Kaweewat Siwanartwong

Weekend still looking suspiciously empty? Don’t panic. Bangkok rewards last-minute plans, whether you fancy social chess, a film beneath the stars or something you didn't know was happening. Start with Bangkok Chess Social, an afternoon of casual games where conversation matters more than competition. Prefer the pictures? Nang Loeng Cinema hosts two free Elvis screenings: Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis on August 15 and the sunnier Blue Hawaii on August 16, complete with ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love’. Both begin at 4pm, with entry first come, first served. At Lumpini Hall, Swing in the Park returns with a ‘'Swing Through Time’ theme, pairing live music with beginner-friendly dancing at one of the city’s oldest surviving venues. No partner or experience is needed: turn up solo, learn a few steps and join in. Guitar fans, meanwhile, can catch  Polish virtuoso Marcin Patrzałek on Saturday night, pulling rhythm, melody and percussion from a single acoustic guitar.  When plans run dry, browse our guides to Bangkok’s best bars, restaurants, parks, galleries and interviews, or work through our bucket list of the best things to do in Bangkok.Plan the rest of August with our monthly guide, and keep checking our latest picks of Bangkok’s best things to do. Subscribe to our free newsletter for the best of Bangkok, straight to your inbox.

Craving ice cream? Course you are. Bangkok has a way of sending even the most grown-up among us in search of something cold and sweet  – and the city’s gelato scene has never offered more ways to cool down, dairy-free included. The only problem is choosing. We’ve rounded up the spots worth seeking out, whether you fancy a cone or cup of the good stuff, soft-serve that actually delivers, a cheeky ice cream sandwich or a sundae big enough to share (or not). The choices border on absurd, in a good way: brioche and tacos, fairy floss clouds, candied bacon, charcoal, sea salt and ube. However you roll, here are 16 of the best gelato and ice cream spots across Bangkok and the greater metro area. Still undecided? You can always turn to our guides to Bangkok’s best bars, restaurants, parks and galleries, or consult our bucket list of the best things to do in Bangkok. Subscribe to our free newsletter for the best of Bangkok, straight to your inbox.

The rainy season may be the perfect excuse to stay curled up in bed, but unfortunately, August's lineup is too good to miss.  This month's calendar is packed with everything from dance performances, concerts, book festivals and expos to vintage markets and lively carnivals. Better yet, most of the events are indoors, so you can dodge the downpour without missing out. From indie and acoustic pop to alternative rock, music lovers have plenty to look forward to this month. Catch Matt Maltese and Phum Viphurit at Road to Melt Festival, swoon over Matthew Ifield's Close to Your Heart Tour, or bid farewell to Kodaline as they hit the stage for their final tour. Prefer something a little slower-paced? Head to the Bangkok Speculative Literature Festival for offline reading sessions, author talks and a book and craft market. If you've ever been curious about MBTI, ‘Type to Meet You’ is a community event where the four-letter personality types become a starting point for new friendships and fresh insights about yourself. And for those looking for a dance, join the swing dance classes at Lumphini Grand Ball, compete for a spot on the dance floor or simply enjoy the performances. The Siam Carnival Funfair brings classic thrills with roller coasters, games and carnival treats, while Nippon Haku offers a taste of Japan through a dedicated expo for anyone dreaming of a trip or work opportunities in the Land of the Rising Sun. Keeping track of what's coming next? Our Bangkok concert roundup

The rain is turning up almost every evening, so Bangkok’s wet season is well and truly here. Need an excuse to duck the next downpour? Go gallery hopping. August’s art calendar is packed with reasons to head out, from major openings and long-awaited reunions to hands-on installations and quietly compelling solo shows. Several new creative spaces are opening their doors, too, while standout exhibitions continue their runs. Got an hour between coffee stops or a whole Saturday afternoon to spare? These are the exhibitions to catch across Bangkok this month. Need more ideas? Browse our guides to Bangkok’s best bars, restaurants, parks, galleries and interviews, or start ticking off the best things to do in Bangkok. Regular gallery-goer or just art-curious? Follow our guide to live the art life. From alleyway masterpieces and paint-splashed corners hiding in plain sight, seek out Bangkok’s top spots to see street art. Subscribe to our free Time Out Bangkok newsletter and get the best of the city delivered straight to your inbox.

