click here for an audio-visual look at the gig highlights

***for full gig listings jump to the bottom***

Greetings:

Headline act for this week is Rhythm of Ecstasy (Nilimesh & Arnab) a sarod and tabla duo from India.  They play Thursday at Tropico, Friday at Noisy Chili, Saturday at Au Marche and Sunday at Meta House.

Tonight, Thursday, it’s Tuol Tom Pong participation night with the jazz jam with Dr George at The Deck and open mics with Max and Sara at LOLA Music Lounge and Muz Muskett at Noisy Chili.  Elsewhere Kimberly Bugo is at Samai Rum Distillery and The Extraordinary Chambers are at Oscar’s on the Corner.

Friday night in Phnom Penh, [gee-squared] (Greg & Gaby) are at The Deck, Cam & Joe are at Botanico, D&Y: The Revivals are at The Tin Hat, Zakk Zoot is at The Vine and Alli G & TheQuilas are at Hometown Hangout. Later and louder, Temple are at Oscar’s on the Corner.  In Siem Reap, Rod & Chema are at Ubuntu.

On Saturday in Phnom Penh Stu Cottom plays as part of a chilli cook-off at Lone Star Saloon, Dr G & Judy are joined by special guest Mark Doherty at The Deck, and Cory Spring is at Botanico.   Find some ambient drone from Mazama at Noisy Chili or some upbeat grooves with Summer Lee Carlson & Mute Speaker at Khmer Funk Sky Bar or some ‘80s revival with Phil Javelle at Little Susie.

The grand reopening of Boran Bar will feature Stu Cottom, Kevin Sysyn & Phil Javelle, while Zakk Zoot is at Tropico.  Opening early at Oscar’s on the Corner is Muz Muskett (see Passing Chords below), before the dance-happy groove of The Lark.  On the coast, Adam Marsland is at The Wave: Kep West

On Sunday, alongside regular events such as the Sunday Sundowners open mic at Tacos Kokopelli, John Peter & Friends and Botanico and Stu Cottom at Bar Oz, Phnom Penh offers In the Park #2 featuring Alli G at Koh Nerea and a piano recital by James Napoleon Lai at Raffles Le Royal.  Then late and loud is Shaken Spirit at Oscar’s on the Corner.

Department of Touring 

Coming later this month over one particularly loud week at Atlantis in Siem Reap are Scotty Austin (US), formerly of Saving Abel, Liturgy (US), Soundmakers (VN), Noturnall (BR), Illusion Force (JP) and Dream Spirit (CH).  Liturgy and Soundmakers will also be having shows at Oscar’s on the Corner and Cloud, respectively.

See the bottom of the page for international touring listings.

Passing Chords – a few things you may not know about

David “Muz” Muskett, of the UK, current a solo performer making his way around the traps in Phnom Penh and the host of the Noisy Chili open mic on Thursdays.  In the past he’s been involved in such outfits as Folked Up in Vancouver, and Girls Are Waiting To Meet You and The Ugly Dumplings in Beijing.  He’s opening up early this Saturday evening Oscar’s on the Corner.

Do you have a pet musical hate/pet peeve?
No, not really – music is a tough mistress sometimes but it’s about not just being better on the instrument but to be ready for anything. Some might express concern at AI trends, but I am confident that the ‘aura of the original’ (As French philosopher Jean Baudrillard calls it) is irreplaceable, and that the cream will rise to the top. It’s another reason to pursue real storytelling in songwriting.

A private musical indulgence:
I like the works of Francico Tarrega or John McLaughlin’s Mahavishnu Orchestra in my quieter moments.

The year you first came to Cambodia:
2019.  I had spent a decade in China working mostly as a cameraman/director on news features and some documentaries but I had been enchanted by Cambodia’s unique confluence of northern and southern Asian cultures.

An early music memory:
Watching the needle bounce on the oversized grooves of a set of children’s records that I used to play early on Saturday mornings before my parents woke up.

The last thing you had to eat:
Ban chau – the Cambodian pancake wrap with pork and beansprouts. It’s eaten with a lettuce wrap and it’s absolutely delicious – and something I like about a lot of Cambodian food – light and refreshing, too.

Stagefright – yes or no?
No fright, but definitely nerves – as the old jazz players used to say – if you’re not nervous, you don’t care. It’s about dialling in and drawing deep to make the moment count.

A country you want to visit:
Argentina!  I’m planning a trip out there in the next couple of years. I want to check out Buenos Aires, and the music scene as well as get up north to Mendoza and do some serious hiking or trail running.

