It’s not just the weather that’s heating up this weekend… here are the hottest things to do in Phnom Penh from now until Monday morning.

Friday

What’s On… Stage

Comedy

Coming all the way from Singapore and the US respectively, stand-up comedians Jinx Yeo and Kavan Jay perform tonight with Comedy in Cambodia. (7.30pm @ Box Office, St 29) Billed as bridging the humour gap between East and West, Jinx is sure to make you giggle… check out the clip below:

Live Music

In BKK1, blues comes to Tusk tonight with another gig from The Grass Snake Trio (9pm, Tusk, St 278) and Scott Bywater launches his brand new album From Shore to Shore with a gig at Farm to Table,

The Riverside area sees a slew of gigs, including rockers Zargz at Stage Bar (8pm, Sisowath Quay), pop, folk and rock songs from singer-songwriter Joshua at FCC, Rock Samples at Sharky Bar (9pm, St 130), and house band K’n’E at Oscar’s On the Corner (9pm, St 104 & St 13).

Elsewhere, “shoegaze” indie rockers Simoun play Tacos Kokopelli (7pm, St 19z), Clay George brings his vintage Americana-inspired sound to Botanico (7pm, St 29) and the excellent Amok Soul Project perform at Alchemy (St 123).

What’s On… Show

Photography

If you love photography and would like to use it to help contribute to a global cause, get down to Alchemy tonight for the launch party of a brand new “viral photos” project promoting ethical fashion.

Part of an international campaign by Fashion Revolution, the Cambodia project is organised by photographers Benjamin Von Wong and Pete DeMarco, activist Laura François and filmmaker A. Todd Smith. They’re looking for contributors, art installation volunteers, extras to appear in photo shoots… the works. Interested? Go mingle (8pm @ Alchemy Gastropub, St 123)

Film

If ever there was a film designed to watch in 4D it would be the action blockbuster Geostorm. Set a little way into a future, when powerful satellites used to carefully control the Earth’s climate turn on their masters to unleash the ultimate natural disaster, this movie is not going to win any awards, but it’s one that’s fun to watch for the spectacle. (Showing at Major Cineplex, various times, in 4D and 2D).

Meta House is showing two classic Cambodian documentaries back-to-back tonight, both shot by one of the bravest independent filmmakers to have worked in the country.

In 1986, as war raged in the region, Jim Gerrand paddled alone in a canoe down the Mekong from Laos, through Cambodia, to the Vietnam border before producing The Prince and the Prophecy, his first documentary in the Kingdom. The film explores Prince Norodom Sihanouk’s doomed rule of the country and the traumatic years of war sandwiched between his downfall and the Khmer Rouge seizing control. His next film, also showing tonight, was Cambodia Kampuchea, which features rare interviews with Prince Sihanouk and explores his role in shaping the country today. (7pm, META House, Sothearos Boulevard)

What’s On… The Menu

Oktoberfest has hit Phnom Penh and it’s going to be HUGE. Held on Koh Pich, this massive piss-up costs $10 for entry, including a $3 voucher for food and drink, and you can get 20% off if you pay with PiPay. Put on your lederhosen and get swigging. (from 6pm, Hall G, Koh Pich)

Missing the old vino? DEVA Lounge hosts a special South African Wine Night tonight. It’s 2-4-1 on glasses of wine, and Alex Dale, owner of The Winery of Good Hope, will be on hand from 10.30pm to answer all your vintage-related questions.

Meanwhile, if you’d like a side of board games with your booze, head down to the Puzzle Chamber’s grand opening party, where $7 gets you unlimited food, wine, Stella Artois and hundreds of board games to choose from (7-9pm, The Happy Damrai, St 174).

What’s On… Late

It’s the end of an era at L Bar, Phnom Penh’s only lesbian bar, which closes its doors tonight with a massive party.  A party that ends when the last of the booze is drunk, so don’t leave it too late to get down and join the celebrations… (St 93, old Lakeside area)

It’s Hip Hop takeover at Cloud tonight from 8pm (St 9)… while over at META House, it’s Belgians taking over the beats (9pm, Sothearos Boulevard).

