sukosol Clapp, aka No Pru, who then named the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award as the late Rewat “Ter” Buddhinan, a pioneer of the Thai pop music industry and the founder of GMM Grammy.

“We thank The Guitar Mag for presenting this prestigious award to Rewat. The one thing Rewat loved most is music. He had a dream to make our country’s music circle more acceptable and successful and to make the career of musician honourable,” said Aruya Buddhinan, Ter’s wife, who came along with their two daughters.

Pongkool “Pop” Suebsung was next on stage with “Ying Mai Roo Ying Tong Tham” but the song seemed to make him sad and he walked off the stage without saying anything.

The Parkinson’s guitarist and singer Nipat “Karn” Kamjornpreecha picked up the award for Guitar Man of the Year for his song “Pai Ther” (“Just Go”).

“I have followed The Guitar Mag for years and used it to practise my guitar playing. That gave me sore fingers at first but I persevered. I was so excited when I heard I’d been nominated for this award,” Karn said.

Wonderframe, D Gerrard, and Tong Twopee Southside performed mini shows before Tong Twopee was back onstage again to receive the Rising Star Hip Hop award. He too thanked the magazine, saying: “My song has only been heard by a small group of people; it is like a kind of underground music. I would like to push hip hop further in the future and thank the producers of ‘Rap Is Now’, ‘Show Me The Money’ and ‘The Rapper’ for giving our music this chance.”

New Wave of the Year went to Whal and Dolph and Best Choice of the Year to Zeal, before BNK48 members made a surprise show with their new and sixth single, “Kor Proh Wa Chob Ther” (“Kimi no Koto ga Suki Dakara”) and hit “Cookie Siang Thai” (“Fortune Cookie”).

Prach “Pex” Pongchai, the singer of Zeal, noted that the band had been in the business for 17 years and he therefore had a lot of people to thank – the production teams of ME Records and Muzik Move and the band’s families, among others.

Best Male of the Year went to Pop Pongkool, Best Band to Bodyslam, and Best Album to The Richman Toy’s “Tawan Lia Tood.”

“All I can say is that music saved my life at a time when I couldn’t find a job. Thanks to everybody who has supported me and all the behind-the-scene teams of White Music. I dedicate my award to you all,” says Pop Pongkool.

“It’s usually Toon who comes up to say thanks but right now he’s participating in a running event in Japan,” said Bodyslam’s keyboardist Ohm Plengkhum who came up on stage with drummer Suchatti “Chad” Janed.

“I believe that all of us got much of our music knowledge from The Guitar Mag, so thanks to them, to Phi Nick, the team at Genie Records, and Off and Kob Big Ass. Phi Toon always says that we couldn’t have reached this point without these supporters. I would like to share this award with all bands that dedicate their energy and passion to making musical works. Carry on and you too can be Best Band of the Year.”

Book a seat at (02) 649 8353 or dining.sgs@luxurycollection.com.

Gianluca Petrella is considered one of the world’s best young jazz trombonists. In 2001 he won Italy’s Django d’Or Award and the Musica Jazz annual critics poll as Best Young Talent. In 2006 and 2007 he was named by Down Beat magazine as Best Emerging Artist.

He has worked with top musicians including Pat Metheny, Jimmy Owens and Carla Bley.

Petrella, who is influenced by Thelonious Monk, Duke Ellington and Sun Ra, uses modern techniques such as loops and sound effects in his performances.

Pasquale Mirra is one of the most exciting vibraphonists on the international jazz scene today. For three consecutive years he was named Best Italian Vibraphonist by Jazz It magazine. He has collaborated with great improvisers such as Michel Portal, Jeff Parker and Michael Blake and regularly performs in America and Europe with distinguished American percussionist, Hamid Drake.

Pasquale is also the founder of the Bassesfere Collective, a cultural association based in Bologna that promotes the development of improvised music and research.

Eve Pancharoen, the Thai-Belgian pop singer better known as Palmy, leads the nominations for The Guitar Mag Awards 2019, with four nods for Best Producer, Best Songwriter, Best Female Artist and Single Hit of the Year.

Following closely behind with three nominations apiece are Polycat, Pongkool “Pop” Suebsueng, Bodyslam, Room39, and Wonderframe, while Zeal, The Richman Toy, Scrubb and Thanwa “Toy” Boonsongnernb of The Toys have each scored two nominations.

Prizes in 14 categories are up for grabs in this eighth edition of the awards. Nominated for the newest award –Rising Star Hip Hop – are D Gerrard and Wonderframe from Wayfer Records, Tong Twopee Southside from Thaitanium Entertainment, and indie rappers Young Ohm from the “Rap Is Now” competition whose single “Choey Moey” has raked up 27 million views on YouTube, and OG-ANIC from reality show, “The Rapper”.

“Our awards are better and bigger than ever and continue to draw more interest,” says Piyawan “Boom” Wongsawang, the magazine’s chief executive.

“We have a lot of interesting highlights including performances by five artists from five music labels as well as the launch of our new app featuring updated music contents, information, knowledge, entertainment, and video clips of exclusive interviews, equipment reviews, guitar techniques and workshops. Moreover, the application also helps find music shops, rehearsal rooms, recording studios, music schools, entertainment places and restaurants. It’s available from both the App Store and Play Store.

The awards ceremony takes place today (March 5)on the sixth floor of Show DC and has “The Kingdom of Music” as its theme.

It will be divided into two parts, the first a red carpet event where fans can meet and greet such big names as Bodyslam, Palmy, Clash, Thaitanium, Mild, Potato, Mean, Polycat, Noom Kala, The Parkinson, Earth Patravee, ETC, The Richman Toy, Scrubb, Cocktail, Whal & Dolph, Lula, Big Ass, Bedroom Audio, Retrospect, Boom Boom Cash, The Mousses, Paperplanes, Abuse The Youth, Pete Peera, Chart Suchart and The Yers. The awards announcement starts at 7pm.

Noi Pru, Pop Pongkool, D Gerrard, Wonderframe, Tong Twopee Southside, Zeal and Burin Boonvisut will perform.

Rewat “Ter” Buddhinan, the late founder of GMM Grammy, will be honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Palitchoke “Peck” Ayanaputra, winner of the Popular Vote by readers of the magazine, will also be there.

Anyone interested in the ceremony can ask for a pass tag at Facebook/The Guitar Mag, or watch the event on Facebook live: The Guitar Mag. It will also be broadcast on GMM25 on March 15 at 8.30pm.