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

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

Greetings:

In Phnom Penh this weekend from Siem Reap are Mike Bee & Acid Fuzz Trio [see this week’s LengPleng interview] for shows at Oscar’s on the Corner on Friday, Motodop on Saturday and The Vine on Sunday evening.

As usual on a Thursday night in Phnom Penh there’s a  choice of jam sessions with jazz at Tape Deck and rock at Factory Phnom Penh.   Miss Sarawan is at Rust, Graham Cain is at Mad Monkey and later on and later on Rom Romvong are at Sabada The Extraordinary Chambers are at Oscar’s on the Corner.   In Siem Reap, Pepe & Melissa at The Pizza Garden.

On Friday in Phnom Penh, Mirasol & Gaby are at Hunt, Jazz Sauce are at Khmer Funk Sky Bar, Graham Cain is at Botanico and Phil Javelle at Riva.  We see the return of Khmer singer Dane at The Vine, Ex-Pulse at The Tin Hat [cancelled] and Lisa Concepcion at End of the Road.  In Siem Reap, Kodi Hudson Trio are at The Panthers Hut and Kiko is at The Pizza Garden.

On Saturday in Phnom Penh, Matsumura Fishworks are at Tape Deck, Randy Cataluna is at Botanico, Clair-Obscur (Raph & Metta) are at Au Marche and Graham Cain is at Tropico.  Later Punch Drunk are at Oscar’s on the Corner and Ace hosts the after gig open mic at Stories by Little Susie.  In Siem Reap, Pablo Chema Andrey are at Lost City Pizza Society and Christabel is at The Pizza Garden.

Come Sunday, Scott Bywater hosts the 13th (!) anniversary celebration of the Sunday Sundowners open mic at Tacos Kokopelli, while Graham Cain is Motodop and then later at Cloud, Joe Wrigley is at Bar Oz and Greg Beshers is at Hunt.  Later on, Shaken Spirit are at Oscar’s on the Corner.

Looking forward to Wednesday, Motodop kick off a new Wine Wednesday series with The Playful Minds, Brett Perkins announces his return with a show at Cloud, and Crash Boom Bang are back after the break at Oscar’s on the Corner.

Department of Recruitment

Cameron Smith has called to our attention that plans are afoot to build a community concert band in Phnom Penh: Bassac Wind Band.  “If you play, have ever played or would like to play, this could be for you. The concept is a band for players of all ages and abilities. Join the group and we can help you to refresh your old skills or achieve the goal of playing with an ensemble.”  An introductory session will be held at Tape Deck on September 5.  More information here. 

The LengPleng Interview

Three’s a band – Phnom Penh welcomes Acid Fuzz Trio

Coming to Phnom Penh this weekend is Acid Fuzz Trio, out of Siem Reap.  LengPleng had a chat with bandleader and guitarist Mike Bee to find out what we should be preparing for.

Is this a new band or a reboot of an old one with Siem Reapers in it? 

This is a completely new project that I’ve been wanting get up for a while.  I’m quite a patient person, so I waited for the pieces to fall into place.  I’d been playing a bit with both Carlos Alonso (drums) and Stephane Hebert (bass), and we all ended up in Joshua Chiang’s band, The Dropping Shoes.  So we’re the Acid Fuzz Trio but you could also call us The Dropped Shoes! I’m always looking for the right personalities to play with.

Read the whole article here

Passing Chords – a few things you may not know about

Cambodia Sound Base, a Japanese two-voices-and-guitar duo with Ms. Ryoko and Mr. Hirohide.  They frequently perform in Phnom Penh.

Do you have a pet musical hate/pet peeve?

Ryoko: Nothing.
Hirohide: Sometimes, when I’m making music I get frustrated with myself if I can’t actually express the sounds or vocal styles I have in mind. I realise I need to study and improve further.

A private musical indulgence:

Ryoko: Listening to various genres of music.
Hirohide: It varies depending on the moment or the timing, but I really enjoy watching and listening to live performances by various artists.  I love those moments when a new song idea sparks within me as a result.

The year you first came to Cambodia:

Ryoko: December 2012.
Hirohide: March 2023.

An early music memory:

Ryoko: Playing DJ with my sister using records my parents owned.
Hirohide: The three of us siblings used to sing together TV songs that were popular at the time.  I think we even danced along to them?  That’s right!  Back when I was young, I bought and listened to CDs by the Japanese artist duo Chage & Aska.

The last thing you had to eat:

Ryoko: Banana.
Hirohide: This is the BBQ set from Yakiniku Uraetei Lite in Tuol Tom Poung. It’s affordable and delicious.

Stagefright – yes or no?

Ryoko: No.
Hirohide: Of course, I get nervous. Since getting nervous makes me feel sick, I always steady my breathing to calm myself down.

A country you want to visit:

Ryoko: Argentina.
Hirohide: America, New York.

A book or movie you keep going back to:

Ryoko: As a Man Thinketh, a book by James Allen
Hirohide: I watch Japanese anime like Dragon Ball and movies based on American comics, such as Marvel’s Avengers. I love Iron Man and look up to Tony Stark.

What languages ​​do you have?

Ryoko: Japanese.  I speak a little English and Khmer.
Hirohide: Just Japanese for now… I’m also studying Khmer through songs, but it’s difficult. Recently, I’ve started studying English using an app as well.

Your primary instrument, and when you started playing it:

Ryoko: I played the flute from age 11 to 17.
Hirohide: It’s an acoustic guitar. I started playing when I was twenty, after borrowing one from my older brother—since he had been a guitarist from a young age.

Something people might be surprised to know about you:

Ryoko: I dance Japanese Yosakoi.
Hirohide: I played table tennis when I was young.  There was even a time when I aspired to become a professional.  Although I don’t play anymore, I still love watching the sport.

A question from the last participant: How do you deal with a problem with your voice, like a sore throat? Do you have a special remedy?

Ryoko: Drinking green tea.
Hirohide: I have gone for acupuncture treatment before. Usually, I feel better if I have a Ricola lozenge or drink honey tea. I’ve also tried drinking warm cola in the past.

Department of Mutual Support:  Friends of LengPleng

We welcome this week a new Friend of LengPleng/Kumnooh: Comedy in Cambodia – promoting and nurturing stand-up comedy in the kingdom for 15 years.

 

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

Daria Morozova getting bendy with Jam Church at Motodop on Saturday  15 August, 2026

 

If you wish to receive a notification for the new edition of 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 20 August 2026

** residency/weekly

Thursday

 

Friday

 

Saturday                                                            

 

Sunday

 

Monday


Tuesday

 

Wednesday


Coming soon:   

Thursday 27 August

Friday 28 August


Saturday 29 August


Sunday 30 August


Monday 31 August

  • Van Morrison special – Songwriters Circle with Scott Bywater, 8 pm, Little Susie


Friday 4 September


Saturday 5 September

 

Friday 11 September


Friday 18 September

 

Saturday 26 September

  • Tamarinda (Scoddy, Marianna, Sharon, Keiko), 6 pm, Tape Deck

 

Friday 2 October 

 

Saturday 3 October 

  • 1979/1996 acoustic tribute featuring a cast of thousands, 6 pm, Tape Deck


Thursday 8 October


Friday 9 October

By Weekly Wrap