At Sound Club, it’s all about Korean K-Pop, with a late night concert with girl band Six Bomb. They may be better known for sharing images of their cosmetic surgery procedures, but don’t worry, the saccharine singers are still able to lipsync to their truly terrible, but strangely addictive, tracks. (8pm-4am, Jet’s Container Market, Behind Russian Embassy)

Meanwhile in BKK1, DJ Kaztet Dee leads Top Banana’s Friday Sessions (9pm-1am, St 278) and across the road at Duplex, DJ Indigo takes the decks (9pm-1am, St 278)

And lastly, keep the party going all night at MADHouse (10pm-7am, St 172), or next door at Pontoon, where DJ Dynamix is spinning the tunes (9am-4am, St 51)

Saturday

What’s On… Show

Photography

The Photo Phnom Penh Festival is back! This year, five local artists and 10 international artists will exhibit their work, as well as taking part in a series of speeches and events to share their experiences and stories, and to inspire other young people to further their passion for the medium.

The festival kicks off today with a great range of talks and even photography tuk-tuk tours. Check out the full line-up here.

Film

The spectacular Embrace of the Serpent plays again at META House tonight (7pm, Sothearos Boulevard)

Two classic films to stir your childhood nostalgia at Flicks 1 this afternoon: The Princess Bride (12pm, St 95) and the Neverending Story (2pm). (That one makes me well up just thinking about it.)

What’s On… The Menu

Oktoberfest continues today from 6pm on Koh Pick – see Friday’s listings for details.

What’s On… Stage

Comedy

Tonight is the second and final night to catch Jinx Yeo and Kavin Jay at the Box Office (7.30pm, St 29). What makes Kavin Jay funny? Better ask him…

Live Music

The Cambodian Space Project are back in town after their American tour, and playing at Chinese House as part of the pre-KRWF launch party at Chinese House. As well as an awesome gig, this is a great chance to hear about the very exciting lineup at this year’s Kampot Readers and Writers Festival, held between Phnom Penh and Kampot in November. More details about the event here. (8pm, Chinese House, Sisowath Quay)

Elsewhere, ’50s rockabilly outfit, Joe & The Jumping Jacks play Alchemy (8.30pm, St 123), punk princess Vartey Ganiva performs at Stage Bar (8.30pm, Sisowath Quay), blues group Chi-Town play Botanico (7pm, St 29) and the Riverside Raybans are at Oscar’s On the Corner (9.30pm, corner of St 13 & St 104).

What’s On… Late

Over at Tusk, there’s going to be a big old party featuring sets by Belle Chaus and DJ Little Bastard, who is sadly leaving Phnom Penh for pastures new. Expect carnage. (7pm-2am, Tusk, St 278)

Halloween kicks off early with a Horrific Street Party on Sabay Sabay Street tonight (6pm-2am, St 174) or, for upmarket thrills and chills, Raffles’ Halloween Spooktacular (7pm-11pm, off Monivong Boulevard).

Or for late night raving without the dress-up, check out Return of the Bass at MADHouse tonight, featuring top sets from Soul Iration and DUBBAS. (10pm-7am, St 172)

Sunday

What’s On… Show

Film

Catch acclaimed wartime drama The Chess Player at Flicks 1 today (4pm, St 95)

Later, three fascinating documentaries at META House today peek behind the curtain of North Korea’s strange and secretive regime.

First, there’s the Emmy Award-winning Welcome to North Korea! (6.30pm), which follows a group of Czech tourists – the first allowed in the country since 1989 – through a carefully orchestrated tour of the country in 2001.

This is followed by the timely The Propaganda Game, giving a more nuanced than usual perspective on how propaganda shapes attitudes to North Korea and the West inside and outside the country (7.30pm)

And finally, the bizarre, brash (and entirely without nuance) documentary The Red Chapel, in which a Danish-Korean comedy theatre troupe attempt to perform a vaudeville show in North Korea to show the ways in which their show – including the very existence of a disabled cast member – must be modified to reflect humourless official messaging. A ‘no shit Sherlock’ premise, certainly, but an interesting glimpse into how the state propaganda machine works nonetheless.

What’s On … Stage

Live Music

Round off your weekend with a great gig from the Miss Sarawan Trio at Hops Brewery & Craft Beer Garden (7pm, St 228), or kick back with music from Scott Bywater at Tacos Kokopelli’s Sunday Sundowner (8pm, St 19z)

That’s all for this week! Don’t forget to sign up for our weekly newsletter to make sure you never miss a roundup… and see you on the other side.