Some 50 of the capital’s finest musicians are assembling for Vibe, a ten-day music festival starting this week that will feature upwards of 17 bands. It’s carved up into three ‘vibes’: Dancing & Bouncing (August 16, 17, 18 & 23), Cooling & Chilling (18, 19, 20, 21, 22 & 25) and Quiet Listening (24), the only night for which there’s a cover charge ($3, available in advance at Doors on Street 84 & 47 and The Piano Shop on Street 13 & 178). Here’s what not to miss this week:
9pm August 16: Dub Addiction & VJ/DJ Roberto
Dub Addiction summon an epic fusion of reggae and dub with Khmer saravan. Accompanying the wobble bass and distorted e-guitar solos will be a 3D visual feast by VJ/DJ Roberto. Psychedelics not required.
9pm August 17: Vibratone & DJ Bluesabelle
Vibratone is a new all-original reggae band in town; Lady Bluesabelle has played fine jazz for the launch of Ministry of Sound Radio’s chill-out sessions in London and was the first female DJ in Goa. Expect Caribbean, funk, electro swing and Afro beat.
7:30pm August 18: Kin & Swing Kings
Gabi Faja (piano), Sebastien Adnot (double bass) and Toma Willen (drums), known in their own right as the GTS Jazz Trio, recently joined forces with Euan Gray, front man of Australia’s The Rooftops and now a permanent Phnom Penh resident. New forays include pop, rhythm and soul, all bundled into a jazz aficionado-friendly package.
7:30pm August 19: Cambostomp
For centuries, the skor (‘drum’) has been at the very core of Cambodia’s musical traditions, used to emulate the sound of thunder; an important way of connecting to the natural world. Expect rousing tribal beats from Sovanna Phum’s Pin Peat Orchestra, from the percussive rumana to the giant barrel-shaped skor thom.
8pm August 20: Wash
Fronted by Scott ‘kind of a music guy; writes a bit’ Bywater, Wash brings together some of the city’s most inventive souls: DJ/VJ Warren Daly; electronic musician Alex Leonard and ‘English production guy’ Hal FX. Here, exotic soundscapes meet stunning visuals and dreamy spoken word in a collaborative effort that stimulates several senses at once.
8:30pm August 21: Joe Wrigley and the Jumping Jacks
British country singer/songwriter Joe Wrigley meets the Cambodian Space Project’s Scott Bywater (vocals) and Adrien (bass) in this new rockabilly trio. “We’re going for the Sun Records/Gene Vincent kind of sound,” says Joe. “We’re all into our ’50s stuff, so it will be authentic in terms of the rockabilly spirit… I just wish I still had my quiff!”
WHO: Gabi Faja and Friends, Lots of Friends…
WHAT: Vibe Music Festival
WHERE: Doors, #18 Street 84 & 47; 023 986114
WHEN: August 16 – 25
WHY: 10 days, 17 bands, 50 musicians: why the Hell wouldn’t you?!