Korea 's famous Break-Boys, or B-Boys, will take to the stage in Vientiane for two performances in June.

Two break-dancing teams and a beatbox expert will perform “Flying Higher”, at the National Culture Hall on June 4 and 5 from 7.30pm.

The performances will feature 22 dancers from Korea 's Gambler Crew and Animation Crew, in addition to the music of Beatbox Eunjun, who is credited with establishing the beatbox genre in Korea.

Highlights will include power moves, acrobatic dances, beatboxing and hip-hop music. “Flying Higher” aims to show the audience how freedom can be expressed through creative dance movement...more info>>

A B-Boy or B-Girl is a person devoted to hip-hop culture, specifically the break dance element. The term originated with the first hip-hop DJ, Kool DJ Herc, who, on noticing the reaction of some dancers to drum breaks, named them Break-Boys or B-Boys.

The performances are sponsored and organised by the Korea Foundation, the Embassy of the Republic of Korea to Laos , and the Lao Ministry of Information and Culture.

The Embassy of the Republic of Korea yesterday announced the performances, which will be free.

By Vientiane Times

Well known Korean pop idols Paran melted spectators' hearts on Saturday at celebrations in Vientiane to mark the first anniversary of Tigo, a mobile phone operator.

The exciting concert took place at the Lao-ITECC in front of a crowd of more than 7,000 fervent spectators, with free games, activities and give-aways.

The concert kicked off with some of Vientiane 's top acts, such as Idols, Punky Dolls, LOG, Overdance, Moderndance, A Pact, Nalin, Aluna and Sam, and hard rock groups Uluvus and The Cells before the appearance of Korea 's grooviest band.

The audience raised their voices like a siren and the ground before the stage shook when Paran appeared for their provocative song and dance act, and greeted the audience with a burst of Lao...more info>>

The band played hit songs from their first two albums, such as Five Steps, First Love and others before the concert had to be stopped because of strong winds on stage.

Tigo staff gathered on stage to blow out candles on their birthday cake in between acts.

The name Paran (which means blue in Korean) is an acronym comprised of the members' stage names. The band has five singers: Joo Jong Hyuk also known as Ryan, Yang Seung Ho or Neo, Lee Soo In or P.O., Choi Sung Wook or Ace, and Kim Jae Sub or A.J., who also raps for the group. They are all aged between 15 and 23.

“We are so happy and exited, because this is our first time in Laos , and it is great to perform in concert to commemorate Tigo's first anniversary,” said Ryan at a media conference at Green Park Hotel on Friday.

The band's first album was entitled I Hold My Breath , and came out in September 2005. Their follow up release was called Beyond the Blue Sky , in September 2006.

“Since I've been here one night, I only have two impressions: one is that the weather here is better than in the Republic of Korea now, where it is still cold, but here it's neither very hot nor cold, which is more comfortable,” said Ace.

“Besides that, Laos still preserves a lot of its nature. I saw green mountains as our flight came across from Vietnam , and now I can also say that here it is peaceful and there is very little traffic.”

“Another thing is the warm welcome we're received from people here, especially the smiles of the Lao women which make me want to stay longer,” Ace said.

Before the band arrived in Laos they toured countries such as Thailand , Taiwan , Singapore , Vietnam and Indonesia .

This is the second time the Millicom Lao Company has brought a Korean band to Laos . In December they presented one of Korea 's most famous girl bands, Baby Vox Re.V, to perform in concert to welcome in the International New Year.

By PHOONSAB THEVONGSA
Vientianetimes
http://samakomlao.blogspot.com

Paran, a five-member male vocal group which debuted in 2005, has made inroads all across Asia, including China, Indonesia, Laos, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam and Japan.

Members of Paran held a showcase concert at the amphitheater of Lao ITECC, an exhibition center in Vientiane, the capital of Laos, on April 5. It was the first concert by a male foreign group to attract 10,000 audience members. The event will be televised on Lao Star TV, the public broadcaster of Laos.

Laotian fans, who frequently enjoy Thai TV shows, raved over Paran's performance, although they did not understand the Korean lyrics...more info>>

Fans frantically took photos of the group, waved photographs of the members in the air, screamed and blew kisses to the stage.

Paran returned to Korea and April 7. Soon after their arrival, members of the group wrapped up recording their third studio album, which is slated for release on April 11. The album will be released simultaneously in six Asian countries.

The members recently said they plan to sweep their Korean fans off their feet with their new album.

Source: KBS

This photo, published on Wednesday, February 20, 2008, shows Hong Kong singer and actress Gigi Leung (L) and Sammi Cheung at a Hong Kong airport, waiting to set off on their charity journey to Laos.

