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The weather may have been hot in the city of late but next month there'll be an opportunity to chill in the cool breezes of the farming country of Nakhon Ratchasima, where two of Thailand's best loved songwriters, Nitipong "Dee" Hornak and Cheewin "Boyd" Kosiyabong, will put on a music festival.

The Dee-Boyd Pop Fest is the duo's first professional collaboration.

"We came up with the idea of working together on a record three years ago but put the project on the backburner because we were both too busy," says Boyd, 42, who's been in the spotlight since the early 1990s. "Now, at last, we've found the time to do something."

"It is like an exchange of musical cultures," says Dee, 49, who's been writing hits for more than 20 years. "The concerts have a great sequence, moods and lots of atmosphere. It will feel like watching a football match."

Camping out

With a budget of Bt60 million, the festival is set on 400 rai of farmland and divided into several zones. There's one stage for the concerts plus lots of food stalls, a fun fair in both Thai and foreign styles and an area where fans can take photos of their favourite artists. There's also a campground for 1,000 tents and parking for 7,000 cars.

The two-day festival is split, with Dee headlining on December 5 and targeting his 35-and-over age group. Boyd and his artists draw the younger crowd the next day.

Some 15,000 people per day are expected to turn up.

A list of names

A total of 100 artists will be playing. Among them are the Groove Riders, ETC, Boy Peacemaker, Nuvo, Moderndog, Namcha, Gam the Star, Peck Phalitchoke, Pop, Friday, Po of Yokee Playboy, Nat Myria, Amp Saowaluck, Mint Maleewan, Taem Charas, Kob Songsit, Pan Paibulkiet, Nop Pornchamni, Radklao Amaradit, Bee Peerapat, Pusaming, Thee Chaiyadej, Boy Trai, Tuk Viyada, Billy Ogan, New Jew, Mum Laconic, Ben Chalathit, Od Kheereeboon, Stamp, Crescendo, Champ, Too Popthorn, Chantana Kittiyapan, Suda Chuenban, Gancore Club, the Begins, Saichol, Pang and Pond of Hydra, Tor Saksit, Inca, Phusit Laithong, Watchara Paniem, Flure, and Lipta.

"There'll also be some vocal jams on the same stage," says Boyd.

 SNUGGLING UP

>> The Dee-Boyd Pop Fest will be held Suwan Farm in Pak Chong, Nakhon Ratchasima on December 5 and 6.

>> Tickets are Bt2,000 including a pillow and blanket from www.ThaiTicketMajor.com.

>> The first 2,000 people to purchase tickets get a special gift from Dee and Boyd.

 >> On the Internet: www.IAmYoungDee.com.