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 find Clay George at Lost Bar & Grill and Hugo Marcellesi at Samai Rum Distillery. There are open mics at LOLA Music Lounge and Cloud, and The Extraordinary Chambers with special guest Gaby Courroux go late at Oscar’s on the Corner. In Siem Reap, Son Sabor Trio are at BR Gourmet.
Friday in Phnom Penh there’s Phil O’Flaherty at Botanico, The Broken Cymbal at The Box Office, Graham Cain at Noisy Chili, Treebu at Back Street Bar, Skeptical Chemistry at Hometown Hangout and Intan & Phil doing an Abba tribute at Paparazzi. Oscar’s on the Corner hosts a Darryl Paxton tribute with Packo’s Busking Kings (early start) followed by Montra (at the usual time). In Siem Reap, Jam-Cha are acoustic at Republic Bistro.
On Saturday in Phnom Penh The Vine celebrate their sixth birthday with Vine-a-palooza, featuring Marianna Hensley, Brooke Palmer, Japan Guitar Shop Duo and a bunch of DJs. Also of note is the the Japanese Bon Odori Festival at Aeon 3, featuring taiko drum performances and circle dances. Elsewhere The Shining Heart are Let It Be Cafe in the afternoon, Skeptical Chemistry continue a busy weekend at The Deck in the evening, and Mika, George & Mirasol are at Craft. The Visa Runners are at Botanico, rhyming with Graham Cain is at Tropico and out of town visitor Corry Johnson is at LOLA Music Lounge. Alli G hosts an acoustic jam at Back Street Lounge TTP, while Joshua Chiang is at Cloud, Adam Marsland is at Little Susie and Stu Cottom is doing British covers at Paparazzi. Going late are The Lark at Oscar’s on the Corner. In Kampot, Sinville Roadshow are at The Bay and in Siem Reap Rod Tolentino helps celebrate a first anniversay at Mex’d Up.
On Sunday, the Sunday Sundowners open mic with regular host Scott Bywater is at Tacos Kokopelli, while Joe Wrigley is at Bar Oz, Jazz Sauce are at Back Street Bar and The Blue Souls are at Oscar’s on the Corner . In Siem Reap, Jam-Cha are unplugged at New Leaf, while Christabel & Paul Mackie are at BR Gourmet.
Department of Coming Soon
The Department of Coming Soon continues to expand as we edge into high season. LengPleng has already been highlighting concerts by both Musica Felice and Phnom Penh Choral Ensemble and the 21st annual Phnom Penh International Music Festival 2024. On the rock’n’roll front, 60 Road Studios in Siem Reap are holding their second annual 60 Road Fest on 30 November, and tickets are already on sale for Dave Fest on Koh Rong Sanloem during Bon Om Touk (Water Festival) and for PepperFest in Kampot 27 and 28 December. And we will see a November tour by frequent visitors to Cambodia Australian band Plan B (media: Cambodia Lifestyle, LengPleng) – they’re in Vietnam for a bunch of gigs and then heading here for an appearance at the LOLA Music Lounge open mic on November 21, followed by gigs at Hometown Hangout, Duplex, The Waterside, Kep Natural and Queenco Hotel & Casino in Sihanoukville. And then there’s the Nesat Market Festival at New Year’s Eve. Lots to look forward to.
Department of New Releases
Geography of the Moon, somewhat staggeringly, have managed to release something new every year since 2018’s Permanent Summer – EPs such as last year’s The Unravelling, and live compilations, along with the full length Fake Flowers Never Die. They are back in 2024 (although with this pace of recording they never really went away) with ABERDEEN HIROSHIMA.
