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

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

Greetings:

Tonight, Thursday, in Phnom Penh, Hometown Hangout is the venue for Acoustic Battle #3 (see Passing Chords below with contestant John Ryan) and Dr George hosts the jazz jam at The Deck.  Later on The Extraordinary Chambers are at Oscar’s on the Corner and Adam Marsland is at The Silk Route.  In Siem Reap, there’s an international metal night featuring Noturnall (BR), Illusion Force (JP) and Dream Spirit (CH) at Atlantis.

Friday night in Phnom Penh Cheska is at Botanico, Greg Beshers is at The Tin Hat, Phil Javelle is at Boran Bar, Miss Sarawan is at Bat Muk Yu and Skeptical Chemistry are at Noisy Chili.  Later on, Montra is at Oscar’s on the Corner and Stu Cottom is at The Silk Route.  In Siem Reap Pablo & Alexey are at The Panthers Hut.

Saturday in Phnom Penh you can get started early at The Vine with Zakk Zoot (after the footy), then find Jazz Sauce at The Deck and Alli G & TheQuilas (trio) at Botanico.  At Hometown Hangout Tippa Irie (UK) is hosted by Crucial Dub Alliance and Intan & Metta are at Au Marche and Stu Cottom is at Boran Bar.  Muz Muskett is on early at Oscar’s on the Corner, followed by Alli G & TheQuilas (quintet).  In Kep, Planet Jazz (Phil & Raphael) are at The Wave: Kep West and in Siem Reap Brett Perkins (US/DK) conducts a songwriting workshop at Level Up in the afternoon before a performance at The Mended Drum.

On Sunday there’s a special open stage farewell to Black Box Theatre at Java Creative Cafe TTP.  Elsewhere Brooke Palmer graces The Vine, John Peter & Friends are at Botanico, the Sunday Sundowners open mic at Tacos Kokopelli is hosted by Scott Bywater and Stu Cottom is at Bar Oz.  Later and louder, Shaken Spirit are at Oscar’s on the Corner.

Department of New Releases

The Psykic Elektric Experience by Joshua Chiang is now available on Bandcamp.  Read last week’s interview with Josh here.

Phnom Penh’s very own 21st Century brass band, Brass on the Block, have released an entertaining video of their cover of the Golden Era classic Jeas Cyclo, by Yol Auralong.   Check it out here.

Passing Chords – a few things you may not know about

John Ryan, one of the contestants in Acoustic Battle #3 which will be held on Thursday 25 at Hometown Hangout.  “I’ve entered this competition as it’s given me a chance to write my own song and perform it to everyone.  I used to write songs when I was a teenager but haven’t for nearly 40 years.   I am 59 now but want to show that you never lose your dream whatever your age – Cambodia does not judge you on your age.  I find that’s one of the best things about living here,

I have done a comedy workshop and performed a 5 minute routine, I’ve acted on stage with amateur dramatics and of course singing  – I am sure I wouldn’t have done any of these things back in the UK.”

Do you have a musical pet hate?
Seeing people out and about not talking to each other, staring into their phones.

The year you first came to Cambodia:
I came to Cambodia nearly three years ago to help run a bar called The Tin Hat with my daughter and wife.  This helped us get to know a lot of people, especially musicians and amateur dramatics.

An early music memory:
In 1973, when I was 7 years old, I watched Elvis Presley in Aloha From Hawaii, a concert that was beamed around the world.  It was like an alien had stepped onto the stage from another planet and I was hooked – every birthday and Christmas I only asked for Elvis LPs, as they were known then.  I started singing on stage soon at the local kids club.  At 16 I joined NightFlight, a band with some friends, and we had nearly four years of playing together.  We gigged locally and even recorded original material but we all grew up got proper jobs and went our separate ways.   Coming to Phnom Penh lit that fire in the belly again, and I was soon singing anywhere I could (also having a bar helped).

Your primary instrument, and when you started playing it:
Music has always been my passion and I love singing any chance I get.

You have a time machine and a magic ticket to one gig or festival in the past. What do you choose?
If I had a time machine I probably would want to go back to the 70s.  I think the music and movies were better and there were no mobile phones or Internet.  The one thing I do miss about being in th UK is not going to concerts – the best one I was privileged to see was Live 8 in 2005 in Hyde Park.   We won tickets to see this 12 hour concert featuring everyone – Elton John, The Who, Pink Floyd, Paul McCartney and many more.

A question from the last participant :  what was your best gig ever?
Phnom Penh band Smack The Unicorn were very supportive of my performances, and became my unofficial backing band, calling ourselves Johnny and the Scallywags – a highlight was playing a 30 minute set at Oscar’s on the Corner.

Department of Mutual Support:  Friends of LengPleng

    

 

 

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Steve Porte Photo of the Week

Mai Priest with new band Johatsu making their debut at Oscar’s on the Corner, Friday 19 September 2025

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See you around the traps.
your correspondent,

 

 

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

 

Weekly Gig Guide – week commencing Thursday 25 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:

Friday 3 October

Saturday 4 October

Tuesday 7 October

Thursday 9 October

Saturday 11 October

Friday 17 October

Sunday 19 October

  • Martin Ng (SG) sings German Masterpieces of Romanticism, 7 pm, Raffles Le Royal – note ticketed event

 

By Weekly Wrap