BEIJING, Feb. 20 -- Hong Kong singer and actress Gigi Leung and Sammi Cheung embarked on a charity trip to Laos on Tuesday, on a mission to draw attention to the nation's malnourished children through a 30-hour outdoor experience.

The Hong Kong-based publication Tungstar reports that the pair will live a primitive life during the campaign, camping in the fields and eating wild game for food...more info>>

"I have brought everything that may help me, including a pillow and a nightgown," Leung said nervously of the potential survival challenges.


Photo: Gigi Leung

As part of the 30-Hour Famine campaign launched by the international organization World Vision aimed at fighting hunger, the trip is expected to draw more celebrities eager to use their star power to enact change.


Photo: Sammi Cheung

Leung and Cheung are two of the project's three ambassadors in Hong Kong.

(Source: CRIENGLISH.com)

A new entertainment programme from Japanese television channel Nihon Shinbun Kyokai (NSK) has selected a Lao pop singer to be promoted worldwide, Indee Records announced yesterday.

“The programme is the newest from NSK, and has not yet been broadcast,” an official from the Media Department of the Ministry of Information and Culture, Mr Phaiboun Philathong, said yesterday.

He added that the show would promote various singers throughout Asia; Laos is the first country to be presented as a growing number of Japanese fans are interested in Lao music and the country...more info>>

The programme selected Nalin Daravong from Indee Records, and will film footage of her lifestyle and performances.

“They recorded me doing everyday things like studying and helping my parents, as well as singing on stage,” Nalin said.

Mr Phaiboun said the programme would be broadcast worldwide, and would therefore be a good opportunity to promote modern Lao music.

“This is a great chance for our singers and bands to be exposed to a wider audience,” said Indee Records President, Anoulack Pathammavong.

After three days of recording Nalin's life in Laos , the TV crew will go to Vietnam , Cambodia , Thailand , Indonesia and other countries throughout Asia .

“They will select singers from each country to feature on the show, and we've been lucky to be their first country selected,” Mr Anoulack said.

Nalin was the winner of the Close-Up 2005 singing contest, where she was discovered by Indee Records, which approached her about making an album.

“The debut album from Nalin was released at the end of last year, and now her songs are on high rotation on various radio programmes in Vientiane ,” Mr Anoulack explained.

Last week, she staged a free concert with Vorachith Intharaphithak, or Sam, at the Lao-ITECC, which attracted almost 1,000 fans.

“The crew was there to capture my performance on stage on their last day,” said Nalin.

Mr Phaiboun also reported that the programme would invite various singers from each country to perform in Japan in June this year, Laos included.

NSK was established in July 1946, to elevate the ethical standards in reporting and protect and promote the media's common interests. NSK is an entirely independent and voluntary organisation funded and operated by the private media of Japan .

By Souknilundon Southivongnorath
Vientianetimes

Weza , a new band from Savannakhet province, have released two hot singles, and played their first shows for Vientiane fans at Lao-ITECC last weekend.


The concert was organised by the Vientiane Youth Centre for Health and Development and the Vientiane Women's Union .

They performed three songs to greet the Vientiane crowd - the singles Khor Khuam (Message), Thon Bor Vai (Can't Endure), and Sou Phueua Fan (Fight for a Dream)

“This is our first time on stage here and we are so happy to play at this concert; we never thought we'd appear here when we launched the band,” said 21-year-old vocalist Mr Xayxana Silylasak (Ai) of his three-piece, which also includes Mr Vongphasouk Khenthanavong (22) or Lulu, and guitarist, Mr Xaixana Sengsopha (20) or Thang...more

“We first met each other in 2003, when we attended a song contest while we were in secondary school in Savannakhet province,” said Lulu.

“We were interested in each other's music and we formed a band called Impression, which had seven members, but it was unfortunate that not everyone got along and the band soon dissolved, and then we were all busy with our final exams,” said Thang.

In 2004, after graduation, he called the members back in hopes of getting together again, but only three of the former band mates were available, and so Weza was born.

“Weza comes from two words - ‘We', or ‘us', and ‘Za', which is short for ‘Savannakhet'. Our band name tells people who we are and where we come from,” said Ai.

“Our dreams came true after the first disappointment, when we failed to pass the final round of the Close-Up Music Award in 2006. Luckily, there was a producer in the audience from Samlan Entertainment, who approached us and suggested we sign up with them,” Ai said.

“We were stunned, and there was one question in our minds: why, if we failed the contest, would they want us to join their company? But we weren't about to say no.”

A few weeks later, the company began talking about making an album for them, and the band signed the contract here in Vientiane , where the US recording company has its local studio and sub-branch.

