From the musicians, venues and audiences of Cambodia:

Daryl Thompson

  1. Soselo Summer – Noisy Chilli – Friday 17th January
  2. Dummy Toys – Noisy Chilli – Friday 28th March
  3. Dengue Fever – Chew and Bash – Friday 21st March
  4. Johatsu – Oscar’s on the Corner – Saturday 14th November
  5. Nightmare A.D. – Hometown Hangout – Friday 31st May

Mark Rowley

There were so many!!! Jam-Cha at Kampot Beer Fest really sticks out in my mind.  My choice would be any Japan Guitar Shop show! Incredible musicians, great performers and most of all great bunch of guys!

John Ryan

This is difficult as you can appreciate, the majority of artists we have had on at The Tin Hat have been great, and you don’t want to single out any particular gig for fear of leaving someone out and offending them, but here it goes.  There were a number of special nights, as always having Geography of the Moon is always a pleasure, and it was extra special as they were promoting their new album Aberdeen Hiroshima which blew everyone away.  On Sunday 2nd March we decided to host a Jamaican barbecue and booked the band Loopy Reggae, This is still one of my favourite days at The Tin Hat. The place was busy, the food was great and the band was amazing. All in all a great and memorable day.

But 30th of July will be my highlight.  Smack The Unicorn played their last gig at The Tin Hat before taking a break, the lads had become good friends in the two years they had been together,  especially Jesse the leader of the band.  Johnny and The Scallywags was born out of Jesse encouraging me to get up and sing.  I gave them their first gig when they were called Blood Feud and they went on to become one of the most popular bands in Phomn Penh, They have recorded an album before parting but i have heard that some time in the future they may do a little tour again if Jesse comes back to visit and we will have them on our bar no problem.

Colin Hodgkins

Some highlights of 2025 for me included seeing Trey Wallace, a musician new to town, perform at The Vine in October, and watching Wind-Up Mice play a great set at a construction site that will soon become a new Tuol Tompoung venue called Motodop. I was also honored that my band, Japan Guitar Shop, had the opportunity to share the stage with Dengue Fever during their visit from Los Angeles, as well as to host Carnival Youth, who traveled to the Kingdom all the way from Latvia.

Cove Aaronoff

The major highlight of the year for me has been witnessing the music scene unite and develop into something whole. There’s a crackling energy in the air that’s almost tangible. I feel so fortunate to be part of this rapidly expanding and genuinely heartfelt artistic community. Here’s to 2026…

Brooke Palmer

My highlight was playing my first cancer-free gig just four weeks post-surgery.  I was so happy to be back that I played well past my usual two hours, only wrapping it up on account of a sudden storm.  It took me two days to recover but it was worth it!  Also being the last musician standing for the final gig of Dave Fest 2.0, it was just the right mix of chill and friendly vibes and cheerful people, just one of those moments you really feel in the right place at the right time, doing the right thing.

Adam Marsland

I would simply say it’s the busiest gigging year I’ve ever had in a life of many gigging years, and I’m grateful I got the chance to do what I love in so many different interesting ways, with so many different interesting people.

Andreas Hacky Hagemeyer

My musical highlight was the Love Boat Cruise in on St Valentine’s Day with the Pearls of Phnom Penh on board.  NB: the second edition is coming in February.

Steve Porte

  • Two new venues walking distance from home: Tittibugs and House of Jazz and More.
  • Touring bands: Chakra Shakers, Skeleton Goode.
  • New local bands: Jōhatsu, Drunk on Champagne, LDLP.
  • Awaiting the return of Electric Muxu Orchestra, Geography of the Moon, The Schkoots.

