Hipsters are loving Thai's 'poor people music'

Among the audience for molam nowadays are hipsters from Bangkok. Photos: AFP

Hipsters in flowing skirts and crop tops sway to the Thai band’s hypnotic groove at an exclusive music festival in Thailand, while a clutch of cleaning staff quietly look on from the fringes.

“I had no idea foreigners like molam,” says 55-year-old Saengyan Promduang, referring to the folk tunes unique to her rural home region that are captivating the well-heeled crowd outside Bangkok.