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LIWith VseveralE upand and coming K localICK groupsING and visiting musicians from the region, Phnom Penh’s live music scene is slowly taking off. Liz Ledden finds that all involved have high hopes for the future, particularly with the arrival of Ronan Keating this month and more to follow. storyboard

Rice Growers: Memphis: Have played the FCC Devoted live music bar

‘’Ronan Keating to perform suitable place to hold a large is “sometimes boring,” he is Zeppelin in Phnom Penh!” The announce- concert. However, this well- optimistic about an upcoming Dedicated to rock music, Tai- ment that such a world famous timed coup in putting Phnom music festival taking place in wanese owner Jun spins his own artist is to include Phnom Penh Penh on the music map works Phnom Penh on 21 June – ‘Fête prized collection of rock music in his tour schedule might out well with Ronan’s schedule. de la Musique’. A free festival, on vinyl nightly at Zeppelin sound almost incredulous to While Ronan is undoubtedly where anyone is invited to come Café. Lamenting the absence of some, yet possibly it is a sign well known to most expats, along with their instruments to regular live music at his bar, he of exciting things to come for he’s also popular with locals “make some noise!” as Bona and says past gigs at Zeppelin have Cambodia’s capital. - ‘If tomorrow never comes’ is his band so clearly love to do. included Betty Ford and the GT often performed here in Khmer, Falcons, who are currently on Ronan Keating according to Glen. The Khmer Miles hiatus in Australia looking for a With over 21 million albums singer Lida, winner of CTN’s Dutch owner Arijan Jansonius new member, and Scary Uncle, sold worldwide and interna- reality television show, ‘The Cof- only established rooftop jazz a British and Irish duo who are tional chart topping hits such as fee Shop’, will open the Ronan bar, Miles a bit over a year ago. ‘’similar to the White Stripes’’, ‘If tomorrow never comes’ and Keating concert, providing an The live music performances according to Jun. ‘When you say nothing at all’, added attraction for Khmers. held there on Friday and Sunday He’s also hosted one-off plus many hits from his time nights consist of 10 to 12 musi- performances by US band Red with the band Boyzone, Ronan Memphis, Phnom Penh cians playing in different combi- Bull, who play very heavy rock, Keating is a bona fide superstar. While appearances by the likes nations. The regular performers The Squabs, formed by one of Glen Felgate, General Manag- of Ronan Keating and last year mostly consist of expats from a er of CTN (Cambodia Television by Michael Learns to Rock are diverse range of countries, play- Network), has worked closely fleeting, the main task of keeping ing a mixture of improvised jazz, with Midas Promotions to make the capital’s visiting music scene reggae and world music. the 30-year-old Dubliner’s going lies with a few devotees. Arijan’s own band, Sans inclusion of Phnom Penh on his Bona Thiem, owner of Mem- Frontiéres (without borders), Asian tour a reality. Ronan will phis Pub and guitarist in its plays at Miles and also at some perform at the Olympic Stadium house band, has kept this home private and corporate functions. in Phnom Penh at 7.30pm on of live music going for three According to Arijan their music May 9. Glen expects around years and hosts various types of is all about “the freedom to 7,000 people to attend. musicians, from country to blues improvise”. “Ronan expressed a keen to Filipino bands, with live mu- He, too, is preparing a music interest in coming to Cambodia,” sic every night (except Sundays). festival, around the same time said Midas Promotions’ Nigel He encourages jam sessions as Phnom Penh’s water festival, Peters. “Ronan puts on a great and wants more acts to come to inject some life into Phnom show and we expect the Cambo- forward. “We need more rock Penh’s music scene. Based on dian concert to be spectacular.” and roll and more blues here,” a similar festival format in Glen hopes to get more inter- he says. “We also need more Kathmandu, this festival will be national acts to add Phnom Penh venues and clubs where musi- predominantly jazz-based, and to their tour circuit. He cites the cians can play and to encourage the Dutchman hopes for interna- main obstacles as being venue more bands to come here.” tional acts to attend. Arijan also availability, with the Olympic Although Bona admits that wants the event to become an Stadium’s indoor arena the only the music scene in Phnom Penh annual occurrence.

