More than 34 years after they last performed in front of an enthusiastic audience, Thailand’s original girl group Sao Sao Sao was back on stage last week for what had to be one of the most-awaited reunions in showbiz.

Saowaluk “Amp” Leelaboot, Patcharida “Mam” Wattana and Orawan “Poom” Yenpoonsuk, whose last concert was in May 1984, packed out the 5,000-seat Royal Paragon Hall for each of the three rounds of the “Sao Sao Sao Concert” from November 23 to 25.

That adds up to a turnout of more than 15,000 fans, noted organisers Atime Showbiz, and indeed all three shows were stamped “sold out” on the Thai Ticket Major website not long after the tickets went on sale.

With most of the audience now as middle-aged as the ladies themselves, Mam was quick to crack a joke. “This is a concert that you have to watch before you die and we have to perform before we die.” And it certainly appeared that the shows were on many bucket lists, as some of the fans had travelled from as far as the US and Australia for the historic reunion.

In their four-hour-long concert on Sunday evening, the pop trio warmed up the fans with their all-time hits “Pratoo Jai” (“Door to the Heart”) and “Rak Kue Fun Pai” (“Love is Like a Dream”).

They followed up with a set of their ballads. Amp, 53, crooned her hit “Yak Luem” (I Want to Forget) while Mam, 51, and Poom, 54, sang in chorus. Poom later mesmerised the audience with her sweet voice on “Duay Rang Hang Rak (“With the Power of Love”). The fans rewarded them with long and loud applause.

The trio also performed three songs composed by Amp for their early albums as well as some hits from their folk and English-language albums.

The backup was provided by Extra Band and a string orchestra along with three chorus singers and more than a dozen dancers from D-Dance Troupe.

A highlight of the night was when the three singers relived their show at the Tokyo Music Festival in 1989 at which they represented Thailand. They performed “Dokmai Khong Namjai” (Flower of Generosity), a Thai version of the Japanese song “Hana” (“Flower”) by singer-songwriter Shinji Tanimura, who is known for his worldwide hit “Subaru”. The trio performed in costumes similar to the ones they wore at the event three decades ago and also sang the original Japanese lyrics.

The latter half of the concert saw the ladies joined by their guests. Siriporn “Tak” Yooyod teamed with Poom and the pair showed off their powerful vocals. Worawech “Dan” Danuwong and Kawi “Beam” Tanwararak helped spice up the night with Mam while Pongsak “Aof” Rattanapong and Chalatit “Ben” Tantiwut joined Amp for a set that wowed the audience.

Together, the trio and their guest singers performed a medley of Sao Sao Sao hits that was so much fun that those middle-aged audience members felt compelled to stand up and start dancing along, turning the entire hall into a big party. There was also a sea of lights as fans turned on their smartphones’ flashlights and waved in unison towards the stage.

Sao Sao Sao closed out the show with another rendition of “Dokmai Khong Namjai”, this time with tears streaming down their faces as they bade farewell to their thousands of faithful followers. It was a perfect sendoff for their fans, who left the hall with full hearts and the sweetest of memories.

For more information and table reserva¬tions, please call (062) 171 5299.

Fun, food and great music

Grab invites lovers of electronic dance music to the all-new lifestyle and music festival, “On The Way” taking place at Live Park Rama IX on Saturday from 5pm until late.

The festival will be divided into three zones: “OTW to Play” focusing on fun activities, “OTW to Eat” for food and “OTW to Dance” with international DJs Vinai, 4B, Aazar, and Thomas Newson manning the decks. Tickets are available at http://www.TicketMelon.com.

All alight in Khao Yai

Kensington & Garden Resort Khao Yai lights up the mountains this cool season with the illumination festival: “The Light of Love” kicking off next Tuesday.

Running through January 19, the festival will showcase four rounds of illuminations at 4.30, 7, 7.30 and 8pm nightly with a splendid tunnel featuring more than one million LED lightings and several light sculptures.

Tickets cost Bt120 at the hotel. Find out more by visiting facebook: Kensington Khaoyai.

Best of both worlds

Boyzlife  a new boy band created by Boyzone’s Keith Duffy and Brian McFadden of Westlife – are heading to Bangkok to perform their first concert ever in Thailand at GMM Live House on the eighth floor of CentralWorld this Saturday at 8.

Fans can expect to hear a selection of Boyzone and Westlife’s greatest hits, including “No Matter What” and “Flying Without Wings”.

Tickets cost from Bt1,000 to Bt3,000 at Thai Ticket Major counters. Call (02) 262 3456 or buy online at http://www.ThaiTicketMajor.com.