Frank Scarfone

While I probably played and listened to less music this year than in the past, I still walked away with some beautiful memories:

  • The Japan Guitar Shop concert at Chew & Bash in March. This is likely my favorite memory of the year.  We opened for Dengue Fever from the US.  I truly enjoyed the performance – the sound system was amazing, the stage was great, and the place was packed.  Most importantly, my father was in the middle of that crowd; it was his first time visiting me abroad and seeing me perform on stage. This memory holds a very special place in my heart.
  • Valentine’s Day with The Blue Souls: I loved this gig because I finally got to play songs I’ve always wanted to hear with a full horn section. A big thanks to Ilya on sax, Yusbel on trombone, and Cameron on trumpet for making that happen.
  • Originals with Summer Lee Carlson: This year I started writing original songs with Summer. I’m really enjoying the sound we are shaping. we had the chance to debut a couple of songs during the closing party at Java’s little theater; it was a wonderful experience to play our own music for such an attentive crowd.
  • Opening for Carnival Youth: Another standout concert was with JGS opening for Carnival Youth. We played well, and it was refreshing to hear a sound so different from what we usually hear in Cambodia. They were great guys as well.
  • Skeleton Goode at Tittibugs: As always, Skeleton Goode delivered a great gig. Even without their amazing bass player, they managed to put together a superb performance.
  • One for the Road: On a sadder note, we had a farewell gig for Aymen Ghali. As a pillar of the Phnom Penh music scene, his departure is a huge loss. I miss you, brother.
  • The Vinyl Experience at Space 4 Zero: While not a gig, it was deeply emotional to visit Space 4 Zero to hear the first vinyl pressing of Done You Right. It was a totally different experience; for a few weeks afterward, it made me want to give up everything else and just become a “real” guitarist!
  • Surprise of the Year: The Absolute Zero gig at the Wooden House was the best surprise of 2025. They put together an incredibly immersive show—something truly fresh and new for the town.

That’s it for this year. Have a great year of music, everybody!

Marianna Hensley

There are no words to adequately capture what 2025 has been. In the darkest moments, music was the only thing that soothed. I’ve passed hours this year lying flat, letting the vibrations of my guitar soak into my chest and ease my soul. Other moments of music-induced solace in 2025 include the Miles Davis Kind of Blue Tribute at Bellini in January (transporting) and one of Brooke Palmer’s recent performances at The Vine where her inimitable improvisations left me (and everyone present) dissolving in tears of laughter.

Personal performance memories and highlights this year include the 1974 Tribute at Oscar’s on the Corner in January. With the 13th Street Revue in March original music, exceptional collaborators, and intentional setting came together in an alchemical way that shifted the moment from performance to deep experience for everyone in the room. I also remember a solo performance at The Vine in July for no reason other than what it represented for me to get up and sing in that moment.  Unexpected delight came in November with the opportunity to join the Malo Brothers (Gaby Courroux and Felix Masson) and Greg Beshers to perform some of my absolute favorite down-home songs and tunes. And wrapping up the year was a Mimi and the Merrymakers-led carol sing at Farm to Table that was full of tidings of joy—plus the second “jingle bell incident” of my career as a children’s entertainer. (No one came to harm, and my flying jingle bells were eventually located!)

I offer deepest thanks and gratitude to the wonderful musicians I’ve had the pleasure of working with this year, to the venues that open their doors for and the people who come out to live music in Phnom Penh and beyond, and to LengPleng for keeping its finger on the pulse of music in Cambodia.

Will Canuck

This last week I used the phrase “the wild ride of 25” in Crash Boom Bang’s promo postings on-line.  I think that best describes the changes, challenges and ultimately, the wins that brought this year to a happy ending. The biggest change along the way was the heavy lean into funk and dance tunes Crash pivoted to as the band’s repertoire veered away from strictly rock and new wave numbers. As a player weaned on punk rock records I started listening to in the 70’s, I would have laughed in the face back then at anyone suggesting I would find joy a quarter of the way into the 21st century laying down bass lines from Disco Inferno, Boogie Ooogie Ooogie and You Should be Dancing on a weekly basis. For the record, I am surprised as any of my former bandmates from back then would be…and delightedly so.

Physical challenges hit all of us in the Crash camp as ailments, family events and accidents found us relying on the kindness and skill of community colleagues to step in to keep the ball rolling.  I am happy to report that we have all indeed survived. In many ways we have learned how to play around the aches and pains of aging in a manner that seems to have made us better players as we explore new ways to do what we do.  In the end there seems to be no end of benefit in re-routing one’s neural pathways, by necessity, if not by choice.