While this is an album written and recorded mostly on the road (the location credit is: recorded all over the place), that is apparent much more thematically than sonically – the quality of production very much follows their usual upward progression. The interaction between the whisper-to-recitation-to-scream of singer and lyricist Virginia Bones and the delicate-to-howling guitar of guitarist, multi-instrumentalist and producer Andrea Rubbio continue to delight – to hear the parts in a headphone-like environment rather than in a crowded bar is a joy. Virginia’s vocals particularly stand out, bringing the blend of the world-weary and the road-weary in the lyrics to a sharp point – whether off to Kep in need of space or offering existential insights through what we pick up and put down.
Fans of the band’s live performances will hear a lot of well-roadtested material – some of the songs go back as far as 2019. Key tracks to look out for are the rock’n’roll philosophy of Deal with the Devil, the driving and supple minor key The Dismemberment of Linear Time, and the exquisite instrumental, Vi, that closes the album.
ABERDEEN HIROSHIMA is available for download on Bandcamp.
Department of Mutual Support: Friends of LengPleng
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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
Jeffro Starks played a blinder last Friday night with Chi-Town at Oscar’s on the Corner, 4 October 2024
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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 10 October 2024
** residency/weekly
For DJs and clubs, we recommend Phnom Penh Underground
Thursday
- 4Play, 7 pm, Prince Brewing **
- House band, 7 pm, Yang Pov Riverside **
- Jam session, 7 pm, Tiki Garden (Kampot)**
- Band@Work, 7 pm, Hard Rock Cafe Angkor (Siem Reap)**
- Kiko & Carlos, 7 pm, Amici Signature (Siem Reap) **
- Cornerstone, 7.30 pm, Hard Rock Café Phnom Penh **
- Soul Diva Band, 7.30 pm, Hotel Cambodiana **
- Son Sabor Trio, 7.30 pm, BR Gourmet (Siem Reap)
- Giuliano Turello, 7.30 pm, Temple Food & Beverage (Siem Reap)**
- Clay George, 8 pm, Lost Bar & Grill **
- Kevin Sysyn, 8 pm, Little Susie
- Open mic, 8 pm, LOLA Music Lounge **
- Metro Band, 8 pm, Metropole Underground **
- Hugo Marcellesi, 8.30 pm, Samai Rum Distillery
- Open mic hosted by Joshua Chiang, 8.30 pm, Cloud
- Stu Cottom followed by Kevin Sysyn, 9 pm, Excelsior **
- Happy Band, 9 pm, Mayazon **
- The Extraordinary Chambers, 10 pm, Oscar’s on the Corner
Friday
- Khmer Magic Music Bus, 7 pm, Bouchon Wine Bar **
- House band, 7 pm, Yang Pov Riverside **
- Jampot open mic, 7 pm, Karma Traders (Kampot)**
- Band@Work, 7 pm, Hard Rock Cafe Angkor (Siem Reap)**
- Phil O’Flaherty, 7.30 pm, Botanico
- The Broken Cymbal, 7.30 pm, The Box Office
- Graham Cain, 7.30 pm, Noisy Chili
- Cornerstone, 7.30 pm, Hard Rock Café Phnom Penh **
- Soul Diva Band, 7.30 pm, Hotel Cambodiana **
- Andy Luna, 7.30 pm, Temple Food & Beverage (Siem Reap)**
- Treebu, 8 pm, Back Street Bar
