Smith is one of the UK’s leading contemporary artists and has enjoyed massive success all across the world. He first gained international notice in 2012 when he featured on the US Top 10 hit “Latch” by Disclosure, and then in 2013 Naughty Boy’s “La La La”, featuring Sam Smith shot to No.1 on the UK charts. In 2014, he released his widely acclaimed chart-topping debut album “In the Lonely Hour” which boasted a string of global hits including the heart-wrenching “Stay With Me”, the melancholic “I’m Not The Only One”, “Money On My Mind”, and “Like I Can”. His sophomore album “The Thrill of it All” was released in November, again taking Smith to the No 1 position in charts around the world. The album has already spawned the hits “Too Good At Goodbyes” and “Pray”.

In 2015, Smith co-wrote and sang the theme song for the James Bond movie “Spectre”, winning an Oscar and Golden Globe for Best Original Song and making it the first Bond theme song to ever reach No 1 in the UK charts.

Tickets start at Bt2,000 and go on sale on June 30 at all ThaiTicketMajor outlets and at http://www.ThaiTicketMajor.com. Citi credit card members have access to pre-sale tickets beginning at 10am on June 27 until 10pm on June 28. Live Nation members can also purchase pre-sale tickets from 10am until 10pm on June 29.

For more information, call (02) 262 3838 or visit http://www.BecTero.com.

Her singles established her as a rising star with both her debut single, “New Love” and its follow-up “Be the One” reaching the Top 10 in a dozen European territories.

Last year, she had three simultaneously charting singles in the UK Top 15 with “Be the One”, “Scared to Be Lonely” with Martin Garrix, and “No Lie” with Sean Paul.

With more than three million daily streams, Dua Lipa is listed among Top 10 artists on Spotify and has already accumulated three billion total streams across all platforms. Her wins at NME Awards and MTV EMA further strengthened the 22-year-old’s position as the brightest star in pop.

Now, with the release of her self-titled debut album, she reveals the full range of her ambitions. While recording her album in New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, and London, Lipa was rapidly learning the fearlessness and confidence necessary to write great songs.

Born in London to Albanian parents from Kosovo, Dua Lipa attended the Sylvia Young Theatre School until she was 11, when she and her family moved back to Kosovo. Encouraged by her teacher, Lipa convinced her parents to let her move back to London when she was 15 to follow her aspirations to become a singer. She recorded covers and posted them on social media, hoping to find a way into the music business but instead was noticed by a modelling agency, which secured her an audition for a commercial for “The X Factor”, attracting the attention of Lana Del Rey’s management team, who eventually signed her.

Tickets from Bt2,000 will be available for public on Saturday, starting at 10am through all ThaiTicketMajor outlets and online at http://www.ThaiTicketMajor.com. Citi credit card members have access to presale tickets from today at 10am to tomorrow at 10pm. Live Nation members can pre-purchase tickets on June 15, starting at 10am. For membership sign-up and enquiries, visit http://www.LiveNation.co.th.

“Today was greeted by the sad news of the passing of Danny Kirwan in London, England,” Fleetwood said in a Facebook post on Friday.

“Danny was a huge force in our early years. His love for the Blues led him to being asked to join Fleetwood Mac in 1968, where he made his musical home for many years.”

The British-American band spiraled from a blues outfit to the world’s biggest pop band in the 1970s, selling more than 100 million albums.

Kirwan’s work was on show from “Then Play On” 1969 to “Blues Jam at Chess ” 1969 “Kiln House” 1970 “Future Games” 1971 and then “Bare Trees ” 1972.

“Danny’s true legacy, in my mind, will forever live on in the music he wrote and played so beautifully as a part of the foundation of Fleetwood Mac, that has now endured for over fifty years.

“Thank you, Danny Kirwan. You will forever be missed!”

Kirwan struggled with alcoholism and was fired from the band in 1972. He spent some time living rough on the streets of London in the early 1990s, according to an interview he gave The Independent newspaper in 1993.

He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame along with co-members in 1998.

The group, formed in 1967 and named for Mick Fleetwood and John McVie, is still on tour with newcomers Mike Campbell and Neil Finn.

Campbell was the bassist for the late great American rocker Tom Petty. Kiwi Finn is known for rocking with Split Enz and Crowded House.

The Bee Gees – the greatest pop and disco trio of all time whose fraternal harmonies were instantly recognisable – disbanded forever in 2012 following the death of Robin – but remain in the hearts of fans around the world. The band is still fondly remembered in Thailand and its hits are being brought back to life again at a tribute concert, titled “Care for Each Other: The Night To Remember Bee Gees”, that’s being staged in August at the Thailand Cultural Centre.

