We have something for everyone this weekend. From classical music concerts to all night raves, International Women’s Day Celebrations through to the best of live music in Phnom Penh.

Friday 

What’s On Screen

Les femmes à la conquête de leurs libertés, 7-8:30pm, Institut français du Cambodge,  Keo Chea រាជធានី

In celebration of this week’s International Women’s Day the French Institute presents a cinema series by and for women. Tonight screens the 1991 absolute classic, Thelma and Louise.

What’s On Stage 

Three Country Drunks, 6:30pm, CRAFT- beer-friends-BBQ, St. 244

One of Phnom Penh’s biggest bands brings some of your favourite country tracks to the start of the weekend from the likes of Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, and Willie Nelson. It’s the perfect chance to bring your good cowboy hat, smash some hard liquor and smoke some Marlboro reds. 

Friday Live Music in The Garden, 7-9:30pm, Botanico Wine and Beer Garden, St. 29

The Green Leaf Motif featuring Gareth Bawden & Pervez kick off the weekend with some blues and contemporary rock on stage from 7pm.

White Rabbit. Red Rabbit. 7pm, Speakeasy Theatre, St. 244

A stage production with no rehearsals, no director, a script waiting in a sealed envelope and a different actor every night.Nassim Soleimanpour’s theatre experiment has been performed around the world and will be in English in Phnom Penh all weekend before its world premiere in Khmer on Tuesday. Doors open at 6pm for an unforgettable performance.

What Else

Charity Fundraiser for the Earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, 5:30pm, Fit & Beaute, St. 302

This is your chance to support something incredibly important this weekend. An estimated 30,000 people have been killed across Turkey and Syria following the horrific 6th of February earthquake and many more have lost their homes – this event aims to raise much-needed funds to support the survivors. Flowers Nanobrewery will be creating a mango smoothie IPA and a double dry hopped IPA for the occasion. Expect incredible Turkish food, kebabs, doner and homemade sausages. There will be an acoustic jazz band the event is being co-sponsored by: SEKAI Property, Digby’s Bar and Grill, Bosporus, Agro Ludens, YATA Flower Bar Cambodia, King Kebab and Doner. It will be a great night and hopefully a lot of cash raised for some of the world’s most vulnerable human beings right now. 

Saturday 

What’s On Stage 

Aerial Dance Performance, 7pm, Sra’ Art, Sothearos

Get down to Sra’Art from 7pm for some of the most incredible displays of what the human body can do. 

MEGAGIG, 7:30pm, Unforgettable Music Restaurant, St 322

This is an absolute *must* for fans of live music in Phnom Penh. Kicking off from 7:30pm some of the most exciting original bands in Cambodia will take the stage by storm. We have the legendary Goldilocks Zone where they will bid goodbye to Arone Silverman on the keys and a big hello to Lewis McTie taking up his brand new role on guitar and vocals. There will also be, but not limited to, Alli G and The Quillas, Faceslap and Radioactive Death Monkey.

The Sock Essentials, 8pm. Sundance Inn and Saloon, St. 172

The Sock Essentials kick off an evening off live music from 8pm. The Phnom Penh duo of Aariane Parkes and Scott Bywater (Scoddy) will bring you some quirky covers with a blend of acoustic ‘chamber pop’ with creepy and ‘sparky vibes.’

What’s On Late

Warehouse Rave: Exos, 8pm, Seekers Spirits House, Just off National Road 2

Seekers Spirits are hosting the sesh of the weekend along with Secret Guests and Jason Kong. The all night warehouse rave kicks off from 8pm. Exos, the Icelandic techno legend, will be making his debut in the Penh. Sets will come from Secret Guests, Phnom Penh Underground, Le Manolis, Minimal Mood Maker, Le Fin from Just Fish Wax Label, Keimo, Kaza, Ali and Nasty. This will be *the* big one tonight. 

Holi Fest with DJ Moudy, 9:30pm, Backstreet Bar, St. 308

Backstreet celebrates the ancient Hindu festival of Holi (yes the one with lots and lots of colour) with DJ Moudy who is also celebrating his own birthday. So whether its cultural appreciation or DJ adoration get down to Backstreet from 9:30pm. 

What Else

Community Flea Market, 11am-3pm, YK Art House, St 830

Get over to YK Art house of buying vintage clothes and the weird and rare items you only find at a good old-fashioned flea market. If you want to host your own stall then you can reserve for $1 (and a donation at the end) through  ABA 002377201 IRINA CHAKRABORTY and send a screenshot to telegram https://t.me/GreenMarket2023.

Futures is SHE, 2pm-10pm, Friends Future Factory, 11.566648, 104.928961

This event looks to celebrate the many inspiring women of Cambodia through storytelling, music, arts, dance and showcasing strong business minded ladies in the Kingdom. There will be art from Dalhia Phirum and Chhan Dina, incredible live music from Cambodian Punk Legend Vartey Ganiva (covered by us here), more live performances from Mayari from the Philippines, classical dance by Ballet Cambodia, a True Beauty fashion show, Bollywood dance performances by Princella from Pakistan and guest mentors sharing their life experiences. There will also food stalls for all tastes and requirements, cocktails and wine bar and a Spritz stand with Aperol and other delicious variants.

Sunday 

What’s On Stage 

Sunday Session, 12pm, The Vine, St. 244

Ease out of the weekend with some great live music from Clay George. The Vine will host a great day of live music from 12pm. 

March Classica Series: French Art Song in Romanticism, 7pm, Raffles Le Hotel Royal, 92 Rukhak Vithel

YiLing Chaing and Issel Sakano will bring some classical French art song (mélodie) to Raffles this Sunday evening. Price for entry is $10 and $3 for students and kids.

What Else

Free Sunday BBQ, 5-9pm, Pride Resort, St 19

Pride resort is hosting a free BBQ with all adults welcome to celebrate the LGBTQ community this Sunday from 5pm.

That’s all for now, Penh pals!

Cover photo by Jakob Owens on Unsplash