Vinyl ruled the way we listened long before streaming put millions of songs at our fingertips. Yet the warmth and crackle of a needle hitting the groove still draw collectors and casual listeners back to something a playlist cannot quite replicate. Listening bars are flourishing around the world, and Bangkok is no exception. New spots keep appearing down sois and above shophouses, paying as much attention to turntables, valve amplifiers and acoustics as to what lands in your glass. Everything is tuned for switching off and listening properly.  Whether you collect rare pressings, simply love a good song or fancy a change from the usual after-work haunt, few things beat watching a record turns slowly through the night becomes one of those small, perfect hours. That's the whole appeal. We round up 14 vinyl bars around Bangkok that stand out for their atmosphere, their selections and their pours. Pick the one that catches your eye, and go make a night of it. Still undecided? Turn to our guides to Bangkok’s best bars, restaurants, parks and galleries, or consult our bucket list of the best things to do in Bangkok. Map out the rest of this month with our guide to what’s on, and keep an eye on our picks of Bangkok’s best things to do. Subscribe to our free newsletter for the best of Bangkok, straight to your inbox.

Fried chicken belongs to everyone. From the United States to Korea and Taiwan, almost every country and culture has a version. But ask Bangkok diners where Thailand’s best comes from and one answer rises above the rest – Hat Yai.You know the type: skin that shatters, meat still steaming underneath and fried shallots piled so high they border on showing off, with sticky rice to catch whatever survives. It is Southern Thailand’s great contribution to the fried chicken canon, and the rest of the country has happily claimed it.The strange part is that half of Bangkok advertises Hat Yai fried chicken, yet very little tastes as it should. The marinade lacks depth, the oil goes tired or the shallots come straight from a packet. Anyone raised down south can tell in one bite.We went looking for the real deal. Four proper Hat Yai and Songkhla-style specialists made the cut, joined by one Bangkok fried chicken institution too good to leave out.Order at the counter, wait for the batch that is still spitting and eat with your hands. Obviously.   What is it?Hat Yai fried chicken begins long before the oil gets hot. Garlic, coriander root and white pepper worked are worked into the meat, which is left to marinate for hours before frying to a deep gold: crisp skin outside, juicy flesh within. Unlike fried chicken that depends on the dip, the seasoning runs through the meat – peppery, savoury and faintly herbal. Crisp, sweet fried shallots are scattered over the top by the fistful. Att a road

 What beats a margarita or two after a long day? Not much, honestly. And this month, Bangkok gets a whole run of them. PATRÓN launches Margarita Your Way, a month-long love letter to the world's most famous tequila cocktail, on now until July 31 and turning the city loose on flavour, discovery and a proper bit of self-expression. The heart of it all sits on the M Floor of Siam Paragon, where the Margarita Your Way Pop-Up poses one simple question. Which one are you?  Four personalities set the tone – classic, fruity, spicy and cool – each a different attitude, a different flavour, a different way of drinking. Are you the purist? The fruity show-off? The one who orders a chilli rim and dares the table to keep up? Photograph: PATRÓNMargarita Your Way Come Friday evening, the guest shifts hand space to some of Bangkok's sharpest bartenders, who reimagine the drink their own way. And the fun spills out across town. All July, PATRÓN teams up with a hand-picked cast of bars, restaurants, hotels and lifestyle spots. Sunset rooftops, buzzy nightlife dens, tucked-away cocktail hideaways and plush hotel lounges – each one shaking up its own take on the classic. So, thirsty yet? Here’s where to go.

When it comes to art and exhibitions, Bangkok has a lot. From poky little independent spaces to avant-garde galleries and the big crowd-pleasing museums, the city brims with shows that perplex, challenge, inspire, educate and leave you thoroughly awestruck. The trouble is, there's an absolute mountain to get through. Too much, you might say. So we're here to tell you where to spend your precious time. Whether you're a bona fide art connoisseur or simply the type who likes to stand about looking pensive in front of a canvas (we've all done it), these galleries promise to inspire and entertain in equal measure. So if you're wondering what's genuinely worth a trip across town, start right here. Have a browse through the best museum exhibitions and art in Bangkok at the moment, take your pick and make a day of it. We refresh this list regularly, so do pop back regularly for our latest and greatest picks.Stay one step ahead and map out your plans with our round-up of the best things to do in Bangkok. Whether you're a regular gallery-goer or just art-curious, these are Bangkok’s best spots to live the art life. From alleyway masterpieces to paint-splashed corners you might walk past without noticing, here are our top spots to see street art.