The band spent over a year on the album, before they launched the first single that made them well known to radio listeners.

The lyrics of Khor Khuam were written by Ai's mother, a gift to him; the song is about the love of a teenage boy for a girl, but he doesn't dare tell her how he feels, and he only knows her mobile phone number so he sends a text greeting to her every day.

“My mother is not a songwriter, she just loves music and I was really surprised when she gave me the lyrics, and just said “sing it”. We adapted it a little bit, and we never expected the song would become a hit,” said Ai.

“The second single, now getting airplay, is titled Thon Bor Vai, written by DJ Hieng, which tells what happens when girlfriends break our hearts.”

The full album, entitled Kap Ma (Come Back), has nine tracks and has already been launched in the US ; the company is preparing its local release for March.

By PHOONSAB THEVONGSA
Vientianetimes

Well known Korean pop group Baby Vox Re.V will hold a concert to welcome in the New Year at the Lao-ITECC in Vientiane this coming Sunday.

If you have ever heard the hit songs “Never Say Goodbye” and “Shee”, or watched one of their spicy videos, you will no doubt know the name of the most famous girl band in Korea, Baby Vox Re.V - the sexy creators behind the self-titled album Baby V.O.X. Re.V.

The five member group, consisting of Ahn Jin-gyeong (lead vocalist), Yang Eun-ji (sub vocalist), Hwang Yeon-gyeong (sub vocalist), Kwon Ae-ri (sub vocalist), and Myeong Sa-rang (sub vocalist/ rapper), will perform songs from their latest album and, some may say more importantly, titillate audiences with their stimulating Korean-pop styled dance moves...more info>>

Sunday's performance is made possible by special invitation from the telecommunication provider Millicom Lao Co Ltd., commonly known as Tigo.

The company will host the concert to say goodbye to the old year and welcome in the new, and as an expression of gratitude for the continued support of its customers.

A fantastic line-up of local artists, including the newly formed punk-rock band Punky Dolls, rappers LOG, pop group Princess, and the latest pop star to emerge onto the Lao music scene, Nalin, will support the international headline act.

According to a Millicom Lao Co Ltd spokesman, there will be no public ticket sales.

“People who want to attend the concert will have to use our phone service called Easy Load. Phone numbers that have credit of 16,000 kip or more will go into a lucky draw to select the numbers that will receive a ticket. Those who don't want to risk missing out on a ticket in the lucky draw can also simply load 100,000 kip into their phones and they will then receive a ticket,” said a company spokesperson.



Baby Vox Re.V's debut album was unveiled in December 2006, and the group made its smashing debut onto local charts in January 2007 with the lead single “Shee”.

The brand new girl group, a ‘descendant' of the original Korean girl band Baby Vox, was to be called Baby Vox 2, but was instead named the enticingly more cryptic Baby Vox Re.V. The “Re.” in the name is said to derive from the word “Renaissance” which it was hoped would imply a sense of resurrection of the original, and the “V” stands for “voice” meaning that the group will bring new sounds and a new voice to the music industry.



The original Baby VOX first appeared in 1997, when the captivating group was made up of five singers Jang Shieun, Jang Hyunjun, Yumi, Lee Heejin and Kim Eiji.


By PHOONSAB THEVONGSA
Vientianetimes

4 Corners will be performing in Vientiane, Laos in South East Asia on the 6th and 7th April 2007.

Telecommunications Company Millicom Laos are re-branding their product to Tigo which is throughout Africa and South America. Their slogan for their re-branding campaign is "Open up Your World" hence employing the talents of 4 Corners to perform. While in Laos 4 Corners are planning to go into the studio with one of Laos top rap groups, L.O.G's.... more info

Also 4 Corners have just released their debut album The Foundations in Australia through Grindin' records which comes under the Central Station Records umbrella. They completed a mini Australian tour doing 8 performances over 9 days. It was 4 Corners first venture into Australian territory and they have had a positive response.

During their time in Australia they were also the guest speakers at some youth workshops in West Sydney working along MC Trey and DJ Nick Toth. Their highlight of their trip was filming for MTV's programme The Lair which also featured on the bill Princess Superstar and Something for Kate. The Lair was live to air in Australia but also broadcasted in NZ and the UK.

Australia's high profile hip hop DJ Nino Brown's Blazin' 2007 CD was also released in March in Australia with a limited edition DVD through Universal. The bonus DVD featured 4 Corners – On The Downlow video.

4 Corners have also completed their 5th video for the track Get Back Down featuring Tyra Hammond with the help of Director Sam Tozer and production company Brownstreet. This track has received great airplay so keep an eye out on TV for the brand new video.

SOurce: www.amplifier.co.nz