Category: Night & Day

THU 07 | If you’ve read the cover story this week, you’ll already be well g’d up for this: Tini Tinou International Circus Festival is coming to town, and it’s going to be freaking huge. In a nutshell, it’s 10 days of solid entertainment, including contortion, acrobatics, hand-to-hand, juggling and more, through nightly themed shows, as well as workshops and parades. Showing in Phnom Penh from May 7-9, each night will present a slightly different performance from national circus schools (Phare Cambodian Circus and the National Circus School of Cambodia) as well as international troupes from Vietnam, Taiwan, France and Switzerland. Catch them before they bounce off to Siem Reap and Battambang. Tickets can be booked online from www.pharecombodiancircus.org, at the Phare box office, or at participating outlets. See the website for more details.

WHO: National & international circus troupes
WHAT: Tini Tinou International Circus Festival
WHERE: National Circus School of Phnom Penh, National Assembly Street
WHEN: 6pm, May 7-9
WHY: It only comes around annually and this year’s is the biggest yet

THU 07 | A word of warning: this exhibition and its description is not for the feint-hearted. If you’d prefer to read about something light and uplifting then skip to the comedy or music pieces below. For those who prefer to remain informed at the cost of discomfort, you need to know about this. For the last 18 months, Bangkok-based journalist Karen Emmons and photographer Steve McCurry have been working on a documentary project to record and expose some of the abuses faced by migrant domestic workers. Their photographic exhibition reveals the physical and mental injustices suffered by workers in four Asian countries. Child labour, forced labour, trafficking, rape and starvation to both men and women are exposed in these graphic, raw, and incredibly moving pictures.

WHO: Journalist Karen Emmons & photographer Steve McCurry
WHAT: Photography exhibition opening
WHERE: The FCC, #363 Sisowath Quay
WHEN: 6pm, May 7
WHY: Some things need to be seen to be believed

FRI 08 | Although our favourite Scouser expat, Verbal High organiser Scotty Muldoon, is bidding us farewell, that doesn’t mean that the monthly comedy night he’s lovingly overseen has been left in a state of pandemonium (unless that’s a good thing, in which case, hooray, the craziness ensues!). In fact, while we were all too busy chuckling at on-stage regular Sam Thomas’ stand-up genius, little did we realise that there, before us, stood the protégé of Verbal High nights for the months to come. It’s a more than merited choice, as anyone who has seen Sam’s hilariously self-defacing, clever comedy will surely attest. Join him and your other local jokers this Saturday and pat yourself on the back for supporting both the growing local comedy scene, and the elephants. They’ll be there too (in spirit), thanks to your $1 entry fee which goes entirely toward the Elephants Asia Rescue and Survival Foundation.

WHO: Local comedians
WHAT: Open Mic Comedy
WHERE: Meta House, #37 Sothearos Blvd.
WHEN: 7pm, May 8
WHY: A night of well-crafted, intelligent comedy. And some dick jokes.

SAT 09 | To most locals and expats, Dub Addiction need no introduction. If you happen to be passing through the Penh this weekend though, this is one group you need to know about. Cambodia’s first and favourite reggae band, having just released their latest album Khmer Dub Empire will be putting on a show you’d be all kinds of crazy to miss, showcasing their original tunes from Khmer, African and German MCs. Never thought Khmer vocals and reggae dub riddims would be a winning fusion? You thought wrong.

WHO: Dub Addiction
WHAT: Khmer reggae/dub
WHERE: The FCC, #363 Sisowath Quay
WHEN: 8:30pm, May 9
WHY: Four years’ worth of quality local reggae at your disposal

SAT 09 | Been gagging to let out your inner motorhead? This weekend is your chance to go full throttle at the AP Kart Racing go-kart competition. Presented by The Creem, whose mission is a noble one – to create weekend events aside from drinking and partying ‘til the wee hours – the race is likely to go down in history as the first go-kart comp the city has seen. For that reason, it’s bound to be a biggie, so if you want to get behind the wheel of these brand new 200cc four-stroke machines, you better get in quick – tickets are limited to 30 drivers only. There’s a whole bunch of other stuff that’s tempting to include here about working the forearms and small penises and such forth, but we’ll leave you with the pure essentials: three teams of 10 drivers on a 1km track. Two races minimum for everyone. First heat is eight laps, the second is 10 laps. The three best drivers of each team will drive a 15-lap final race. Tickets for competing are $30 on +855 979 587 338.