You've probably seen the look before you've heard the name. The head tilts back, the eyes go wide, there's a held beat of silence, and then the camera swings up to a neon skyline or a stretch of white sand. The man doing the looking is Travis Leon Price, and at 35, the Donegal-born creator has spent the last five years in Bangkok, amassing more than 500,000 followers across YouTube, TikTok and Instagram who tune in for that signature slow, upward gaze of awe before a skyline or a shoreline reveals itself. Photograph: Travis LeonTime Out Bangkok His tagline, 'Bringing you the magic of Asia', sounds like marketing until you realise he means every word of it. He has slept in a 24-hour Chinese spa for the price of a takeaway, crawled the bars of Yaowarat and built a whole second life on an iPhone and a refusal to film anything corny. As busy as you would imagine, we never actually speak on the phone. The whole conversation is over WhatsApp, his replies are in clusters from elsewhere while Bangkok goes grey around me, then the little 'typing…' that flickers and stalls and starts again. He writes the way he talks on camera: warm, fast, unbothered by punctuation, a 'haha' dropped in before he's finished a thought. So, everyone, pour yourself a rooftop something and settle in. What follows is a love letter to a city that refuses to let him leave. Photograph: Travis LeonTime Out Bangkok A long way from a famine village Donegal to Thailand is not exactly a casual commute, and Travi

Lesbian venues aren't exactly a dime a dozen in Bangkok. The city does a roaring trade in bars and clubs that pull a mainly gay and bi male crowd, yet permanent spaces built for queer women, or trans and non-binary folk, remain frustratingly thin on the ground. You can count the long-running ones on one hand and still have fingers spare. Happily, the tide turns. Social media crowns this the year of the 'Lesbian Renaissance', and Bangkok plays its part with gusto. A growing roster of roving club nights now fills the gap, popping up across Sukhumvit, Silom and beyond the usual haunts, each one carving out a proper safe space where queer women party on their own terms. Discrimination gets left firmly at the door, the line-ups skew fresh and local and the welcome runs warm. Some come monthly, some quarterly, a few keep their locations hush until the last minute, half the fun is the chase. So whether you fancy sweaty basement raves, sapphic disco or a low-key spot to nurse a beer and make connections, the scene finally delivers. Hunting for your new favourite haunt? Here's our pick of the bunch. These venues span everything from dancing clubs to cosy bars and they're all genuinely welcoming to all genders

Some drinks work like a key. Ask any writer hunched over a keyboard at midnight, chasing the messy business of being human, and you may hear something similar: sometimes the second glass loosens what the first one couldn’t. Literature and drinking have long kept close company. Some writers turned bars into second homes. Others wrote about them as places of exile, romance, loneliness, glamour or escape. And a few, before the books made their names, worked behind or around the bar themselves. So here's a round-up, inspired by Koktail Kuisine's list, of Bangkok bars with a literary streak. Some wear the theme boldly. Others keep it tucked into the wallpaper, the music, the mood or the way a cocktail arrives like a sentence someone has worked on for hours. Book lover? Cocktail snob? These are your places.

We arrive on Decho Road in the afternoon, the sun still strong outside but the air pressure dropping, hinting that rain is on its way. It is unusual to be here before opening time, so we slip in through the back door and climb the stairs to a wine bar. In this wine bar, a small cinema is hidden behind curtained walls on the floor above and the dusty smell of old parquet fills our senses. That, near enough, is the whole idea. Photograph: Lalitphat BumrungkarnSala Saneha At a moment when independent picture houses around town are quietly going dark, Natchanon 'Vana' Vana, Pakapol 'Meang' Srirongmuang and Dit Thanasresthavilai have chosen to walk the other way. They have taken things they love – movies, wine, food and books – and poured them into a close-to decade old building, with help from more than a dozen friends drawn from the world of entertainment and art.  The result is Sala Saneha, a place built on the faintly old-fashioned conviction that going out to the pictures ought to feel like romance again. Photograph: Lalitphat BumrungkarnSala Saneha I met the three of them upstairs in the bookshop, on soft chairs among the wood – cladding the walls, forming the bookshelf, the floor, the table, the chairs – and as the early afternoon light came through the leaves just outside the windows, we began to talk. Photograph: Lalitphat BumrungkarnSala Saneha A building with several past lives What was clear, is how exact they are about the conditions. The venue could not disturb

Seoul-born collective CARDIAC returns to Bangkok this Friday with ‘Never Say Tired’, a late-night gathering at Bar Temp that brings together DJs, producers and creatives from across its growing network. Since launching with a party in Paris last year, the crew has made stops in Taiwan, Bangkok and Wonderfruit, building a reputation for music-led events that attract a mix of artists, designers and nightlife regulars. Expect a soundtrack that moves between house, disco and club-focused sounds, plus the sort of crowd that arrives for one drink and ends up staying until close. If your weekend plans involve a dance floor rather than a sofa, this is a solid place to start.August 14. B300 at the door. Bar Temp., 9pm onwardskawe

