Summer Sonic Bangkok took place on Aug 24-25 at Impact Challenger Hall, featuring 50 international artists, as well as indie Thai acts. The two-day music event took over two halls of Impact Challenger. One is dedicated to various activities, sponsor booths, a food corner and a stage for local acts. The other is for the main stage.
[Photos: Summer Sonic Bangkok]
Japanese boyband Psychic Fever kicked off the Mega Stage on the first day with "Up And Down", "Just Like Dat" and "Temperature" before Thai rock band Getsunova kept the high energy going with their new track “Lerk Tang Tae Roem” and followed with “Kon Mai Jam Pen” and “Glai Kae Nai Kue Glai".
Travis Japan, another boyband from Japan, turned the stage into a dancefloor with "Just Dance" and “T.G.I. Friday Night”. Thai singer-songwriter Phum Viphurit mesmerised the crowd with his exceptional vocal and guitar skills through “Hello, Anxiety” and, his best-known track, “Lover Boy”.
UK indie rock band Lovejoy made their Thailand debut with “Call Me What You Like” and “I’ll Look Good When I’m Sober". Next up was the rising K-Pop boy group BoyNextDoor, who treated the audience to special renditions of their songs "One and Only" and "But Sometimes”, reimagined in a rock version for this event.
Following them was Thai singer and actor Bright, who recently performed at the original Summer Sonic in Japan. The highlight of his performance was the live debut of his latest single, "Long Shower". Then, South Korean rapper Zico brought intense energy on the stage with his rapping, singing, dancing and entertaining skills.
The first night climbed towards a crescendo as Bodyslam, Thailand’s number one rock band, kicked off their set energetically with “Dum-Ma-Cha-Ti” and delivered a line-up of hits, including “Ruer Lek Khuan Ok Chak Fang”, “Saeng Sud Tai” and concluded with “Ya Phit”. The first surprise was an appearance by Babymetal, who joined Bodyslam on stage for an electrifying — and cutely chaotic — performance of “Gimme Chocolate!!” and “Pa Pa Ya!!” featuring renowned Thai rapper F.HERO. Their collaboration on “Leave It All Behind” created an intense atmosphere worthy of being their combined finale.
Definitely intentionally, Lisa's "Rockstar" was played before OneRepublic, the biggest act of the first day, took to the stage as their frontman Ryan Tedder co-produced the track. OneRepublic capped off the first night with their hit songs, as well as Tedder's solo session. The American pop-rock band performed “Secret”, “Counting Stars”, “Apologize”, “Stop And Stare”, and “I Ain’t Worried”, before Tedder treated fans to a medley of famous tracks he has written and produced for other artists. He performed snippets of Beyonce’s “Halo", Leona Lewis's "Bleeding Love" and “Rockstar” to much delight of the fans. OneRepublic ended the first night on a high note on time at around midnight.
On the second day, Japanese group Sarukani heated up the stage with their world-champion beatboxing skills before Korean artist Tomikita (feat Hanjella) brought a rock and roll vibe to the stage.
The mood then shifted with Violette Wautier, the only Thai singer of the night, live-debuted her latest single "Favourite Mistake". Next up was heartthrob Henry Moodie who performed new tracks “The Old Me” and “Good Old Day” live for the first time in Thailand, along with his hit “Drunk Text,” engaging the crowd in sing-alongs.
Next, Nothing But Thieves delivered a high-energy performance with hits like "Is Everybody Going Crazy" and "If I Got High”. The crowd erupted into cheers as Norwegian singer-songwriter Aurora appeared on stage, captivating the audience with her beautiful voice and atmospheric performance, complete with stunning visual art that transported viewers into her world.
Modern jazz singer Laufey, with her trusty guitar in tow, showcased her talent with hits such as "From The Start" and "Falling Behind”, and shifted the mood with her emotive performance of "Promise”, blending her vocals with piano to enchant the audience.
One of Britpop's Big Four, Suede took the audience down memory lane with nostalgic hits such as "Trash", "Everything Will Flow", "She’s In Fashion" and concluded with "Beautiful Ones”.
At this point, the second day ran late by about an hour but fans who eagerly waited for J-pop duo Yaosobi shouldn't be disappointed by their performance. They took the stage with an extravagant laser show that made it feel like stepping into an anime world. Ikura brought full vocal power throughout the show, while Ayase showcased his musical skills, creating an unforgettable experience for fans and otaku alike.
American singer-songwriter Lauv concluded Summer Sonic Bangkok with a memorable show, featuring hits like "Love You Like That", “Paris In The Rain”, “I’m So Tired”, “Tattoos Together” and “Who”. He overcame with emotions towards the end of performing "Superhero" and shredded tears on stage, sending fans cheering to show him support. A stripped-down rendition of "Breathe" marked the most emotive and best vocal moments for Lauv of the night. Another highlight is the live debut of "Potential", his latest single which he penned "about a boy", in Thailand. Patient concert-goers were treated to his two-song encore namely "Never Not" and "I Like Me Better" as Lauv closed Summer Sonic Bangkok 2024 around 1am.
Organised by Bangkok Connect, in collaboration with partners such as Government Saving Bank, Krungthai Bank, Tourism Authority of Thailand, Dewar’s Club, -196, King Power and TCEB, the debut of Summer Sonic in Thailand saw more than 22,000 attendees and many highlights but it wasn't without any criticism. The lack of instantly recognisable names, considering the legacy of the original Summer Sonic, was among the complaints. However, Summer Sonic Bangkok vows to return next year and you can follow their Facebook page for updates.