- Darryl Paxton tribute with Packo’s Busking Kings, 8 pm, Oscar’s on the Corner
- Sister Srey, 8 pm, Rosewood **
- Open mic, 8 pm, Mex’d Up (Siem Reap)
- Skeptical Chemistry, 9 pm, Hometown Hangout
- Abba tribute with Intan & Phil, 9 pm, Paparazzi
- Kevin Sysyn, 9 pm, Lost Bar & Grill **
- Cheska, 9 pm, The Silk Route **
- Jam-Cha, 9 pm, Republic Bistro (Siem Reap)
- Montra (formerly K’n’E), 10 pm, Oscar’s on the Corner
Saturday
- Vine-a-palooza sixth anniversary celebrations with Marianna Hensley, Brooke Palmer, Japan Guitar Shop duo and DJs, 12 pm, The Vine
- Bon Odori Festival featuring Japanese drum performances, 2 pm, Aeon 3
- The Shining Heart, 3 pm, Let It Be Cafe
- Skeptical Chemistry, 6 pm, The Deck
- Mika, George & Mirasol, 6.30 pm, Craft
- Ex-Pulse, 7 pm, The Waterside **
- House band, 7 pm, Yang Pov Riverside **
- Rod Tolentino, 7 pm, Mex’d Up (Siem Reap)
- Band@Work, 7 pm, Hard Rock Cafe Angkor (Siem Reap)**
- The Visa Runners, 7.30 pm, Botanico
- Seawolf, 7.30 pm, Hard Rock Café Phnom Penh **
- Soul Diva Band, 7.30 pm, Hotel Cambodiana **
- Andy Luna, 7.30 pm, Temple Food & Beverage (Siem Reap)**
- Graham Cain, 8 pm, Tropico
- Corry Johnson, 8 pm, LOLA Music Lounge
- Acoustic jam with Alli G, 8 pm, Back Street Lounge TTP
- Sister Srey, 8 pm, Rosewood **
- Metro Band, 8 pm, Metropole Underground **
- Adam Marsland, 8.30 pm, Little Susie
- Joshua Chiang, 8.30 pm, Cloud
- Stu Cottom, 9 pm, Paparazzi **
- Gerry the Cosmic Joker, 9 pm, Lost Bar & Grill **
- Sinville Roadshow, 9 pm, The Bay,(Kampot)
- The Lark, 10 pm, Oscar’s on the Corner
Sunday
- Jam-Cha Unplugged, 5 pm, New Leaf (Siem Reap)
- Sunday Sundowners open mic hosted by Scott Bywater, 5 pm, Tacos Kokopelli **
- Joe Wrigley, 6 pm, Bar Oz **
- No pros open mic, 6 pm, Pomme (Siem Reap)**
- DNA, 7 pm, The Golden Hornbill **
- House band, 7 pm, Yang Pov Riverside **
- Sunday piano sessions with Jim Latt, 7 pm, Miss Wong (Siem Reap)**
- Band@Work, 7 pm, Hard Rock Cafe Angkor (Siem Reap)**
- Soul Diva Band, 7.30 pm, Hotel Cambodiana **
- Christabel & Paul Mackie, 7.30 pm, BR Gourmet
- Jazz Sauce, 8 pm, Back Street Bar
- Jon Rowed, 8 pm, Can Can **
- Kevin Sysyn, 8 pm, Little Susie **
- Metro Band, 8 pm, Metropole Underground **
- Open mic, 8 pm, The Mended Drum (Siem Reap) **
- The Lost Girls, 9 pm, Lost Bar & Grill **
- The Blue Souls, 10 pm, Oscar’s on the Corner
Monday
- House band, 7 pm, Yang Pov Riverside **
- Diego Dimarques, 7 pm, Endora (Siem Reap) **
- Andy Luna & Gerard Evans, 7 pm, Amici Signature (Siem Reap) **
- Seawolf, 7.30 pm, Hard Rock Café Phnom Penh **
- Giuliano Turello, 7.30 pm, Temple Food & Beverage (Siem Reap)**
- Stu Cottom, 9 pm, Lost Bar & Grill **
- Shake79, 10 pm, Oscar’s on the Corner **
Tuesday
- Adam Marsland, 7.30 pm, Craft
- Phnom Penh Ukulele Circle, 7 pm, Bong Bonlai restaurant (YK Art House)**
- House band, 7 pm, Yang Pov Riverside **
- Open mic, 7 pm, Kampot Yacht Club (Kampot)
- Rod Tolentino, 7 pm, Pasta La Vista (Siem Reap) **