Polish guitarist Marcin Patrzałek brings his one-man-band approach to Bangkok, using a single acoustic guitar for bass lines, percussion and melody. Known simply as Marcin, he combines flamenco techniques,  percussive tapping and modern production until one instrument sounds like several musicians at once. He won Must Be The Music in 2015 before reaching a much wider audience on America’s Got Talent, where his rapid, rhythmic playing earned millions of online views. Tom Morello, Paul Stanley and Steve Vai have all praised his work. If acoustic guitar suggests gentle strumming, prepare to have that idea dismantled. August 15. B2,000-3,500 via here. MGI Hall, Bravo BKK. 7pm

Mooring examines how memories, beliefs and personal histories shift as they move between people, languages and generations. F four artists approach storytelling through their own experiences and practices, asking what happens to truth when a story changes with every retelling. The answer may depend as much on who speaks, who listens and what is remembered as on the facts themselves.  Until September 29. Free entry. Bangkok Kunsthalle. 2pm-8pm 

JWD Art Space marks 100 years since the birth of poet-artist  Angkarn Kallayanapong with Ash and Alteration, an exhibition shaped around his papers, sketches, letters and other surviving traces.Ashes, ruins and decay recur throughout Angkarn’s poetry – his name itself alludes to what remains after destruction – and here those fragments offer a way into both his work and the world around it. Artists Chulayarnnon Siriphol and Tada Hengsapkul revisit the Buddhist ideas and natural imagery found in Angkarn’s work, while scholars Jirat Chalermsanyakorn, Prapan Jangkitchai and Artit Srijan consider his place in Thailand’s literary and visual-art history. August 8-October 25. Free entry. JWD Art Space. 10am-7pm

Le Café des Stagiaires Bangkok turns an ordinary Thursday night into a laid-back chess social, with boards between players and DJs behind decks. The music keeps the room moving without distracting from the games, while the casual set-up makes it easy for concentration to turn into conversation. Test your strategy, meet a stranger or abandon the board for the dancefloor – nobody is keeping score for long.  August 13. Free entry. Le Café des Stagiaires Bangkok. From 7pm

What is it? A Thai gelato brand launched in 2022, with a permanent counter on 7/F CentralWorld and a new G/F Emsphere branch opening August 7.  Why we love it: Texture is the hook: dense and chewy rather than airy, with restrained sweetness that lets the main ingredient come through. Each flavour gets its own house-made topping, turning a cup into a composed dessert, while the cones are baked in-store in earl grey or extra-dark cocoa. The tea sundaes are worth a look too, including Peach Dynasty: white peach oolong gelato with almond praline, raspberry sauce, crumble and cream cheese foam. Time Out tip: Check the current deals, or try the 5-Taste Palette sampler if you’d rather work your way across the range than commit to one flavour. G/F, Emsphere, Sukhumvit Road. Opens August 7; daily 10am-10pm. Call 02 269 1000

What is it? A small gelateria near Wat Pho, run by a founder who trained at a gelato university in Bologna. In 2025, Ghee added a second branch in the KJR55 Building on Soi Silom 7. Why we love it: This is where the flavours go off script. Coconut matcha, salted pistachio and black tea yuzu sorbet sit alongside Ispahan, which brings lychee, rose and raspberry together in one scoop. The Silom branch is tucked inside an office building, away from the tourist trail, and staff are happy to talk you through the less familiar combinations.  Time Out tip: Torn between two unusual pairings? Ask for a taste of each before committing to a scoop. Tha Tian: 394/21 Maha Rat Road, Phra Nakhon. Open Tue–Sat, 12.30pm–7pm; Sun 12.30pm–6pm. Silom: 3/F, KJR55 Building, Soi Silom 7. Call 081 987 6171.