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the guys from Betty Ford and Angkor Music Festival the GT Falcons, and “a young Paul Ubana Jones: The FCC is currently organizing Khmer guy who sounds like At the FCC ‘The Angkor Music Festival’, the Sum 41,” says Jun. Unsure of the first major international music future of live music at his café festival to take place in Siem and bar, along with many other Reap, says Michelle. venue owners in Phnom Penh, Held from Nov. 9 to 11 in he wishes there were more musi- the area outside the FCC, Siem cians around. Reap, she anticipates some of the acts will also make the trek

The French Connection to Phnom Penh to perform here storyboard Equinox on Street 278 is a too. Three acts from France regular haunt for the French live are booked to come over for bands in town. “Grabuge is the the event, along with a Khmer best band,” says the bar’s owner band and other performers from Bebe. “They are very original, around the region. and speak about society, life in “People definitely want live Cambodia and issues affecting music,” says Michelle. “We same model with both Khmer both Michelle and Derek realise people here”. hope more bands continue to and visiting musicians expected that most expats would be hesi- With raspy French vocals pro- come here. If concerts were to take part, according to the tant to pay for live music, they vided by front man Alban, and more regular it would be a French drummer. feel that a small cover charge vigorous accordion playing, the nice thing.” For him, playing music in for bands will ultimately benefit band is very lively and energetic. Phnom Penh very much depends the public by making it possible Grabuge have a second album on the audience. for more regular concerts to be imminent and it will be on sale “Playing to expats here feels held and international acts to be at Equinox, according to Bebe. similar to playing anywhere brought over. Information One of the long-stays of the else,” he says. “Playing in front Although he feels that “ev- French music scene in Cambo- Upcoming concerts of Khmers is very different – it’s eryone here likes and wants live dia, Michel Ghigo has launched like they don’t engage as much music,” the high costs involved and festivals a new band – Makak Mafia with the music, we don’t feel in bringing acts to Phnom Penh Ronan Keating (monkey mafia). A mix of rock any reaction from them.” Michel means that venues often don’t May 9 at 7.30pm and reggae sung in Michel’s believes this may be due to recoup costs. (doors open at 6pm) native French, the band is the his band’s controversial lyrics, For him the best Phnom Penh Indoor arena, Olympic Stadium latest incarnation of his previ- which like Grabuge, touch on gig ever was when Dengue Fe- Tickets are on sale for US$15, ous groups, Véalsre (rice field) social issues. ver played Talkin to a Stranger US$25 and US$65. Phone hot- and Teuk Maté (chilli sauce). line on 012 999 099 for tickets. Most Khmer artists sing about to a crowd of three hundred plus Currently writing some original love and heartbreak, while excited fans, spilling outside tracks, the band is working Fête de la Musique steering away from “real issues onto the street. The LA based 21 June 2007 towards bringing out a CD affecting Cambodia such as band has a new DVD out and Free, at various venues. and hope to perform at the Fête poverty, corruption, AIDS and plans a return tour, however this de la Musique. The Angkor Music Festival prostitution,” says Michel. He has yet to be confirmed. The event is based on a 9-11 November 2007 believes that Khmers tend to turn famous festival in Europe, which FCC, Siem Reap to music as a way of escaping ev- marks the start of summer, The Bands eryday reality, thus the absence The bands admire the bar where it consists of musicians of political and social themes. owners who are willing to take playing in bars and on the Live music venues a gamble in bringing them to streets, says Michel. The Phnom Memphis Pub Phnom Penh. Penh version will follow the Other live music venues 3 Street 118 There are also a number of ven- “My hat goes off to the Live music from 9.30pm until ues that have live performances club owners who have the 1am, Monday-Saturday. whenever they can. guts to take a risk on bringing Closed Sundays The FCC has recently brought in bands,” says Curtis King. Miles the Rice Growers over from Sai- “Sometimes they make a few 17C Street 370 gon and past performances have dollars, sometimes they lose Live music from 10pm every included overseas Khmer act many dollars.” Friday and Sunday. Dengue Fever and New Zealand He cites Sharky Bar and Talkin Closed Mondays performer Paul Ubana Jones. to a Stranger as great venues to Group Operations Manager play in, with the former great Equinox Michelle Duncan believes that for its party atmosphere, and the 3A Street 278 encouraging more bands from latter a perfect place for a more Talkin to a Stranger Vietnam to come over is the way chilled out gig. 21B Street 294 forward for live music in Phnom Mark Bowyer of the Rice Penh, adding that the main Growers also enjoys playing in FCC 363 Sisowath Quay obstacle is the cost involved. Phnom Penh and is optimistic This sentiment is echoed by about the future of live music Zeppelin Café Derek from Talkin to a Stranger, in the city. “You get a sense that 49 Street 86 who also plays host to visiting Phnom Penh doesn’t see a lot acts from Vietnam such as Cur- in the way of live rock music,” Other live music venues The Curtis King Band: tis King and the Rice Growers. he says. “My last few visits to around Phnom Penh include Have played Sharkys and Talkin to a Stranger He feels the cost should be offset Cambodia gave me a sense that Maxine’s, Sharky Bar, Tony’s by a cover charge. Although the whole vibe is really lifting.” Bar and Riverside Bistro.

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