= Live Music 
= DJs 
= Open Mic 
= Live Music & DJ * = International
Phnom Penh is something of a
ghost town right now but there are plenty of opportunities to catch some great
live music elsewhere in the Kingdom. Whether you are spending Khmer New Year
dodging jellyfish on Otres Beach, bumping along the bamboo train in Battambang,
or trying to keep your kayak afloat on the Kompong Bay River, check out the latest
gig listings below to find out what is going on near you.
Phnom Penh lost another great
live music venue last week, with the closure of Equinox. The news from
the venue’s management reached us last Friday: their building lease contract
was about to expire and it would not be possible to renew. By 11.30pm on
Saturday night, the house lights were up and the very last band to perform on
that illustrious stage, Potato Stars, were packing away their gear. At
that moment, I was to be found staring wistfully around the room - waiting for
a last-minute announcement to be made: it was all a false alarm, Equinox was
not actually closing. But, the bad news was really true. Before the clock
struck midnight, the patrons had filed out of the upstairs bar and some bloke
had turned up with a fistful of dollars to buy the house drum kit. Then it
began to rain.
There is not enough space in this
column to list all the special nights that have happened and all the amazing
bands that have played on the Equinox stage over the past few years. In
any event, I am not qualified to write that epitaph, being a relative newcomer
to the Phnom Penh music scene. Watch this space for a full and proper account
of the legendary status of Equinox. In the meantime, I will simply say
heartfelt thanks to Anthony Mrugacz and all his team. Thanks for putting
on great gigs and being a driving force behind live music in Phnom Penh.
Batbangers Band are four
exuberant young Cambodian guys from Battambang making great rock’n’roll music.
This Thursday they will team up with the estimable punk powerhouse Bob
Passion & The Lop Lops for a one-off gig at Madison Corner.
Batbangers lead singer Sony let Leng Pleng
know that funds will be raised at the gig to donate to a local hospital.
Music lovers currently holidaying
in the provinces might consider an early return to Phnom Penh to catch a
special gig taking place at FCC – The Mansion this Saturday. Astronomy
Class will be performing a full concert with Cambodian chanteuse Srey
Channty. The lead singer of Cambodian Space Project recorded a
fantastic album with Astronomy Class last year entitled Mekong
Delta Sunrise. Her voice works really well with the groovy beats
created by the Australian hip-hop trio. Channty and the band are also scheduled
to appear at an after-party event taking place at D-Club.
Later in the week, U.S. singing
sensation Jessica Gibson begins a whistle-stop of Cambodia in the
company of maestro Phil Javelle. The duo will begin with a show at Bouchon
in Phnom Penh on Wednesday, with dates to follow at Mao’s Club, Sofitel
and D22. Each of these gigs will be a great opportunity to see a
fantastic singer and performer backed up by a genuine musical wizard. Check out
the video below to hear Jessica showcasing her Chinese-language singing skills!
We will leave you with greetings
of the season from Leng Pleng and best wishes wherever you are in the
Kingdom… perhaps even, like guitar hero Aymen Ghali, relaxing on a Tuol
Kork rooftop, enjoying an unusually quiet Phnom Penh:
Stay safe out there and… see you
around the traps!
JOE WRIGLEY
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