What is it? A tiny roadside gelateria around Sukhumvit Soi 30, known for handcrafted scoops and waffle cones baked on site. Why we love it: The flavours make this little roadside stop worthwhile. Hazelnut chocolate puts the nut first without piling on the sugar, while banoffee turns the familiar pudding into something cold and dangerously easy to finish. A two-flavour cup costs B100, with a crisp waffle bowl another B30, and the frequently changing line-up gives regulars a reason to return. Time Out tip: With flavours changing regularly, ask for a taste before you settle on your pairing. Sukhumvit Road, around Soi 30. Temporarily closed at time of writing; check @bumblebeegelato for reopening details before visiting or call 081 832 9911

A weekend by the river rarely needs much persuasion, especially with art, music and a reason to slow down. Spend the afternoon browsing original prints, ceramics and handmade pieces, then grab a drink and find a seat by the water as long-tail boats pass and the late-afternoon light settles across the river. After dark, DJs take over a stage aboard a moored boat, shifting the gathering from relaxed market to open-air dance floor without anyone having to move far. August 9. Free entry. Bangkok Island Pier. 4pm-midnight

National Book Lovers Day gets a sociable twist at Books and Boo, an evening that swaps silent reading for drinks, conversation and a little literary matchmaking. Browse blind-date books wrapped to keep their titles secret, many drawn from short-story collections and romantasy favourites with a decidedly grown-up edge. Bring your partner, gather some friends or turn up solo, then settle in with a drink and compare recommendations with fellow readers. A photo corner adds to the fun, while the bar offers 10 percent off drinks and 20 percent off bottles of wine. Even if you leave without a new romance, you’ll probably go home with a good book. August 9. Free entry. 6TH.FL. 6pm-9pm

August brings a packed live-performance programme to Lumphini Hall, as the Bangkok Metropolitan Orchestra fills the calendar with symphony concerts, dance nights and stage shows. One highlight comes on August 8, when young guitarist Pornpawit ‘Peak Guitar’ Sriwarom takes centre stage for Peak Guitar X BMO, performing with the full orchestra under conductor Sorapot Worasaeng. Violinist Chonsorn Chantrapaoraya joins the line-up, with vocals from Pond Patthanan Ajon-ong, Fish Kritthath Phisutthiwong and Kongprab Panithan Juangkhrut. Set inside the park, the venue makes an easy early-evening stop after a walk around Lumphini, with the music starting as the city cools down. August 8. Free entry. Lumphini Hall. From 5pm

Running clubs, Pilates regulars, coffee drinkers and music fans share the same track when BEATS & RUN & PARTY: THE FESTIVAL takes over Chulalongkorn University Stadium. Organised by Sawasdee Cup, the one-day gathering swaps competition for community: join a group run, stretch through one of Bangkok’s biggest outdoor Pilates sessions or cool off in an ice bath before settling in with coffee and DJ sets. Families are covered too, thanks to Kids Run and Kids Rave, while more than 20 games and wellness activities keep things moving. Stay active or find a patch of shade and watch it all unfold – the festival leaves plenty of room to go at your own pace. August 8. B190-390 via here. Chulalongkorn University Stadium. 3pm-10pm

So, did you make it to the last one? And more to the point, what exactly did you get up to while you were there? A few hundred people rocked up to do nothing together last two times, and now 'Do F**ing Nothing' returns for its third outing. It happens on September 5 and 6 from 5pm to 6pm at Playground 1, Rod Fai Park, and if you've done it before, you already know the score. For everyone else, here's how it goes. You get an hour. No reading, no writing, no phone, no chatting, no music. You simply sit and stay with the stillness, and that's the entire thing. Honestly. The organiser suggests turning up around 15 minutes early so you can claim a spot where your body and mind settle. Come 5pm, everyone goes quiet and there's no clock-watching needed this round. When the national anthem strikes up, take it as your signal that the still part's done. From here you carry on sitting, wander off or stay for a chat, entirely as you please. And a chat is half the fun. If you fancy meeting a few strangers afterwards, the method is delightfully low-tech. Save the event poster to your phone, raise your hand nice and high with the poster on show, then wait for someone to mirror you. When they do, just ask, 'Interested in sitting and talking together?'  Photograph: PatchaReeBenjakitti Park Groups of five to ten tend to work best, with one person guiding things using a pair of prompts. Why did you come to sit still, and what happened while you did? You take turns answering, share only as muc