Voices raised in memory

The great crooners of three generations will perform on the same stage in the “Master of Voices” concert taking place at Royal Paragon Hall of Siam Paragon on December 5 at 5pm.

The three sets of singers are separated into “Amata” featuring Suthep Wongkamhaeng, Charin Nanthanakorn, Thanin Inthrathep and Setha Sirachaya; “Hit” by Sumate Ongart, Thay Uthane, Od Khiriboon and Ford Sobchai; and “New” by Nueng ETC, Non Tanon, Ton Thanasit and O Sipoom.

Tickets cost from Bt1,000 to Bt4,500 at counter services of 7-Eleven and http://www.AllTicket.com.

Fans can expect an eclectic set of hits from his highly acclaimed projects – “Beauty behind the Madness”, “Starboy” and “My Dear Melancholy”.

The Weeknd first broke into the music scene with the 2011 mixtape “House of Balloons” followed by studio album “Kiss Land” in 2013.

“Beauty Behind the Madness” picked up d two Grammy Awards in 2015, an RIAA tripleplatinum certification for cumulative sales in excess of 3 million, 22 RIAA certifications for “The Hills”, “Can’t Feel My Face”, “Often”, “In The Night” and “Acquainted”.

“Earned It” for the movie “Fifty Shades of Grey” garnered The Weeknd his first ever Academy Award nomination in the category of “Best Original Song”. The Weeknd’s fourth fulllength album Starboy was released in November 2016, and the title track featuring Daft Punk broke the record for “Most Release Weekend Streams Ever” upon its release.

Tickets for Sunday’s show start at Bt2,500 and are available at Thai Ticket Major outlets and online at http://www.ThaiTicketMajor.com.

“It was very easy to see the visual world this song lives in,” Hadreas says. “I could feel it even in the beginning, while putting the music together. I imagined something warm and painterly, but wrapped in alien gauze. And directing the video brought the song closer to my heart.”

“Not for Me” follows last week’s release of the single “Alan (rework).” Both tracks are now available everywhere.

All W Hotels proceeds from the streaming of Perfume Genius’ exclusive tracks with W Records will benefit Immigration Equality, the nation’s leading LGBTQ immigrantrights organisation.

Immigration Equality was handpicked by Hadreas as his charity of choice. The organisation represents people from around the world fleeing violence, abuse and persecution because of their sexual orientation, gender identity or HIV status.

“Immigration Equality is doing important work providing free legal services for LGBTQ and HIVpositive individuals that are seeking asylum in the US. It’s a hugely important cause to me, especially now,” says Hadreas.

“Like many generations before us, we still have many challenges facing us here in America, but also around the world. In over 80 countries, being LGBTQ is still criminalised. It is vital that we as a nation and as a global community continue to fiercely support those that keep us moving forward. Everyone deserves a chance to be safe and free – it is a human right.”

Marriott International officially partnered with Immigration Equality in January to fund and support the LGBTQH Asylum Programme, which provides expert legal representation for vulnerable individuals seeking asylum in the US who have fled their home countries for fear of persecution.

“Working with Perfume Genius and Immigration Equality is an incredible opportunity to unite our passions for music and LGBTQ equality around the world,” says Anthony Ingham of W Hotels Worldwide.

The audience will taste on the table what is performed on stage.

The music is served by Italian baritone Marcello Rosiello, tenor David Sotgiu, top Thai pianists Nat and Pana Yontararak with the Bromsgrove International School Choir and Bangkok Music Society (BMS) in a programme by Rossini and Neapolitan composers.

Bariborn Rosiello is a regular in opera recitals and has appeared in Verdi’s “La Traviata” and Bizet’s “Carmen”.

Classically trained pianist, composer and teacher Nat Yontararak is a holder of the Silpathorn award and Thailand’s first Steinway Artist.

Tickets for the evening are Bt4,500 including entry fee to the performance, full-course dinner and free flow wine and are available at Bromsgrove International School Thailand (BIST).

Email lalice@bromsgrove.ac.th or call (063) 882 8363. Part of the proceeds will go to The Home for The Aged Ratchasima.

For centuries, it was a magnet for artists across the region and churned out Iraq’s best musicians – but recent years saw Mosul suffer a devastating musical purge.

For three years until last summer, the sprawling northern city was under the brutal rule of the Islamic State group.

In imposing a citywide ban on playing or even listening to music, the jihadists smashed and torched instruments.

“It was impossible to bring my instrument with me whenever I left the house,” says city resident Fadel alBadri, who hid his precious violin from the rampaging fighters.