- Band@Work, 7 pm, Hard Rock Cafe Angkor (Siem Reap)**
- Seawolf, 7.30 pm, Hard Rock Café Phnom Penh **
- Roberto Salgado, 8 pm, Karma Traders (Kampot)
- Andy Luna, 7.30 pm, Temple Food & Beverage (Siem Reap)**
- Lone Star Saloon open mic, 8 pm, Lone Star Saloon **
- Cheska, 9 pm, Lost Bar & Grill **
- Temple, 10 pm, Oscar’s on the Corner **
Wednesday
*Note that Wednesday events are often not announced until early in the week – check back here for updates*
- Band@Work, 7 pm, Hard Rock Cafe Angkor (Siem Reap)**
- Siem Reap Soundlab featuring Simon Gilbert, 30 pm, The Mended Drum (Siem Reap) **
- Cornerstone, 7.30 pm, Hard Rock Café Phnom Penh **
- Soul Diva Band, 7.30 pm, Hotel Cambodiana **
- Giuliano Turello, 7.30 pm, Temple Food & Beverage (Siem Reap)**
- Miss Sarawan, 8 pm, Back Street Bar
- Stu Cottom, 8 pm, Little Susie **
- John Carlo, 8 pm, Can Can **
- SR epic open mic, 8 pm, Laundry (Siem Reap) **
- Open mic hosted by Kevin Sysyn, 8 pm, Lost Bar & Grill **
- Crash Boom Bang, 10 pm, Oscar’s on the Corner **
Coming soon:
- John Lindsay & Rob Saltsman, 7.30 pm, 18 October, Noisy Chili
- The Fallen Apples, 8 pm, 18 October, Back Street Bar
- Shake 79, 9 pm, 18 October, Hometown Hangout
- Summer Lee Carlson & Mute Speaker (Summer’s birthday!), 6 pm, 19 October, The Deck
- Rags to Rainbows, 30 pm, 19 October, Craft
- Lakhon Luong, 8 pm, 19 October, Back Street Bar
- Jazz Sauce, 8 pm, 19 October, Au Marche
- Smack the Unicorn, 8.30 pm, 19 October, Hometown Hangout
- Fender Benders, 10 pm, 19 October, Oscar’s on the Corner
- Musica Felica choir charity concert Music & Soul, 4.30 pm, Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra – note ticketed event
- Siem Reap Soundlab, 8 pm, 20 October, Back Street Bar
- Bustaka Band, 8 pm, 23 October, Back Street Bar
- Soselo Summer, 8.30 pm, 25 October, Hometown Hangout
- Shake79, 10 pm, 25 October, Oscar’s on the Corner
- Frankie Teardrop Dead, 30 pm, 26 October, Craft
- The Broken Cymbal, 8 pm, 26 October, Back Street Bar
- Visa Runners, 9 pm, 26 October, Hometown Hangout
- Checkered Past, 10 pm, 26 October, Oscar’s on the Corner
- Phnom Penh Choral Ensemble sings Broadway, 27 October, Hyatt Regeny Ballroom
- The Fallen Apples, 8 pm, 27 October, Back Street Bar
- Phnom Penh International Music Festival 2024 highlighting Eastern European musical heritage, 1-3 November, Raffles Le Royal – note ticketed events
- Dave Fest, 14 – 18 November, Koh Rong Sanloem
- Plan B (Australia), 8 pm, 21 November, LOLA Music Lounge
- Plan B (Australia), 22 November, Hometown Hangout
- Plan B (Australia), 23 November, Duplex
- Plan B (Australia), 24 November, The Waterside
- Plan B (Australia), 28 November, Kep Natural
- Plan B (Australia), 29 & 30 November, Queenco Hotel & Casino (Sihanoukville).
- 60 Road Fest, 30 November, 60 Road Studios (Siem Reap)
- PepperFest, 27 – 28 December, Kampot Camping (Kampot)
- Nesat Market Festival, 31 December, Nesat Market (Koh Kong)
- The Extraordinary Chambers, 10 pm, 31 December, Oscar’s on the Corner