Crash was not the only winning game in town for me in 2025. Shake 79 enjoyed a year of great shows at Oscar’s and elsewhere. Best of all, we played my first ever wedding gig, a killer of a night for a grand couple at a swanky venue in front of a well-dressed, well-lubricated and fun-loving collection of guests. My other band The Lark also enjoyed some great nights at Oscar’s as well as two out-of-town shows in Kep in a magical house party setting complete with a wonderful crowd. Thrill of the year for me?  I was asked to sub on bass at the last minute for my favourite band, The Extraordinary Chambers. Best of all?  I survived, despite my fear of invoking the wrath of [drummer] Sal should I suck.  Let it be noted that Sal was beyond gracious, ignoring the occasional clams I delivered during the sets, noting afterwards that I had good timing. I went home that night beaming from ear to ear.

2025 will come to a close for me as the bass player for a newly hewn outfit dubbed Sgt Cooper’s Go Kart Band as we play a New Year’s event at Raffles of all places. The set list is spiked with songs that I would rather have shaved my head with a cheese grater than play back in the day.  Happily, that angry young man is no more and instead of seeing them as tunes I do not like, I will experience them as challenges I enjoyed learning and playing with a new configuration of music friends. Onwards to a happy 2026 for all of us here in the Penh. Cheers!

Gaby Courroux

Being part of the regular bands at Oscar’s on the Corner has been a lot of fun, with The Extraordinary Chambers and The Riverside Kings, and also the Cambodia Country Band.

A few of the interesting/one shot gig/unique experience of this year in Cambodia for me (not in any particular order)

  • Canopy Fest and One for the Road event with Pocket Change
  • Starting Pick & Bow with Sharon Lui on violin (mostly because I think it’s a cool name for our duo ahah)
  • JAG trio (playing drums in a jazz fusion set-up)
  • Brass on the Block (playing funk/hip-hop grooves and being part of a big brass band)
  • Playing bluegrass gigs with my friend Felix Masson, visiting from France
  • Swing on the Mekong cruise

And many more memories…

Chef Jay

My highlights of 2025 were finding a space where I could finally open the doors and bring a much-needed renaissance of jazz, blues, and other soulful forms of music back to the city.  Opening night proved exactly what The House of Jazz & More can be – an inspired meeting place – brought to life by performances from some of the city’s best: Colin Grafton, Phil Javelle, Mirasol Aguila, Mark Doherty, Gaby Courroux, and Andrey Meshcheryakov.  The journey hasn’t always been smooth. Like any labor of love, there were challenges along the way. But the sparks – those moments that remind you why you started – kept coming. For me, one of those was the brilliance of Kevin Sysyn, a true one-man show who set a powerful standard.  Then came the electric, sold-out night led by the songstress herself, Intan Andriana, joined by Metta Legita & Friends – once again proving the level, the intention, and the soul of what HOJ is all about.

Mark Eastty

2025 saw us reach some new milestones as we celebrated the Sunday Sundowner Sessions 12th anniversary at Tacos Kokopelli, and the 20th anniversary of the place itself. The Penh Pals and Sarah Gee returned to play some gigs, we hosted the final performance of Agent P and the Resistance (we will await their return!), and we had some great new performances from Bob Bluesman, Chakra Shakers, Gerry the Cosmic Joker, and Muz Muskett. The Sock Essentials got spooky at our Halloween party, and things got Extraordinary with the Chambers at the 20th anniversary party, and that was our musical year at Kokopelli’s. Thanks to all who support live music at our little Mexican cantina!

Greg Beshers

2025 was a year. In January (like the last few January’s and also this upcoming January again), a bunch of us held our annual “It was 50 years ago this year” tribute. Getting musicians from all around town to play songs that were released in 1974.  (This January will be songs from 1975) Due to personnel availability, we only held the acoustic portion of the show. But that didn’t seem to matter, crowd-wise or performance-wise.   I was asked to be a part of the Original Sessions at the Deck, that was great fun, but of course I lived up to my mantra of “I guarantee only 70% correct lyrics”, even on my own songs.