Some films stay with you long after the credits: a father’s hidden sadness, a love that unsettles everything or the quiet beauty of an ordinary Tokyo morning. This September, House Samyan is devoting a weekend to stories like these. Running for two days, the Longevity For All Film Festival & Talks brings cinema and matters of the heart together in a programme by OKMD, Documentary Club and the Media for Change Association. Alongside three films are talks and hands-on workshops exploring memory, love and healing. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Documentary Club (@documentary_club)  Here’s what’s screening: Aftersun (2022) – a tender portrait of childhood, pieced together from a daughter’s memories and the sadness her father hides behind his smile. The Bridges of Madison County (1995) – a sweeping romance that weighs desire against duty and asks how we live with the choices we make. Moriyama-San (2017) – a delicate documentary that finds magic in the everyday and helped inspire Perfect Days. Photograph: Moriyama-San (2017)Bangkok Plan your weekend: Saturday, September 5 1pm-2pm | Sensory Experience Talk – a session on reawakening the senses to the world around us. 2pm-3.15pm | Screening of Moriyama-San Sunday, September 6 12.30pm-2.45pm | Screening of The Bridges of Madison County 2.45pm-4.30pm | Workshop: How to Write Like a Writer – a session designed to draw words from the heart. 4.30pm-6.15pm | Screening of Aftersun 6.15pm-7pm | Talk: M

Hooray! No need to sneak food into the cinema anymore. At Century Theatre Sukhumvit, your next movie night comes with a full Italian meal courtesy of a five-star hotel. The concept is this: Italian food, The Godfather on screen and large sofa recliners. This is Century Theatre Sukhumvit’s newest project, teaming up with Avani Sukhumvit Bangkok Hotel for ‘La Famiglia Legacy: Table and Screen’, where you can enjoy dinner and a little crime all in one go. Photograph: Century Theater SukhumvitBangkok The experience begins at the cinema’s ‘Vivian Lounge’, which has been transformed into an Italian-American mafia family gathering for the night. And the film setting the scene? The Godfather, the legendary mafia drama. As the Corleone family drama unfolds, so does the dinner. The menu includes welcome drinks, pasta, cannoli and other Italian dishes served throughout the film. The hardest part may be remembering to watch the movie once the tower of cannoli arrives. Photograph: Century Theater SukhumvitBangkok   And it’s surprisingly good value for money. Tickets start at B1,550 per person for the Vivian Lounge experience in rows E–F, while the premium experience in rows A–D costs B1,650. The event runs every Saturday and Sunday from August 22 to September 13, with advance booking opening August 15. Seating is limited, so grab your tickets early because mob-boss drama is best enjoyed from a sofa recliner with food in hand – especially when it’s made by real chefs.  Every Saturday

Say the words Lakhon Nok and plenty of us picture a stiff, ceremonial Thai performance lifted straight from a primary-school textbook. The reality is far cheekier. This centuries-old folk dance-drama, born in the Ayutthaya era, runs on playfulness and freedom above all else, handing performers a stage to pull stories from their surroundings and spin them out as parody, satire and gleefully colourful digs at the rules, the red tape and the people in charge. Call it an art form that has never much fancied staying inside the lines. Photograph: Rukchat NakharatBangkok Now the Chomphoonuch Theatre Troupe reunites to prove the point, taking the world's most famous fairy tale, Cinderella, and reworking it as contemporary Lakhon Nok. The show comes stitched with the genre's trademark song, sharp comic timing and loose improvisation, and it asks you to set aside everything you assume about the glass-slipper princess and meet her again through the lens of Thai theatre. This is the first time the troupe draws on foreign literature and builds a full production around it. And while the plot hails from the West, its bones sit closer to home than you might guess. Separation, disguise, a sudden shift in status, the overlooked soul who finally gets noticed. All of it runs through countless Thai and Asian legends. Strip away the ballgown and the pumpkin, and she could almost pass for one of our own. Photograph: Rukchat NakharatBangkok Need a quick example? Think of Sang Thong, the Prince o

Ever get that Sunday-night feeling that you're just going through the motions, waiting for something to click? You're not the only one, and House of Films reckons the right film makes brilliant company for it. The crew is back with a fresh season under the name 'Somewhere to Belong'. Five films across three nights, each one circling loneliness, love and the restless search for whatever it is we're all missing. Some characters drift through everyday routines, some tangle themselves in relationships they can't quite read and a few give it all up to chase the meaning of life across mountains, motels and deserted islands. thecornerhouse.bangkokBangkok Here's what's on: American Beauty (1999)August 21 at 6.30pm A middle-aged bloke, bored stiff by his marriage and his job, jolts back to life the moment a teenage girl has him questioning everything he's settled for. Into the Wild (2007)August 22 at 6.30pm A young man walks away from money, safety and every possession to his name, then sets off alone to seek freedom and meaning out in the wild. Bridget Jones's Diary (2001)August 22 at 9.30pmA thirty-something singleton starts a diary and vows to sort herself out, from her career to her love life to a little more faith in herself along the way. Cast Away (2000)August 23 at 8.50pm A shipping company worker survives a plane crash and washes up on a deserted island, where simply staying alive becomes a daily test of patience and nerve. Up in the Air (2009)August 23 at 9.30pm A frequen