“I have been a professional and successful songwriter for 23 years as well as a producer. In my career, I’ve met and worked with many other songwriters and also learnt that none of them are eligible to receive any benefits or support from any organisation, governmental or otherwise. Most veteran songwriters are now living in poverty and a lot of them are in poor health, being victims of cancer. So, I want to set up a fund for cancer patients,” says Thawichaya Tungsaharangsee, executive producer of music label Classy Records, which is organising the concert.

“I have decided to call the fund Classy For Friends and am starting by raising money through a concert dedicated to the Bee Gees, as both Robin and Maurice died of cancer. I am, of course, paying the copyright fee for the 35 songs we will be performing.

“I also want to devote the fund to my father, who died of cancer in 2012. The principle is simple: To become part of the Classy For Friends Fund, a songwriter pays Bt500 for membership and receives a T-shirt. All membership fees will be put into the fund alongside donations and other money raised and the songwriter will receive dividends or medical expenses if he or she is diagnosed with cancer,” Thawichaya explains.

The show will mark Classy Records debut in the concert-organising world and it will also be handling the production. The label is planning to stage one or perhaps two concerts a year, with the second tribute concert expected to pay respect to the great master, Paiboon Butrkhan, whose hits include “Mon Rak Lukthung”.

“We know that the Bee Gees are still popular here and are confident that their fans will come to the concert,” says Thawichaya. “We plan to make the show greater than other previous tribute concert, bringing a giant LED screen six metres high and 14 metres wide to the Thailand Cultural Centre. We will also design the graphics for all songs and show them on that big screen.”

Those coughing up for the Bt3,000 tickets will take home a CD, “A Cordial Tribute to the Bee Gees”, featuring six songs – “Words” by Surasee Itthikul, “Our Love (Don’t Throw It All Away)” by Chotchoo “Pom Autobahn” Puengudom, “Melody Fair & In The Morning” by Cheepchanok Sriyamart, “How Can You Mend A Broken Heart” by Sobchai “Ford” Graiyoonsen, “First of May” by Triple J Jazz Trio featuring Narinpan “Jo” Pantarawong, and “How Deep Is Your Love” by Ie (Thananya) Weeranukul.

The tribute concert will feature a set list of 35 Bee Gees songs divided into four parts: jazz, ballads, Andy Gibb and disco. Contributing artists include Suchart “Ton” Chawangkul, Suttipong “Chompoo Fruity” Wattanajung, Gunpol “Ping Fruity” Pridamanoch, Edward Vanzo, Thiti “Zonx” Prukchaum, Attapong “Oat Street Funk Rollers” Boonsermsap, 2 Is Better Than 1, Triple J Jazz Trio, Atthaporn “Toon The Voice” Kornchaiya, Puwadon “Yamin” Weerasatien, Rawiwan “Oui” Chinda, Christophe Descamps, Mum Laconic, and a group of students aged seven and eight from Music Box music school in Chanthaburi province.

“It’s unbelievable how well these kids sing the Bee Gees’ songs,” says Thawichaya, adding that the concert will also feature several of his label’s artists, among them Rawiwan “Oui” Chinda, Paibulkiat “Pun” Kheokaew, Isaree “Mameow” Namphacharoen, a former member of girl trio 3G, Pimpetch “Palmie” Kunjara Na Ayuthaya, and Walai “Jiab” Pipatcharoenkij. They’ll be backed by a 13strong adhoc Classy Band featuring musicians, chorus singers and a brass section.

“The Bee Gees had very recognisable harmonies, with Barry’s R&B falsetto shining out from the late 1960s to the early 1970s and Maurice’s clear vibrato in the mid-1970s, which was really the trio’s heyday. Their popularity soared when their songs featured on the ‘Saturday Night Fever’ soundtrack in 1977. In addition to their own hits, Bee Gees worked with other artists, writing Barbra Streisand’s ‘Women in Love’ and Kenny Rogers’ ‘You and I’. At the height of their popularity, Thai artists sang Bee Gees’ covers especially ‘How Deep Is Your Love’ and ‘Too Much Heaven’,” says DJ Roj Kwantham, who worked at Nite Spot in that era.