I help start a new band, The Riverside Kings, Clay George’s originals-focused band, and we’ve been doing a regular Monday residency @Oscar’s on the Corner all year. Between my other band/duo/solo performances and sitting-in with people, I ended up missing a lot of other gigs around town. Just on the rock-n-roll side I missed Dengue Fever, Skeleton Goode, most of Japan Guitar Shop, Brass on the Block, Johatsu, most of the Nirvana tribute. I even missed a lot of the other week night bands at Oscar’s, but i did catch some great highlights recently. PlanB with a full horn section at The Deck.  The Blue Souls show at Oscar’s last weekend was ripping!) And Crash Boom Bang at Oscar’s too.

2025 was supposed to be the ‘year of the accordion’ for me personally. But I realized I need to actually GET an accordion in order to learn how to play it. So here’s to 2026 being my ‘year of the accordion’. Anyone got an accordion they’re not using? LMK.

And January 31, 2026 – the “It was 50 years ago this year” show will happen, featuring songs from 1975. If you’re interested, talk to Scott Bywater.

I am really amazed at how MUCH good music is happening around Phnom Penh.

Brett Perkins

My highlight is a combination of first coming to the country in June, feeling immediately welcomed by the local music community and founding the Phnom Penh and Siem Reap Songwriters Festivals that raised over $500 in free education funds for low income Khmer children.

Mia Priest

I started the year having to lay to rest my friend (and bassist of Nightmare A.D./Soselo Summer/Blood Bricks) Ned Kelly to rest, which wasn’t the best way to start the year. Rest in Peace and Distortion, Ned.

We (the Slam City Asia team) did a moderately successful third installment of our Metal and Punk festival at the end of March at both Noisy Chili and Cloud, featuring Dummy Toys (China), Rabies (Czech Republic), Opposition Party (Singapore), Truth Be Known (Singapore), local favourites Doch Chkae and more. We were glad to also be featured in the Phnom Penh Post, Unite Asia and of course Lengpleng.com

I was asked to join a new band on guitars with Ronan Sheehan (Soselo Summer), Jeefunk Mitchell (Men of Faith) and Kuzi Ekrem (Nevermind Nirvana) which we later christened JŌHATSU, developing our style as we went on.  Jōhatsu’s first show was opening for Liturgy (US) along with Nightmare A.D., a gig which I organized under Get in the Penh in collaboration with Oscars on the Corner. Playing in both opening bands and organizing the show was not ideal but Alain Ou (drummer of Reign in Slumber, After God and sessionist for Doch Chkae) was away and thus resulting in me having to do most of the heavy lifting for that show in particular.

Organized a small Cambodian tour for German punkers Bullshit Boy with Jōhatsu as tour support in November, with 4 dates (Dave Fest at M’Pai Bay, Hometown Hangout in Phnom Penh, Indierawk Fest Vol. 2 in Phnom Penh and Atlantis Metal Bar in Siem Reap). Indierawk Fest Vol. 2 was also organized under Get in the Penh in collaboration with Oscars on the Corner and featured the best rock acts that Phnom Penh has to offer (Soselo Summer, Drunk on Champagne, etc.), along with Lefthand Drive from Singapore and Bullshit Boy headlining.

Nightmare A.D. also played Dave Fest at M’Pai Bay (Koh Rong Samloen), headlining the second night of live music, which was a little nerve-wrecking as it wasn’t our usual crowd but the response was thankfully and overwhelmingly positive.

Psykic Elektric‘s EP (a new wave rock band that I played bass in) finally got released under Joshua Chiang‘s name. It’s the only recording I’ve done on bass, and I’m pretty happy with how it turned out in general.