Fore-shadowing IS’ repression, the 2000s saw AlQaeda and other groups impose an ultra-conservative interpretation of Islam in several districts of the city.

But with Mosul freed from the grip of IS in July 2017, Iraq’s second city is embarking on a musical comeback.

“After the liberation, songs are back where they truly belong in Mosul,” says Badri, welcoming the return of evening celebrations and festivals.

The 45-year-old violinist now has the pleasure of playing in public once more to an audience that claps hands and sings along to traditional local tunes.

Mosul has a rich musical history.

Iraqi musicians perform live music at a book fair in Mosul. 

It is the home city of Ziryab, a musician who introduced the oud – the oriental lute popular across the Arab world – to Europe in the 9th century.

One of its more recent musical prodigies is Kazem al-Saher, the Iraqi crooner-turned-talent judge known around the region.

The city even has its own special genre of Arabic ballads, recognised across Iraq and beyond.

From folkloric shows and philharmonic concerts to weddings and other national holidays, song and dance have traditionally filled the streets and surrounding air.

But that meant nothing to IS, which ravaged Mosul’s heritage – musical and otherwise – when it took the city as part of a lightning offensive across Iraq in 2014.

The jihadists began by destroying the statue of celebrated ballad virtuoso Mulla Uthman al-Mosuli, and then turned their attention to destroying instruments across the city.

IS also forced musicians in Mosul to sign a pledge that they would never play or sing again, which was then posted in public places like mosques.

Singer Ahmed al-Saher, 33, says it was humiliating.

“I couldn’t leave Mosul after they made me sign because of my sick mother. I had to stay here under all that pressure and fear of the unknown,” he recalls.

Ordinary residents, as well as musicians, are keen to celebrate the return of artistic freedom.

“Terrorism failed in killing Mosulites’ love for art in all forms. It’s been born again, despite the destruction,” says Amneh al-Hayyali.

The 38-year-old brought her husband, son, and daughter to watch a late-night concert in a cultural centre in east Mosul.

“Today, after the dark era of beheadings, lashings, beards and veils being imposed on us… we sing,” she says.

But bringing Mosul’s artistic scene back to its former heyday will not be easy.

Tahsin Haddad, who heads the local artists’ syndicate, says he is keen to support public arts across the province.

“But we are in huge need of support from the central government in Baghdad, especially because Mosul currently has no stages, movie theatres, or art spaces,” he says.

Without these venues, artists play in local cafes and public squares.

Celebrated Iraqi musician Karim Wasfi recently performed in a Mosul park where IS once infamously trained its child soldiers.

Earlier this month, Iraqi artists from around the country swarmed to the city for a cultural festival at Mosul University.

Performers stomped the dabkeh – a traditional Arabic line dance – and painters brought their works to display on the campus.

Glamorous Iraqi artist Adiba travelled from Baghdad with an entourage of peers.

“I am so happy to be in Mosul, singing here after it was freed from the grip” of IS, she said, moments before stepping on stage.

“Artists – Iraqi, Arab, foreign – should all come play festivals here.”

The single was originally put out in Korean and produced by Young Gold, the man behind the success of many K-pop artists. Rachel CL Lee, a visual director from YG Entertainment and a power behind Big Bang, 2NE1 and iKon, and Lee Sang Deok, are responsible for the Thai boy band’s music video.

The single will be included on Nine by Nine’s debut mini album “En Route”, a title symbolising the band’s long journey towards their first single.

Follow the lads at Instagram: 9by9th_official.

Taeyeon comes to town

Vocal queen Taeyeon, a member of leading South Korean girl group Girls’ Generation, is coming back to Thailand on December 1 and 2 for back-to-back solo concerts at Thunder Dome, Muang Thong Thani.

The theme “Sensibility” and will feature tracks from her third mini album “Something New”.

The December 1 show starts at 6pm and that on December 2 at 4pm.

Tickets cost from Bt2,000 to Bt6,000 at all branches of counter service including 7-Eleven and http://www.AllTicket.com.

Call (02) 826 7788 and visit http://www.facebook.com/smtruethailand.

Rocking the night away

American instrumental rock band Polyphia and ex-Megadeth guitarist Marty Friedman will perform on the same stage this Sunday in a blowout gig at RCA Live House.

They’ll be joined for a number by The Toys’ Thanwa “Toy” Boonsoongnern, who won the Overdrive Guitar Competition in 2015.

Tickets cost http://www.Ticketmelon.com and Bt2,000 at the door.

Call PMG at (02) 203 04235, or visit http://www.Ovdcoin.com, Line: @prart or @ovdcoin.

