What's popping Bangkok ?

2006 was a hectic year in terms of clubbing in Bangkok. Week after week, it seemed the city was finally awaking and making the most of the 2am closing time. Thanks to the Bangkok party collectives, we witnessed some crazy gigs with headliners we weren't hoping to see here before decades. Without mentioning the smaller parties featuring local dj's rocking the pubs and bars almost every night.
Then Club Astra closed, and it all fell down.

Halfway through the year 2007, we can't help but feel nostalgic. Big acts have been rare, the feeling of coming together has long faded and if a party gathers more than 150 people, it ought to be called a success.

Is it realistic to expect the next 6 months to be reminiscent of 2006 ? To this question we are answering yes.

From the words of the party organisers themselves, the closer we will get to the end of the year, the more exciting our weekends will be. Now busy in Ibiza and touring summer festivals, bands and DJs will resume their normal club schedules in the weeks to come.
Proof of this are two of the names already lined up to play Bangkok : Armin Van Buuren ( 4.10.07 ) and Paul Van Dyk (30.08.07). Trance-heads will flock en masse to Narcissus and Astra respectively to witness those two events, signs of good things to come.

Astra (http://www.club-astra.com/) will open its doors again a week later for the return of Ladytron's heartthrob, Reuben Wu (7.09.07). His performance last year can be now seen as the turning point in Dudesweet's music policy. Switching abruptly from the full-on rock sound to the latest electro flavor ( call it indietronica or nu-rave ), Note, Air and their fellow partners will be 2007 saviors if Digitalism accept their invitation making us predict the biggest party of the year.

Following the steps of Astra in the versatility of its events, Club Culture (www.myspace.com/club_culture_bkk) has been building its club fame around the long list of quality resident DJs. Each night of the week is devoted to a music style and there is little doubt it is where you can find the best soundsystem of the city. Since its opening, the club has lacked proper headliners leaving Astra fans like a herd of lost sheeps. The club management has now confirmed the booking of Phil Hartnoll from the legendary band Orbital (7.09/07). Later this year, the club should see, among others, the comeback of Deep Dish and the long-awaited arrival of the Scratch Perverts (Tony Vegas, Prime Cuts and Plus 1) confirming Club Culture aims at putting up various events mixing local, regional and international guests as well as musical genres. The New-Year bash should be quite amazing providing the club gets whom it's hoping.

All this shouldn't be complete without mentioning Bed Supperclub (http://www.bedsupperclub.com/) and Qbar (http://www.qbarbangkok.com/) which will put up their own nights and will receive their fair share of international DJs.

However, we are not buying what Club Cream and Twisted Republic are trying to sell us.
After a visit at Cream and their official opening last weekend, it is difficult to imagine the club becoming a major player for clubbers thirsty of beats. In fact, we bet it is a matter of months, if not weeks, before they decide to close the white room ( where a DJ spins house ), or simply turn it into another hip-hop venue in a venue for Ekamai/Thonglor posers and their skanky boos. For those who wonder, Cream Bangkok has nothing in common with the Cream franchise from the UK, but the name.
Good luck to Twisted Republic (http://www.twistedrepublic.com/) in their quest of bringing us the ultimate clubbing experience. We will be there whenever they are ready.

The buzz is on for Vertigo and its club project, supposedly Astra and the club next door revamped in a brand new place. While no opening date is set (at least not before November apparently) and conflicting reports about the purchase have been heard, we rest assured that if the place happens to open, it will inflict some serious scarification to Bangkok clubbing scene. The Vertigo crew has booked a list of class-A names, topped by Laurent Garnier (announced for 29.12.07) for his second visit this year, all due to play at Club 808, the ongoing club-project name.