Ronan Sheehan

We have had some great nights since the return of Soselo Summer, but the gig after the passing of our dear friend and bassist Ned Kelly is what sticks out.  We had learned the news only a few days prior and we were not sure if should or even could go ahead with the show.  Ultimately it would have been what Ned would have pushed for had he been in the same situation.  It was the only way to honor him really.  It was as cathartic for the crowd as it was for us.  Pre-show we played Ned’s music from his various projects from over the years. We lit a candle and cracked a beer which we put next to a photo of him and those in attendance pushed right up front to make space for everyone, which spilled out back onto the pathway.  It felt comforting being surrounded by so many of his friends and our own and to get enveloped in a bond thats not spoken but holds you close.  Songs took on different meanings.  It got tough for everyone at various stages yet a whole place breathed together to pull you through.  Sharing words about Ned between songs probably stirred a million other stories people carry of him.  We Are Ewe played a similarly emotive and charged set after which carried us all home.  We’d just like to thank everyone again for being there and for being a reminder of the beauty of community when you need it most.

D&Y (Dylan and Ysabel Rubis)

  1. D&Y performing at Bona Thiem’s farewell party/Opening of Stories Cafe and World Music Day at Stories Cafe on June 21
  2. Performed at The Tin Hat with special participation by Alex Tiger on bass on July 3
  3. Ysabel competing in the Acoustic Battle 1st Edition at Botanico on August 28
  4. Ysabel competing in the Acoustic Battle 5th Edition at BigWig Klub, performing as D&Y for one song, and winning 3rd place, on November 27
  5. Ysabel performing her covers and original songs in the Songwriters Festival Listening Room Session at Stories on November 28

Roz Fisher

Abba has always been one of my favourite bands. I grew up with their music and still love it. I was given the opportunity to sing one of their hits, Waterloo, at my favorite Cambodian venue, Oscar’s on the Corner, as part of the 1974 tribute in January. It was so much fun and I’m so glad I was a part of the show. Thank you for the memories!

George Hess

The jazz jam at The Deck and the jam workshop have became a weekly event.  I’ve also recently joined forces with Antonio Elchico in the Playful Minds.

Alli Gecikarana

2025 , we have ups and downs while Cambodia having a border war. But music still keeps going strong . – Elec’TRO’ a project with Kongchak Studio was released on vinyl – only 250 copies – also on Spotify. The music blends Cambodia traditional music and modern music. Musicians including Izame Siva, Elie, Hansley, Preston, Leo to name a few.

The monthly Acoustic Battle events (6 Editions and one final to come) with the help of Marco of Botanico, Ben Garel & Khemma has been a blast.  Meeting new musicians and connecting them with the new music venues.  I’ve had a lot of help from the musician community and the venue owners.  It’s been a blast.

Johnny & The Scallywags is off to a great start, working with frontman John Ryan, and recording a first single with the help of One Two Music Studio. A music video is coming soon for the song Join Hands & Be Free.

Lakhon Luong is become a full band bringing different kind of genre in town: oriental fusion music, while TheQuilas and Rockustic are still going strong with gigs around town. A new partnership with Hope Music Center will give me more new projects, stay tuned.

Looking forward to 2026, a new project with Siva & 4Mara from Klapyahandz coming soon,  music video of Join Hands & Be Free, and the finals of Acoustic Battle on January 30 at Tittibugs. We will have 8 contestants and try to make as grand as possible.

Ben Etc

My musical highlights from 2025 mean I now look forward to what may come in 2026. Hopefully there’s new releases from some of the folk who brighten up Phnom Penh for me. Here’s looking at you: * Johatsu * John Memery * Joshua Chiang * Ming Khméng * Geography of the Moon * We Are Ewe.

Another thing to look forward to is the next Love Boat gig, an evening cruise on Tonle Sap / Mekong around Valentine’s Day.  The last one was a hoot.  Plus we all need more Love.  So, bless the Love Boat and all who sail on Her. And immodestly / honestly speaking: I got to play a few shows and to finally finish and release two albums by band Etc. in 2025. This ranks as a rare personal achievement for slow-coach me. Visit https://etcetc.bandcamp.com/ to enjoy. Finally, my #1 song of the year is Phnom Penh Driving School by Scoddy!  It comes to mind constantly as soon as one goes outside in the city, and it’s not likely to fade any time soon. Meep meep!