“I listened to the Bee Gees in the days when I was singing and playing guitar with a band at the Windsor Hotel. We used to be known as the young Bee Gees. Among the Thai artists who could imitate Barry’s falsetto were Danupol ‘Jae’ Kaewkarn and Grand Ex’ Nakorn ‘Tong’ Vejsupaporn. I loved the ballads like ‘Words’ and ‘First of May’. ‘Spirits Having Flown’ marked the tail end of the Bee Gees’ most successful era and the album sold more than 20 million copies worldwide. For this concert, we will all be singing Bee Gees’ songs in our individual styles, not trying to imitate them,” says Pom Autobahn.

“I love the Bee Gees but never thought of covering their songs because it was too hard trying to copy Barry Gibb’s wide vocal range. But, for this concert, I will make the impossible possible,” says Ie Weeranukul, who will perform two songs “How Deep Is Your Love” and “Spicks and Specks.”

“I love watching movies about music and ‘Melody Fair’ was amongst my favourites. I liked the Bee Gees both in terms of lyrics and music but never tried to copy Barry Gibb’s voice. I also like ‘You and I’, the song they wrote for Kenny Rogers, which is very melodious,” says Pun Paibulkiat.

“If the new generation comes to this concert, they will get to know the Bee Gees on the big screen, which will show the portraits of the brothers together with their stories and their songs,” says Thawichaya.

“It really is all about The Bee Gees.”

More than “Words”

– “Care for Each Other: The Night To Remember Bee Gees” is the tribute concert that will be held at the Main Auditorium of Thailand Cultural Centre on August 19 at 5pm.

– From 3pm, concert-goers and fans can browse and buy from the booths outside the venue selling the Bee Gees’ CDs and vinyl recordings as well as other memorabilia.

– Tickets cost from Bt1,000 to Bt3,000 including the CD. They’re available at Thai Ticket Major counters, by calling (02) 262 3456 and online at http://www.ThaiTicketMajor.com.

– Proceeds after a deduction for expenses will go to the Classy for Friends Fund.

“The number of views on YouTube has been steadily increasing,” says grateful saxophonist Paisit “Pae” Khamklin. “I also sang on Mild’s ‘Master Peace’ album, but this is the first time I’ve handled the promotion too.

“Thanks to all the fans for listening to our songs and watching the videos,” says guitarist Gent “Tao” Manopinwes. “Every Mild album has to have a song sung by me and the song must be simple and different from the typical Mild sound.”

Keep up to date with Mild on the “spicydisc.fanpage” and “mildband” Facebook pages.

Ad pays homage to Chonlatee

Yuenyong “Ad” Ophakul, frontman of songsforlife rock band Carabao, has just released “Devadha Pleng”, the second album in a luk thung series from Warner Music (Thailand) paying tribute to a master of the genre. The first was the late Sayan Sanya’s “Rak Sayan Noi Noi Tae Rak Nan Nan”.

The object of Ad’s admiration is Chonlatee Tharnthong, and the licensing fee for the copyright to his songs is being donated to the Miracle of Life Foundation.

Kittisak Sainamthip arranged all 14 songs, which include “Luk Sao Phu Karn”, “Riak Phi Dai Mai”, “Thaharn Arkas Khad Rak”, “Wannee Suay Kwa Muea Wan” and “Ai Noom Tangkay”. The title track is the first luk thung song Ad wrote. Inside is a cloth bag bearing Ad’s liner notes and his autograph.

Here’s UNB to say hello

Korean boy band UNB is venturing outside the homeland today with its first fan meeting in Thailand, “You & Me”, at Show DC’s Ultra Arena in Bangkok. Jun, Euijin, Go Hojung, Feeldog, Marco, Ji Hansol, Daewon, Kijung and Chan recently released their first mini-album, “Boyhood”, with hits including “Only One” and “Feeling”. Passes cost Bt2,000 to Bt5,000 at http://www.ThaiTicketMajor.com and (02) 262 3456. Check out http://www.411Ent.com and “fouroneoneent” on Facebook.

Hop for the hip

The Thailand Hip-Hop Festival at the JJ Mall in Chatuchak district today has “Meet the legends” as its theme. Onstage will be Thaitanium, Da Jim, Rastafah, BKing, Chom Chumkasian and 1 Flow, PP Dreams, Pok Mindset, Urboy TJ, CP Sming, JSR Youngbong, Youngohm, FIIXD, CleoP “VKL X Sweed Gangz” and Maiyarap.

The DJ lineup includes Whatdatfrog, Kong, Bonnie, Deeboy and Dogga, and BBoy competing will be Oman, Ajay, 60Rock, Prai1 and Guru. You can also watch graffiti artists Pakorn, Jesus 103 Rua MHS, Bows, Qucan and Ghost Trappers do their thing.

