WONDERFRUIT Thailand’s pioneering celebration of art, music, food and ideas returns in December as a sustainable utopia.

Building on its previous five years’ worth of knowledge, Wonderfruit envisions itself this year as a pop-up city where eco-friendly solutions and inspiring encounters bring people together.

“As we build the world we want to see, we can demonstrate the power of human connection and the impact it can have,” says Wonderfruit founder, Pranitan “Pete” Phornprapha.

By reimagining every aspect of a city’s infrastructure in ways that are innovative, inspiring and effective, and by curating meaningful opportunities for interaction, the Wonderfruit team aims to build a world where everyone can contribute in a positive way.

The culture of participation in Wonderfruit’s pop-up city is fostered through its one-of-a-kind experiences, which Wonderers can explore in The Fields. Highlights this year include Musicity, in which BBC 3 DJ and music connoisseur Nick Luscombe teams up with Erased Tapes producers, namely Daniel Brandt & Eternal Something, Douglas Dare, Hatis Noit, Midori Hirano and Rival Consoles, as well as local artists, to produce original musical interpretations of iconic Bangkok locations. The architecture-inspired sound art will be performed live on Theatre Stage as this global project brings the city to The Fields for the first time.

Solar Stage by Gregg Fleishman has become the gathering point for sunrise and sunset. Its distinct modular structure will be reconfigured once again this year to create more shady spaces to snuggle and explore, and more vantage points from which to take in the uplifting, eclectic music of Acid Pauli, Arp Frique & Family, Daddy G (from Massive Attack), Floating Points, Gidge, and Trojan Sound System.

Wonderfruit’s home of edgy, unusual sounds, The Quarry welcomes back legendary Fabric resident Craig Richards for another edition of “Collisions,” a genre-defying collection of music-makers that represents the current underground music scene. Opening during daylight hours for the first time this year, The Quarry’s line-up will include Binh, Bobby., Craig Richards, DOTT, Felix Dickinson, Nick The Record, Powder, Sonja Moonear and Willow.

Forbidden Fruit is a platform for bold statements and unashamed self-expression and in 2019 welcomes a takeover by Ed Banger Records with sets from Breakbot & Irfane, Busy P, Myd and Yasmin. The beautiful bamboo boudoir will also lure groove-seekers with party-starters Colleen ‘Cosmo’ Murphy.

The world’s only 360-degree sound experience, Polygon returns with futuristic technology that synchronizes high definition visuals and surround sound especially spatialized by electronic world music artists including Alban Endlos, Alejandro Castelli, Dandara, Holed Coin, Kusht, Luis Rosenberg, Martha Van Straaten, Matanza, Miret, Reple, Sainte Vie, Spaniol, Timboletti and Xique-Xique.

This year’s experiences extend beyond the musical, as Scratch Talks returns to the Eco Pavilion with stories on the themes of LIVE, LOVE or WONDER. At the evolving platform-in-the-round, the world’s most pioneering thought leaders will gather to share their horizon-broadening ideas.

And Wonderers can satisfy body, mind and soul at Wonderness, where workshops, activities and therapies encourage exploration and self-discovery. As well as the practices and experiences for which it has become known, including yoga, sound baths and shamanic ceremonies, Wonderness embraces Thai indigenous wisdom this year, placing the spotlight on local traditions for healing, heart opening and health giving.

More intriguing activities and experiences will be announced in the coming months as Wonderfruit’s new world takes shape. “In building a pop-up city, we get to strive for utopia,” concludes Pete, “and as we implement innovative infrastructure and demonstrate that creativity catalyzes change, we set an example that is beautiful and impactful.”

#Wonderfruit2019 takes place from 12 to 16 December in The Fields at Siam Country Club, Pattaya. Phase 1 ticket pricing begins at THB 5,900 (USD $189 or £169).

Visit Wonderfruit’s website for more information on securing your tickets and accommodation.

www.wonderfruit.co/

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