Indie over the moon

Two indie artists take to the stage of Moonstar Studio 8 tomorrow for “Boy Pablo & Phum Viphurit”.

Boy Pablo is a 19-year-old Norwegian star, who has stirred up Europe’s indie scene with such hits as “Everytime”, “Losing You”, “Dance” and “Baby”. Phum Viphurit is an up-and-coming Thai indie star whose tunes include “Lover Boy”, “Long Gone”, and “Sweet Hurricane”.

Tickets cost Bt1,800 at http://www.Ticketmelon.com.

Songs for all the family

Dance artist and singer Saranyu “Ice” Winaipanit headline the “GSB Wow Family Concert” being staged on Sunday afternoon at 3 at Stage 1 of Mono 29 Studio on Chaipruek Road.

Joining him for this free concert are vocal presenters of the Government Saving Bank’s TV commercial, Paibulkiat “Pun” Khiewkaew and Apiwat “Nueng” Pongwat.

For tickets, go to http://www.Gsb.or.th.

The ambition of Super Flu is to connect tradition and modern electronic music in terms of vitality and joy of life.

Partygoers can expect to hear tracks from the duo’s third album, “Musik 3” released on the Monaberry label, a 12-track LP that weaves the listener into their studio work providing a different shade of sounds to please all kinds of electronic music lovers. “Musik 3” features a number of musical powerhouses including German pianist and composer Volker Bertelmann, better known as Hauschka. The album also features close friends Andhim with whom Super Flu previously collaborate on hits such as “Reeves” and “Mr Bass”.

Hailing from Halle/Saale Germany, Felix Thielemann and Mathias Schwarz fuse together a spectrum of influences covering everything from classic house sounds to orchestral melodies.

Super Flu will be supported by Boris Rubin.

Tickets are Bt300 including one drink at the door. Find out more by calling (063) 225 1331.

Count on hearing “No Matter What”, “Love Me for a Reason”, “Picture of You” and many more hits. Have a look at http://www.Facebook.com/TeenageDreamCorp and get your seats for Bt1,000 to Bt3,000 at http://www.ThaiTicketMajor.com and (02) 262 3456.

Boy Trai set for two shows

Singer-songwriter Trai “Boy” Bhumiratna will take his fans on a journey in the dual concert “Once Upon a Trai” at the KBank Siam Pic-Ganesha Theatre at Siam Square One on November 21 and 22.

Seats cost Bt1,300 to Bt3,000 at http://www.ThaiTicketMajor.com and (02) 262 3456.

Wear your overcoat

Winter’s chill will make the Overcoat Music Festival all the more enjoyable at the Jollyland Starlight Amphitheatre in Khao Kho, Phetchabun, on December 9. Onstage will be Two Popetorn, Boy Peacemaker, Aof Pongsak, Non Thanon, Da Endorphine, the Toys, Stamp, Jetset’er, Potato, Room39, Slot Machine, Lomo Sonic and UrboyTJ.

Passes cost Bt1,600 at 7Eleven. Find out more at http://www.Facebook.com/overcoatmusicfest.

Bird’s back, ready to play

Superstar Thongchai “Bird” McIntyre will be back onstage with “Dream Journey”, his 11th “Baeb Bird Bird” concert series, at Impact Arena on November 17 and 18 and 24 and 25. There are afternoon and evening shows to choose among costing Bt1,500 to Bt6,500 at http://www.ThaiTicketMajor.com and (02) 262 3456.

Classic American folk

The Brothers Four, a folk group founded in 1957 in Seattle, Washington, will perform two shows in Bangkok next month – at Phothalai Leisure Park on December 7 and Show DC’s Ultra Arena Hall on December 10.

Seats for the “Green Field” tour cost Bt4,000 at http://www.ThaiTicketMajor.com and (02) 262 3456.

South Korea’s Super Junior boy band was back in Bangkok last Sunday night, thrilling Thai fans with a superb encore of its “Super Show 7” concert.

The encore came with the special addition of Ryeowook, who missed the original performance early this year because of mandatory military service, and saw many new songs from the band’s latest album being performed.

To thousands of fans inside the packed Impact Challenger Hall 2, the upgraded version of the “Super Junior World Tour Super Show 7” was like a breath of fresh air.

At 5pm sharp, screams reverberated inside the hall as excited fans waited anxiously for the appearance of their favourite artists.

Their screams grew even louder when a clip appeared on giant screens showing a princess-like lady receiving an invitation to a party. Who invited her? The answer, according to the messenger on screen, was that “smart, gentle, precious, sexy, dedicated and well-shaped men would like to meet her”.