Tickets cost Bt700 at 7-Eleven and http://www.AllTicket.com. Details at http://www.Facebook.com/Thailandhiphopfestival.

Other works in the programme are Edward Elgar’s “Variations on an Original Theme ‘Enigma’, Op 36”, one of his most popular and soulful works, and a Thai traditional work.

McKiggan won a top prize as a laureate and finalist at the prestigious 12th Unisa International Piano Competition 2012. He is also the recipient of the Presser award grant, which he used to create an international relations project with composers from North America, North Korea, Poland, Russia, China and Japan.

He has won numerous other awards including the Gold medal in the Seattle International Piano Competition and first prize in the Bradshaw and Buono International piano competition.

Gershwin wrote his “Piano Concerto in F” in 1925, a year after the success of his more daring “experiment in music”, the “Rhapsody in Blue”. Though audibly more conservative, the Concerto in F is still classic Gershwin. At times subtle, jazzy, and rhythmic the concerto comes alive in hands of pianists who, like the famed songwriter, understand the lyricism and phrasing of early 20th century jazz.

With Elgar’s “Enigma Variations”, one hears the orchestra at its most intimate. A striking melodic and harmonic creation, Elgar used the theme to improvise 14 variations, all character studies of friends. “Nimrod”, one the final variations is recognised the world over as one of the most beautiful and striking parts of the whole – dramatic, eloquent and solemn.

Tickets cost from Bt400 to Bt1,500 at Thai Ticket Major counters. Call (02) 262 3456 or visit http://www.ThaiTicketMajor.com.

A Salaya Link shuttle bus provides the transport from BTS Bang Wa Station. Find out more at http://www.Music.Mahidol.ac.th/salayalink.

The band, featuring Grace Chatto and brothers Jake and Luke Patterson, shot to the top with the single “Rather Be” and won the Grammy for Best Dance Recording.

In 2016, they released the song “Rockabye” featuring rapper Sean Paul and singer Anne-Marie. The single topped the charts in many countries. In late 2017, Clean Bandit made a comeback with their new single “Solo” on which they worked with Demi Lovato. Clean Bandit has sold over 13 million singles and 1.6 million albums worldwide.

Playing a mixture of electronic, pop and disco funk music, the band stands out from the crowd through the addition of stringed instruments to their music. The band also mixes electronic music with other music styles, such as disco, house, hip-hop, R&B, and reggae. Fans can expect to hear “Rockabye”, “I Miss You”, “Symphony”, and “Rather Be” at the show.

Tickets cost Bt1,900 and Bt2,600 at Thai Ticket Major counters. Call (02) 262 3456 or visit http://www.ThaiTicketMajor.com. For more updates on the concert, go to http://www.BecTeroRadio.com.

He’ll be leading the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra and soloist, Korean cellist Gunwoo Park, in the concerts at Prince Mahidol Hall, Mahidol University’s Salaya campus this Friday (June 8) at 7pm and on Saturday at 4pm.

The programme features Dvorak’s “Cello Concerto in B Minor, Op 104” which will be performed by the Korean cellist, Johannes Brahms’s “Symphony No 3 in F Major, Op 90” and a Thai traditional work.

The title of the concert borrows from Brahms’ motto “Frei aber froh” (“Free but happy”), his defiant response to close collaborator Joseph Joachim’s “Frei aber einsam “(“Free but lonely”).

Brahms and Dvor?k had a professional and personal relationship unique in the world of classical music. Adjudicating a competition in 1874, Brahms encountered a massive submission from an obscure Czech composer: 15 works including two symphonies, several overtures and a song cycle. Brahms was visibly overcome by the mastery and talent of this unknown individual and thus began a mentoring period of Dvor?k, who would always feel indebted to Brahms for his kindness and artistic inspiration.

The third Symphony of Brahms was first performed in 1883 to immediate popular acclaim. Audiences looked past the compositional complexities of the symphony to find instant emotional and expressive connection with the four individual movements and the piece as a whole.

When Brahms heard his protege Dvor?k’s cello concerto for the first time he famously said: “Why in the world didn’t I know one could write a cello concerto like this? If I’d only known I’d have done it long ago!” Today, the concerto is the instrument’s most admired symphonic work – famous for its great and unforgettable themes, both noble and expressive. Dvorak wrote the piece in 1894.

Gunwoo Park is a young and exciting new cello talent from South Korea, a winner of the Italian International Cello Competition in 2017.

Tickets cost from Bt400 to Bt1,500 at Thai Ticket Major counters and online at http://www.ThaiTicketMajor.com.