Ever wondered what sound actually looks like? A kinetic sculpture that dances to a piano at Asvin Cultural and Contemporary Art Space is about to show you, one Saturday at a time, and it doubles as a rather good reason to be somewhere interesting while the rain comes down outside. Octave Maze Live runs every Saturday from August 1-October 10, handing the space over to a rolling cast of musicians, sound artists, performers, DJs and creative practitioners. Each week brings a fresh name and a completely different approach, from contemporary music and live electronics through performance art, improvisation and all manner of hybrid work. Photograph: AsvinBangkok At the centre of it all sits Octave Maze, a kinetic installation by Wit Pimkanchanapong that runs on a counterweight system. It grows out of the artist's ongoing fascination with the maze, a motif that keeps surfacing across his recent projects. The mechanism responds to all 88 keys of a modern piano, translating every note as motion. Watch closely and sound becomes something you can see, the room never quite settling as the music passes through it. So whether new music is your thing, experimental performance gets you going or you simply fancy something a little different, this is a rare chance to catch a proper mix of local and international talent in one room, week after week. Tickets are B400 per person unless noted below. Here's the full line-up. August August 1, 6pm – UNTRYMAEW, 'Modular Live Performance' August 8

16-year-old Nene Royal is back on the America's Got Talent stage, and she floors the room for a second time with a storming cover of a Muse classic. This season brings a fresh twist in the shape of 'Judges Callbacks', handing hopefuls one last shot at a live-show spot. Royal grabs it with both hands. Her audition already turns heads, with a two-hand tapping take on the Cranberries' 'Zombie' bagging four yeses. This time she picks 'Hysteria' and makes it look effortless. She opens with a blinding lead break, all slick tapping licks and rapid runs. From there she rips through Matt Bellamy's soaring melody, threads Chris Wolstenholme's growling bassline underneath and belts the vocals clean over the top, barely pausing for breath. Playing two guitar parts at once is tricky enough, yet she never once looks rattled. Seriously clever work from someone who wasn't even born when the track originally landed. Photograph: America's Got TalentNene By the final howl of feedback, she has unleashed enough screaming solos to bring the house down. AGT releases the clip on August 8 under the cheeky title ‘Nene Royal CRUSHES Hysteria by Muse’, ahead of the full episode’s August 11 broadcast. It races past 2.1 million views within 24 hours – and frankly, we’re not surprised.

Admit it. You grew up with the Barbie films, know every glittery daydream by heart and secretly still fancy living in a world where everything is pink. Two years on from the great pink takeover of 2023, the love clearly hasn't faded one bit, and here's some brilliant news for the nostalgic among us. The music that scored all those after-school hours heads to a Bangkok stage, played live by a full orchestra. Photograph: Barbie as the Princess and the PauperBangkok Pink Symphonic Concert wraps the whole thing in one dreamy idea, A Magical Symphonic Experience of Barbie's Timeless Dream, and takes fans back through the melodies we all know word for word. Conductor Woraprat Wongsthapornphat picks up the baton and leads a symphony orchestra in person, joined by a line-up of singers who give those classic tunes a rich, goosebump-worthy airing.  Fancy a night of it? Catch the show at Siampic Hall on level seven of Siam Square One on Sunday, September 20, with two performances to choose from at 2pm and 7pm. Tickets run from B1,600 up to B4,000, with B2,200, B2,800 and B3,400 tiers in between, so most budgets are covered. Grab your tix here. All the finer details sit over on ETC Studio BKK's social channels. Now dig out your best pink outfit, because this one's made for it.

Roll up, roll up. The big top pitches on the riverside this September, and it comes packed with RuPaul royalty. Drag Race Thai Fans, the crew behind some of Bangkok's most talked-about international drag showcases, confirms the return of its flagship night, Drag Race Thai Fans vs The World 3, landing at the Calypso Bangkok Theatre at Asiatique The Riverfront on September 6. A grand, circus-inspired theme sets the tone, with an evening of spectacle, glamour and genuine star power promised for crowds of every age. Photograph: Drag Race Thai FansBangkok Three of the artform's biggest names lead the bill. Raja Gemini, winner of RuPaul's Drag Race Season 3 and one of the show's most enduring veterans, makes her first-ever official appearance on a Thai stage. Kind of a big deal. Sharing the top spot are Morphine Love Dion, the fan-favourite Season 16 finalist known for razor-sharp comic timing and a commanding presence, and Gawdland, the Chiang Mai-born talent who this year became the first Thai queen to take out RuPaul's Drag Race: UK vs the World and put the country firmly on the global map. Those three are only the start. Organisers say the full cast, stacked with celebrated local and international performers, gets revealed over the coming weeks across the group's official channels. One beloved tradition comes back too. The Best Drag Look competition throws its doors open to every queen in attendance, handing each a real shot at glory. So who joins the Hall of Fame next? Stage