WHO: Petrolheads and adrenaline junkies
WHAT: Go-kart competition
WHERE: AP Kart Racing (8km after the International Airport)
WHEN: 2pm, May 9
WHY: Maybe if we had more of these, there’d be less speed freaks on the actual roads

WED 13 | Doors continues to deliver the goods with their third Jazz Series, bringing Shanghai-based, French singer Anne Evenou. A prominent star in Asia, the US and Europe, Evenou has performed, among many others, with pianist Giovanni Mirabassi and NYC actor and producer Carlton J. Smith. On Wednesday night she’ll unleash her strong, soulful vocals, leading a trio featuring Philippe Javelle (keyboard, piano) and Richard Boisson (drums). If you haven’t yet attended the Doors Jazz Series, this is a choice night to make it your first.

WHO: Anne Evenou
WHAT: International jazz trio
WHERE: Doors Tapas & Music, #18 St. 47 & 84
WHEN: 8:30pm, May 13
WHY: You asked for international jazz musicians; you got it

THU 30 | Battambang-born artist Yim Maline presents her new sculpture exhibition, Having a Hole or Empty Space Inside, in which she explores absences and the “façade of development.” Large and small-scale graphite drawings cover the walls, while a series of nine large, charcoal sculptures are dotted around the floor, each variations on a theme. The bleak-looking forms seem dead upon first sight, and yet upon closer examination, a thread of life – leaf or vine – weaves in and around the forms, giving them a certain sense of natural beauty, and the hope of regeneration. Maline’s abstract works are always thought-provoking, touching on various socio-political and personal themes, and leave you musing for days to come.

WHO: Yim Maline
WHAT: Drawing and sculpture exhibition
WHERE: Sa Sa Bassac, #182E, Sothearos Blvd.
WHEN: 6pm, April 30
WHY: Satisfy both your mind and your artistic sensibilities

THU 30 | Remissa Mak is a prize-winning photographic heavyweight, often regarded as a pioneer by others of his generation and in his field. If you’ve seen his work, you’ll understand why. Particularly renowned for his fine art photography, he captures the beauty of nature and his surrounds, while sending a message of appreciation and respect for his captured objects. His latest work, Water is Life, comprises a collection of 18 photographs of Cambodian rivers, lakes and canals, providing a take on these worlds from the perspective of marine life. In this series, Remissa highlights the importance of this ultimate life source for all living creatures – a timely reminder that its abundance is not guaranteed, nor to be taken for granted.

WHO: Remissa Mak
WHAT: Photographic Exhibition
WHERE: The Plantation, #28 St. 184
WHEN: 6pm, April 30
WHY: Consider one of the world’s most pressing issues through a positive, aesthetically beautiful method

FRI 01 | It’s May Day and Show Box is ready and rearing to embrace it, transforming their upstairs gallery/performance space into a high-octane mini-festival of live bands ranging from expats to exports. Panic Jerks are known for playing at packed out Show Box open mics, while the Kampot Playboys have become one of the most in-demand interstate bands in the Kingdom, thanks to their affecting fusion of Western and traditional rock. Ziad Samman (who some will recognise from Tango & Snatch and Two Shots And A Chase) will fly all the way from his new home in Hong Kong to showcase his skill in his former city of residence, while Red Tin Dragon will round out what is likely to be a night of fun, sweat and loud, unapologetic rock.

WHO: Local, interstate and international bands
WHAT: Live rock mini-festival
WHERE: Show Box, #11 St. 330
WHEN: 7:30pm, May 1
WHY: May Day: typically marks a change of season, rebellion, and a load of dancing. Perfect

FRI 01 | Who could imagine it’s been two whole years since Dusk Til Dawn began serving up quality electronic music and all-night parties to restless drinkers and dancers? Believe it or not, they’ll be celebrating their 2nd birthday this Friday in the best way they know: a two-night massive house, reggae, DnB, hip hop and techno-infused dance party with free rum punch and bbq from 6:30pm, plus a 40 Thieves apparel pop-up shop for those double-night stragglers who forget to bring a change of clothes for Sunday morning. The first night will be infused by reggae, soul and funk from the 40 Thieves Sound System, while house DJs will spin underground tunes until the wee hours of the morn. Come celebrate the good times had and plenty more to come with these much loved entertainment purveyors.

WHO: Anyone who appreciates a good old-fashioned two-night party
WHAT: Dusk Til Dawn 2nd Birthday Party
WHERE: Dusk Til Dawn, #46-48 St. 172
WHEN: 9pm, May 1 & 2
WHY: Probably the messiest, most entertaining 2nd birthday party you’ll ever attend