The Salaya Link shuttle runs between BTS Bang Wa Station and the university. Check the schedule at http://www.Music.Mahidol.ac.th/salayalink.

Eminem, the top-selling rapper of all time, addressed speculation of the relationship as he headlined the Governors Ball festival in New York — although his phrasing was odd enough to leave lingering doubts.

“I’m going to tell you something about Nicki that she don’t even know,” Eminem told the crowd.

“We go together!” he said to cheers. “That’s all I wanted to say. Thank you for letting me get that off my chest.”

Minaj, one of the most influential women in hip-hop, suggested a relationship with Eminem late last month when she contributed a verse to the song “Big Bank” by rapper YG.

“Told ’em I met Slim Shady / Bag the Em / Once he go black he’ll be back again,” she said, using one of the alter ego character names of the white rapper.

Posting the verse on Instagram, Minaj was asked by a fan whether she was in fact dating Eminem and she replied, “Yes.”

But the unusually direct response stirred social media chatter that the relationship was little more than teasing between the two, and Eminem was coy on the subject when addressing an earlier concert.

Eminem, 45, has generated headlines for his turbulent personal life — and often violent lyricism about women — since he emerged in the 1990s. He twice married and divorced Kim Scott, his high school sweetheart from Michigan.

The Trinidad-born Minaj, 35, last year said she had ended a two-year relationship with fellow rapper Meek Mill.

The eight-year-old Governors Ball drew some 150,000 people over three days to the city’s tiny Randall’s Island. Other performers included garage rocker Jack White, boisterous rap star Travis Scott and fast-rising pop singer Halsey.

“It’s the first time Tabasco has come up with a number that aims to remind these sad people what happiness feels like,” Champ tells XP, adding that he softens his vocals to better get the message across.

“I think most of us have experienced a broken heart and recognise the futility of begging the one we love to come back,” he continues. “The title of the song is all about crying during a TV series or movie.

Pichaya “Suea” Jarasboonpracha of GDH’s “Project S The Series: Spike!” directs the music video, which sees actress Pavadee Komchokpaisan urge sad social media users to keep fighting and tell themselves that they can smile even when they’re alone.

View the MV at https://youtu.be/bGImFHXeXdg and fol¬low the band’s updated news at Facebook.com/Tabascotabascotabasco and Facebook.com/SanamluangMusicOfficial.

Keep on fighting

Room 39’s guitarist Olran “Wanyai” Chujai turns songwriter for “Bok Tua Ang” (“Remind”), the first single from the pop trio’s third album, and invites rocker Pathompong Sombatpiboon, aka Pong Hin Lek Fai, to jam on the vocals.

“I would like this song to encourage people who may be feeling weak to keep on fighting. I’ve been disappointed in love too and my mother, who faced a truly awful experience in her own life, was the only person who encouraged me to be strong,” he says.

“I’d like to thank Phi Pong Hin Lek Fai, my long-time idol, for agreeing to feature in this song. His powerful and high pitch makes it more meaningful.

“I think fans will find the music video very touching.”

Keep updated on what the band is doing at Facebook/Room39 and LOVEiS.

Meeting up with Taeyong and Ten

Lee Tae Yong, aka Taeyong, and Chittaphon “Ten” Leechaiyapornkul, of South Korean boy band NCT U, the first sub-unit of NCT, are in Bangkok this weekend and will be performing the Thai version of “Baby Don’t Stop” from NCT’s first album “Empathy” during their sold-out fan meet and greet show at GMM Live House tomorrow evening at 6.

The Thai version of the song, written by Khanngern Nuanual of Thaitanium and Twopee of Southside, will be released in Thailand tonight at 8 on Joox, TrueID Music, Apple Music, iTunes, Spotify and Google Play Music. The pair will also sign autographs for 100 lucky fans who purchase NCT’s “Empathy” album at Helix Garden on the fifth floor of The EmQuartier today at 5.

Find out more at Facebook.com/smtruethailand.

Wonderfully Yoona

Im Yoonah, aka Yoona, a member of South Korea’s best-known all-female outfit Girls’ Generation, will be making a comeback as a solo artist with her fan meeting tour, titled “So Wonderful Day #Story_1”, at Thunder Dome, Muang Thong Thani, on July 7.

Yoona, one of the best selling artists in the country, will perform songs from her solo project, “Station” including “Deoksugung Stonewall Walkway”, “When The Wind Blows” and “To You”. Tickets cost from Bt2,000 to Bt5,500 at http://www.AllTicket.com, and counter service at 7-Eleven.

Follow the fan meeting at http://www.Facebook.com/smtruethailand/.