Yuthana Boonorm, known to his fans as Pa Ted, has a knack for trendsetting. Credited as a radio host who championed independent music and co-organised Fat Festival in the early 2000s, the good-humoured impresario is always on the lookout for the next cool thing, and has a somewhat innate ability to feel the pulse of young people.
For the past seven years, Yuthana has organised Big Mountain Music Festival, an increasingly popular multi-day, multi-stage concert featuring dozens of bands at an outdoor venue near Khao Yai -- clearly inspired by Woodstock and the like.
This year's festival, which will take place on Dec 19 and 20, will move to Kaeng Krachan, Phetchaburi province. It will feature nine stages and nearly 100 bands, from top acts such as Potato, Moderndog, Paradox and Carabao to new indie outfits, and it covers everything from pop, rock, dance, electronic and country to molam.
We caught up with Yuthana to talk about the music event sure to make some noise next month.
Can you tell us about the origin of Big Mountain?
I wanted to create a music festival to promote the music label Sanamluang Music. But since there were tons of other music festivals already, we just had to make it different. We decided to create the biggest festival, with the most diversity. And when we revised the plans, the festival became even bigger than the record label.
How diverse is it?
Yuthana Boonorm.
Other than the famous headlining bands, we also have unknown or starting-out alternative bands. This year, we've included bands that used to be big back in the 70s and 80s, such as Forever and Royal Sprite. This year is special because National Artist Waipot Petsupan, who plays country music, has also accepted our invitation to come and perform at the festival. Plus, there is space for new genres that have become popular. Big Mountain Music Festival's diversity is it's the main strength.
Why did you move the festival to Kaeng Krachan, Phetchaburi?
We were looking to the future and realised the previous venue was incapable of handling the increasing number of participants. The feedback has only been about the travel distance [although it's actually closer to Bangkok than Khao Yai]. The previous venue was a racing track so there was a limitation in designing the festival. The new venue allows for more creativity.
The festival is attended by mostly young crowds. Would you say that its appeal is actually more than that, since you have older bands performing this year?
I'd like to invite parents to come with their children. Not to monitor their safety, but to witness the festival and see that there's nothing awful about it. It's no different from allowing your children go see a movie with their friends. Plus there are many stages aimed at an "older generation". The festival might seem like a tiring or exhausting place, but we have these different activities catering to each individual's different needs.
How has the festival impacted the music industry?
It wasn't obvious to me at first, but then we realised that the festival really had had an impact on the young artists. For example, 25 Hours started out as a small act at our festival. Then they became really huge and now they are one of our headliners. The festival is also an opportunity to show their talent to both the audience and the sponsors.
How did you come up with the format of the festival? The outdoor setting, the different stages?
I was inspired to create a music festival from watching footage of Woodstock. I was around 13 or 14 and was surprised by how music festivals actually were. I realised that it wasn't just music. Big Mountain Music Festival isn't exactly how I wished it could be, which is to be another Woodstock, but it's getting closer to what I envisioned. I get to experience people adapting their lifestyle by camping outside in the festival area and eating omelettes from the cooking competition we have inside the festival under the stars. I feel that, even if it's not exactly a 100% childhood dream come true, I still get to see my personal ambitions being fulfilled.
Being an outdoor event, are there any environmental concerns for the festival?
On the first year, there was tons of trash. It gave me a headache. I've been to many music festivals all over the world and I found that the only place that doesn't have this problem is Japan, despite it being a party and there are no strict rules. I want people to see how it is done in Japanese festivals. At Glastonbury, in England, where the venue is near a farm, the organisers of the festival gave out these eco, organic shampoos and soaps so as to avoid chemicals getting mixed in with the cow's food. It's difficult to expect the cleanest music festival, but it's possible to ingrain the idea to the participants.
- BMMF7 takes place on Dec 19-20 at Kaeng Krachan Country Club, Phetchaburi.
- Tickets range from 1,600-2,000 baht.