Keiko Kitamura

For me, it was a year of collaboration projects. I submitted plans to get funding for these projects, and then implemented them. The first one was In January, when my Japanese drum students and I did a performance with students of Phare Ponleu Selpak – the circus – in Battambang. I wanted to involve not only music students (playing both Khmer traditional and western instruments) but also students from traditional dance and the circus. Colin joined with his harmonica. We had only 12 hours of practice over 6 days and despite various problems, we put on quite a good performance for the opening of the circus show in Battambang. The audience liked it, and we got a big applause.

The second collaboration was with MeDha, the Cambodian women’s drum team, for S’Art Urban Festival. MeDha are professional, so it was a good experience for my students. Their presence on the stage is phenomenal, how they keep the audience’s attention and how they show the dynamism of drums,.We practised with them every day for a week, and had a big show on the stage on the last night of the festival. People in the audience shouted “Bravo!”  We also performed on the street for five nights in a row. It was a very nice atmosphere and we enjoyed playing close to the audience, not on the stage.

Both collaborations were real challenges. Arranging the songs, budgeting, logistics (we have many heavy drums), organizing students, scheduling, preparing the costumes, coordinating with the event organizers…I was exhausted. However I can see more possibilities. I will proceed more with the Japanese drums.

The last collaboration was a more relaxed informal one at the end of the year with some traditional folk musicians from Okinawa, south of Japan, who played the sanshin, a lute with a snakeskin soundbox. I played a Khmer traditional drum, Skor Daey, and it worked out well. It also has a snakeskin head.

As audience, I enjoyed the three-night classical music festival at Raffles: European Music Culture – London-Berlin-Vienna-Paris. Three different pianists recreated the Salon Music of the 18th-19th Century. Before each concert, there was a talk about the pieces to be played that night, and it was very informative. Anton Isselhardt’s on-stage prologues are also amusing, and Gabriel Faja’s notes give an extra dimension to the music.

Colin Grafton

I was very impressed with these concerts as well. I’ve never got into classical music much, just the obvious stuff vaguely related to jazz—Bartok, Stravinsky, Debussy, Bach— but Anton’s programming, his choice of music and the unfailing excellence of the musicians got me hooked. After a concert, I would go home and ravage Youtube for interpretations by different musicians… and would often find that the ones we had heard at Raffles were as good as any. For example, the diminutive Dr. Vikki Chen from Kuala Lumpur playing Ravel’s “Miroirs”, was superb.

Probably no one else is going to rhapsodise about jazz, so I will just mention two events that spring to mind: the Thursday night jazz sessions with George Hess at The Deck, and the emergence of the House of Jazz And More. The owner of HOJAM (as I call it) has the vision of a place where people come to listen to music, and not just drink and shout at each other. A brave notion indeed. I managed to get Andrey Meshcheryakov on bass and Gaby Courroux on guitar, to play with me and Keiko as Blues Routes Renaissance (or BRR, although that was not the best acronym for the gig as the aircon wasn’t working) on the “soft opening” night at HOJAM. It was my dream band. Thanks guys. George is also supporting the cause of jazz there with his trio on Sunday nights, and the aircon is working now.

Another gig I really enjoyed was with Phil Javelle at Comptoir. It was fun and we had a great audience. With Phil I can do some of the cranky songs that no one else knows but I love to perform—snippets of early jazz history like Buddy Bolden’s Blues and Gimme A Pigfoot, and of course Mose Allison.

Apart from that, it has been a rather lean year for me, music-wise. I drop in and out of jams and open mics, and I’m often to be found in Street 23, at Little Susie’s or the Lone Star Saloon on a Tuesday night, and occasionally at Tacos Kokopelli with Scotty (which I enjoy very much, but somehow late Sunday afternoons don’t work too well for me…).

Last mention: The Garden Trio are a girls’ threesome consisting of Sharon Lui (violin), Mariko Fukao (trombone) and Mayumi Hamamoto (piano), and they played a mini-concert at Le Point Café last month. The programme included Frank Bridge (whom I’d never heard of, and I bet you haven’t either—but he was English) and Astor Piazzolla. The salient point of this trio was that Mariko played the cello parts on her trombone—no mean feat in an acoustic setting, because it required optimum volume control. Well done.

Kodi Hudson

 

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