A book or movie you keep going back to:
Well there’s a couple – right now I’m listening to Shogun by James Clavell who is well known for his Tai-Pan book – it’s an epic swashbuckling adventure filled with intrigue and lashings of insight into Asian cultures. Another one I want to throw in is some hard sci-fi – anything by Alistair Reynolds gets my imagination going. The news just came out that a chip which can read our subvocalisations has been created. The hive mind is closer than we think…

What languages do you have?
English, most will agree, and Spanish plus Chinese. My Khmer is coming along.

Your primary instrument, and when you started playing it:
I would say the guitar. However back in 2006, on Jericho Beach, in Vancouver, I met an old lifeguard called Craig, who had a country band called Craig Jacks and the Jackalopes. He listened kindly to one of my fledgling songs, and then picked up my guitar and played it back to me. He wrestled and grunted out some variations of melodies, The way he explored his impulses and worked through the sound was raw, and visceral – a stark moment. He told me that anyone can learn the guitar (sic) but to stand out, one has to really work the voice. That stayed with me, and I consider voice to be my principal instrument.

Something people might be surprised to know about you:
Probably my fluency in Chinese. I was there for ten years and also worked in Chinese companies here in Phnom Penh for several years. It’s honestly not that hard a language especially once you get the tones down and chew some ways into the vocab. The grammar is completely formulaic and logical and laid out far better than English.

You have a time machine and a magic ticket to one gig or festival in the past. What do you choose?
If only for the music, then Jimi Hendrix at Filmore East. But in all honesty I’d probably go back and dance with my mum at a Blondie gig in the eighties. That would be magic well spent.

How do you perceive Latin music?
Raw and best shared. I love the broodiness and depth of both the percussion and the progressions that the fusion of the Moorish and European elements produce. It never fails to rouse something deep in audiences.

Department of Mutual Support:  Friends of LengPleng

Signing on for six months is the Acoustic Battle talent show, with events being held on the last Thursday of each month until January at a range of venues in Phnom Penh.  September will see the action move to Hometown Hangout.

    

    

 

 

Being a Friend of LengPleng is open to venues, acts, and even private individuals; if you value the service we provide please consider assisting us financially.   For a modest contribution ($25 for three months, $40 for six months, $75 for 12 months), you get the logo of your choice into the weekly email and onto the weekly wrap page, and an automatically click through to a page on our website for further information, photos, videos and so on – we like to think of it as an alternative to Facebook.

We also pay special attention when you have a good story for us – an upcoming event or an artist you wish to highlight.  Email gigs@lengpleng.com for further details or bail up Scoddy wherever you see him.

Steve Porte Photo of the Week

Kuzi Ekrem back drumming with Knell for their preformance of Nevermind by Nirvana at Noisy Chili on 5 September 2025.

 

If you wish to receive LengPleng in your inbox every Thursday please send a subscribe email to gigs@lengpleng.com.

Musicians, venues, punters:  if there are things you know that LengPleng should know, please tell us and we’ll do our best to tell the world.

See you around the traps.
your correspondent,

 

 

Guillermo Wheremount
LengPleng.com
gigs@lengpleng.com (mailto:gigs@lengpleng.com

 

Weekly Gig Guide – week commencing Thursday 11 September 2025

** residency/weekly

For DJs and clubs, we recommend Phnom Penh Underground

Thursday

Friday

Saturday                                                             

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

*Note that Wednesday events are often not announced until early in the week – check back here for updates*

Coming soon:

International touring artists in September: 

Rhythm of Ecstasy (Nilimesh & Arnab) (IN)

Scotty Austin (US)

Formerly of Saving Abel

  • Thursday 18, 8.30 pm, Atlantis (Siem Reap)

Liturgy (US)

Soundmakers (VN)

“For nearly 20 years, they have explored analog, digital, and hybrid real-time feedbacks, delivering unpredictable and dynamic live performances. Using custom software and an analog mixer, they creates unique sounds tailored to each venue.  They have curated festivals and events across Europe and Asia, collaborating with film, dance, and visual arts. Based in Hanoi, Vietnam, they continues to connect with sound makers worldwide.”

  • Tuesday 23, 8.30 pm, Atlantis (Siem Reap)
  • Wednesday 24, 8.30 pm, Cloud

Noturnall (BR), Illusion Force (JP), Dream Spirit (CH)

  • Thursday 25, 8.30 pm, Atlantis (Siem Reap)
By Weekly Wrap