Sate your appetites for beats and barbecue in a celebration of global music and menus

It's time once again to eat, drink and be merry, as the third "Rhythm of the Earth World Musiq World Bar-B-Q" festival gets underway today at CentralWorld. The event, which runs from 5pm to midnight, is in Bangkok until Sunday before packing its bags and moving on upcountry to delight folks in four provinces.

This year's festival, which celebrates music and barbecue delights from around the world, features acts from 22 countries, among them InkaMarka from Bolivia, Kofiministral from West Africa, Yunasi from Kenya, Shlomo Bar from Israel, and Cabinet from America.

Thai artists include Khun-In, Pod Moderndog, Pong Hin Lek Fai, Lanna Commins and Bangkok Xylophone.

From May 17, the festival will be entertaining crowds in different parts of the country, changing themes according to the local character of the places it visits. The Kanchanaburi leg will have a nature theme, while for Koh Chang, art will be the focus. The Pathum Thani fest is all about the Mon and the river, while Rayong's revels will reflect agriculture.

"The festival is like a garden for learning - educating during the day and entertaining at night," explains Todd "Thongdee" Lavelle, the event's founder. "My first inspiration for Kanchanaburi came from a story about locals who had planted sugarcane only to find that elephants later ate the crop. The theme of 'Man & Nature' is designed to explore ways of living in harmony with the natural world. Experts from several countries will be giving talks during the day.

"Not all the foreign bands are joining the provincial tour. But in Kanchanaburi, we are featuring Vietnamese outfit Kuoc Trung and closing with Esta from Israel," he adds.

xtra

A world of sound

>> Admission is free. For more information call Singha Corporation at (02) 242 4499 or Lavelle Entertainment at (02) 733 2709. For a performance schedule, visit www.ToddEastWest.com.

>> May 17-19: "Koh Chang World Musiq & Fruit Festival", Klong Prao Beach, Koh Chang, Trat

>> May 21-25: "Fruits of the Earth Festival", City Hall, Rayong

>> May 30-June 1: "Man & Nature", River Kwai Bridge, Kanchanaburi

>> June 6-8: "World Mon & Musiq Festival", Tesco Lotus Rangsit, Pathum Thani