Paradise Island Festival 2017: Sand, Sea, and Senses

Whether you call it Songkran Festival, Thai New Year, or the Water Festival, the one thing that the long national holiday in April brings to Thailand is a lot of positive vibes and a lot of cool events. It really does not matter where you are in the country, during Songkran everyone seems to be jovial and celebrating despite the scorching heat – this year is expected to be no different. With so many happy things to see and do, how do you prioritize your time?

Well, way down South nestled between swaying palm trees and turquoise waters on the gorgeous east coast of Koh Samui (Samui Island) is a new beach festival happening for the first time – Paradise Island Festival 2017. It may be hard to fathom how the island that many call “heaven on earth” can be improved – considering that the sand and sea is more than enough for some – but the latest addition of Paradise Island Festival to Koh Samui, brought to you by London-based concert and festival specialist Soundcrash, may be that icing on the cake.

Set to happen over two days between 15-16 April 2017 on Chaweng Noi Beach, Paradise Island Festival is prepared to provide your senses with some sweet, sweet delights – and here is how:

Sense #1: Sound

Drawing on their experience from organizing multiple festivals around the world, including the award-winning Soundwave Festival (now in its 9th year) in Croatia, the Soundcrash team has managed to attract and secure a diverse and quality lineup that includes the following headliners:

The Pharcyde

Known to many as hip-hop royalty, the group has been active since 1989 out of South Central Los Angeles, California. The original four members of the group include Imani, Slimkid3, Bootie Brown and Fatlip have release bangers including hits like “Drop”, “Passin’ Me By” and “Runnin’” to much critical acclaim. Although the crew may not have released many singles recently, their touring has continued. Surely, when they hit the stages on the beach, they will light it up on fire.

Goldie

Drum & bass pioneer DJ Goldie gained critical acclaim as a graffiti artist initially. This later allowed him to propel his work as a DJ and really woo the crowds. The English DJ brings with him a war-chest of styles, but expect to hear everything from drum & bass to jungle to breakbeat hardcore. We expect the sand to be shaking to the beats.

LTJ Bukem

Another drum & bass DJ hailing from England, the veteran DJ manages to weave everything from drum & bass, hip-hop, and even some jazz funk into his sounds. Having been trained initially as a classic pianist, the variety in his sound has earned his style a new category at times: intelligent drum & bass. Look out for him to be bringing the groove to the dance floor all night.

Krafty Kuts

The third English DJ on the roster, Krafty Kuts is known for his electronica and nu skool breaks sounds. Having first been inspired by hip-hop, the DJ has grown into multiple styles and recently has featured alongside powerhouse names like The Prodigy, Fatboy Slim, and even the rolling stones. There is a definite party that will be brought with this guy.

Maribou State

An English duo that always seems to bring the house down with their sets, Maribou State have produced remixes for artists such as Alpines and Lana Del Rey. Having only released their full-length album a while back, expect them to come out swinging.

DJ Kentaro

As the first Asian to win the DMC World DJ Final, DJ Kentaro brings hip-hop and drum & bass together so seamlessly that it just fits. The Japanese DJ has recently supported hip-hop acts like The Roods and The Pharcyde on tour and is a familiar face in the club scene around Asia. We cannot wait to see how raw his performance is – hopefully just like sashimi.

Among the many headliners are other local and international artists that are waiting to make a splash. This is surely a treat for the ears as these OG artists will surely show you why they are still a force to be recon with.

Sense #2: Sight

The beauty of organizing a music festival on the beach is that the setting already makes everything that you can see that much more gorgeous. Paradise Island Festival is going to be no exception. Add to that the exciting program of arts, showcasing the best Thai Culture has to offer and you will have a sight to see. We are sure that dancing on the beach, watching the sunset, and seeing the clouds hover above the stage as you dance your night away will be quite the story to bring back home with you.

And if all of that is not enough, the awesome part about being on an island is that revelers can enjoy the island’s beauty, spending the morning diving or exploring before heading back to the festival for performances from some of the world’s most celebrated artists later in the night. Talk about a complete holiday destination for an event.

Sense #3: Scent

Some say that the sense of smell is the one that is the most sensual of them all. We happen to agree. With the sounds of the music already taking care of your hearing and the environment already taking care of your sight, the organizing team is making sure that your sense of smell will be fulfilled.

Alongside exciting activities and surprises like boat parties, yoga, and Thai Chi, expect to be dazzled by Thai cooking classes to be offered to all festival attendees. What better way than to smell the sea water together with some Pad Thai or Tom Yam Goong that you made yourself and then devouring it with some friends, new and old right on the beach.

Paradise Island Festival 2017 is going to be the first festival of its kind down South. It is slowly aiming to make your trip to South East Asia exactly what it should be – magical. Tickets are currently still available for THB 2,800 at http://www.paradiseislandfestival.com/tickets/ but are selling out fast, so quickly grab a friend and come on down.

For more information, follow the event on their official Facebook page or check their website.

Words by Tang Kalayanamit