Aliens reducing the White House to rubble. A DeLorean hitting 88 miles per hour. Danny and Sandy in matching black leather. No, we haven't cobbled together a movie marathon just for you (though we would happily sign up). These are a few of the moments coming to the big screen this month as America marks a landmark birthday. Photograph: Apollo 13Freedom 250: American Film Retrospective Photograph: Saving Private RyanFreedom 250: American Film Retrospective To celebrate 250 years of American independence, the US Embassy throws a two-day festival, and it won't cost you a thing. Freedom 250: American Film Retrospective takes over the AUA Auditorium in Bangkok on August 29 and 30, rolling out eight of Hollywood's best-loved epics across one jam-packed weekend.   Here's what's on Saturday, August 29 (10.30am–8.10pm) Lincoln – Daniel Day-Lewis disappears completely as the president wrangles a divided nation towards abolition. The Incredibles – Pixar's spandex-clad family juggles school runs and world-saving in equal measure. Apollo 13 – a moon mission goes wrong and NASA races the clock to bring three astronauts home. Independence Day – Will Smith and co fight back when uninvited visitors flatten the planet's landmarks. Sunday, August 30 (10.30am–8.05pm) Saving Private Ryan – Tom Hanks leads a weary squad through the horror of Normandy on one rescue mission. Steve Jobs – Aaron Sorkin's rapid-fire script charts the man behind the machines across three product launches. Back to

Remember DOMi & JD BECK? If you were one of the lucky few who packed out their sold-out Bangkok debut nearly two years ago, you already know why the whole city is buzzing again. And if you missed that one, consider this your second chance. The two-time GRAMMY-nominated pair, French keyboardist DOMi Louna and Texan drummer JD Beck, return on November 24, taking over Sphere Hall at EMSPHERE for a night that bends every rule you thought jazz had. View this post on Instagram A post shared by DOMi & JD BECK (@domiandjdbeck) They arrive with a brand new album in tow. WHO ASKED? lands via Anderson .Paak's APESHIT imprint in partnership with the iconic Blue Note Records, the storied home of the genre's greats across generations. Pairing a hip-hop mogul's label with jazz's most hallowed name tells you plenty about where these two sit, one foot in tradition – the other somewhere altogether stranger. It's a record that stretches their signature sound across funk, electronica and lush orchestral flourishes, ambitious and complex yet never losing the cheeky spirit that makes the duo so hard to pin down. Cast your mind back to their debut, NOT TiGHT. That one bagged them two GRAMMY nods and rocketed the young musicians onto the world's biggest stages, from NPR's Tiny Desk to Jimmy Kimmel Live! and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Photograph: jdbeckmusicBangkok These two thrive on improvisation, trading lightning-fast musical conversation between keyboard and dru

Fancy a weekend where you get to potter about, make something with your own two hands and chat with people who love making things as much as you do? Clear the diary, because the Jim Thompson Art Center has just the thing. 'A Crafty Affair' runs for three days and treats craft as far more than a table of handmade bits and bobs. It's a proper excuse to meet new people, swap ideas and pick up a little inspiration across a weekend of art, workshops, food and community. The whole thing links the Art Center with the Jim Thompson House Museum and the surrounding Kasem San neighbourhood, so you wander between spaces rather than stay put in one room. Photograph: The Jim Thomson Art CentreBangkok Expect craft stalls, design, prints and homeware, plus a generous spread of food and drink and a full roster of workshops if you'd like to make one yourself. Browse, taste, catch a bit of live music or simply let a slow stroll take you wherever it fancies, past the smell of fresh paint, the warmth of worked wood and the easy hum of chatter. No fixed route and no set order, so every step might land you at a tiny shop, a new artist or a chat that makes an ordinary Saturday one to remember. Whether you collect craft, love your art or just want to slow down and spend a lazy afternoon in the city we know so well, this one earns a spot on your list.   Catch 'A Crafty Affair' at the Jim Thompson Art Center from August 14 to 16, 11am to 7pm daily. Free entry, no ticket needed.