Super Junior’s fans, almost all of them females, had no problem relating to the lady, who was pictured walking into the party and discovering a series of black suits inside show cabinets. A second later, seven Super Junior members namely Leeteuk, Heechul, Yesung, Shindong, Eunhyuk, Donghae and Siwon appeared on stage standing inside similar cabinets, attired in black suits, and singing the band’s hit tune “Black Suit”.

The vibrant mood continued with “Scene Stealer” and “Mamacita”, and went up another notch when with “Mamacita” drawing to an end, the stage lights went out briefly to allow the spotlight to shine on the eighth Super Junior member for this concert – Ryeowook. Although he wasn’t able to perform in the original Super Show 7 concert in January as he had yet to complete his compulsory military service, his performance was so spot on that it seemed like he’d never been away.

After performing three songs, the lads officially greeted their fans – known as EverLasting Friends (ELFs) – and tried their best to speak in Thai. Ryeowook, for example, said, “Kid teung phom mai krab? Phom kor kid teung tuk khon na krab” (Do you miss me? I miss you too”). Leetuk wowed the audience with his beautiful “wai” and tried his best to correctly pronounce “Ma sang party hai sanook sanan dee nai krab?” (Isn’t it a good idea to throw a fun party?). But Eunhyuk stole the show by repeatedly playing with fun word, “jakkajee” (“tickle”).

The guys then removed their jackets and delivered a cool rendition of “Shirt”, earning even more screams as their neat white shirts became soaked in sweat.

“Animal” and “It’s You” were up next and drew ear-splitting screams as Super Junior blindfolded themselves as they danced.

The artists then performed two songs from their just-released Latin-style album, –“One More Time” and “Lo Siento”. These special additions to the original Super Show 7 raised the excitement level even further and drew loud applause.

Yesung went solo for “Your Echo” (do we need any preposition here?) then joined his seven pals for “One More Chance”. Ryeowook then took the entire stage for his remarkable rendition of “Little Prince”.

Donghae and Eunhyuk ramped up the tempo with an energetic performance of “Bout You”, “Oppa Oppa”, and “Can You Feel It” complete with the much-loved “Chok Chok” dance.

When all eight members returned next to the stage, they were dressed as schoolboys. They talked to the ELFs one more time, sharing their happiness at having brought the show back to Thailand. Shindong told the audience he particularly liked Impact Challenger Hall 2 because everyone sat at the same level before being summoned by the bell to get back to class. Seated on their desks, they delivered “Runaway” and followed up with “Too Many Beautiful Girls”, waving the band’s official colour-changing light sticks alongside their fans. And when they performed the dance tune “Rokuko”, they thrilled the fans right across the hall by scattering all over the stage to get close up with the audience.

Super Junior then smoothly disappeared and returned in new outfits for “On and On” and “Super Super”.

The screams rose another few decibels as all eight hunks were raised up high on a rotating part of the stage and the grand disco chandelier moved down for the start of “Sorry Sorry”.

From there, it was non-stop thrills as they sang “Mr Simple” with exciting stage effects and Eunhyuk performed a solo break dance. ELFs were already on Cloud Nine by the time Super Junior concluded this dance session with “Bonamana”.

And the concert was far from over, with the eight returning to the stage for “I Do” and hugging each other. The warm feelings continued with “Shining Star” while the ELFs flashed banners reading, “Thank you for being a shining star for us over the past 13 years. ELF promise to be the sky for SJ forever”.

Yesung told fans in Thai that he was so happy to meet them again and Siwon added “Thailand! You’re so special (in English). I will love you forever (In Thai)”. And taking their cue from the ear-splitting cheers that followed Siwon’s speech, Heechul and Eunhyuk jokingly began their messages with “You are so special”.

The large screens again showed the invited lady, this time wondering had (should it be “who had?) who actually invited her to the party as she was just an ordinary girl with music as her only friend. The answer had the ELFs in tears. It turned out that the lady was special because she was an ELF and Super Junior had been with her since she was young.

Super Junior made their debut in 2005 so they really have been part of their fans’ lives for a long time. Like the teens who loved them back then, they have grown-up and are now in their 30s.

The eight members said a musical goodbye to their fans with “Devil” and “Miracle” before taking the centre of stage to bid a proper farewell.

Ryeowook lifted the mood by singing a few lines from the Thai song “Man Kong Pen Kwam Rak” (“It Must Have Been Love”) while Leeteuk made a moving speech about how his band’s love story with ELFs had lasted a long time.

“We may grow older but our love has never changed,” he told the fans.