This March 5, Kep's sleepy atmosphere will make way for a musical collaboration as Eastern and Western performers come together for the 1st Kep Beach Festival.

Kep Beach Festival

The show kicks off with DJ Hoxup playing Khmer rock 'n roll from the 1960s and 1970s, with other artists ranging from the famous Khmer chapei player Ta Kong Nay through to European DJs including French DJ Stephane Arii, one of the organisers of past dance events atop Bokor Mountain.

We had a quick Q&A over email with one of the festival's organisers, Stefaan Lambrecht. Stefaan has been living in Cambodia for the last five years, running the decidedly charming Botanica Guesthouse in Kep. He explained that he and his co-organisers, including the Kep Ministry of Tourism, settled on Kep for the festival because they see great potential in the area and they're "striving to create an annual intercultural event where Khmer meets Western and where music, arts and culture bring people together."

The festival is supported by Kingdom Breweries, Ezecom and Asian Trails and a portion of the proceeds (drinks and food will be on sale) will be donated to Action Pour Les Enfants (APLE), a child-protection organisation in Cambodia.

They've got no idea how many people will show up as this is the first time something like this has been attempted in Kep, but they've got their fingers crossed for 500 people. So, if you've got nothing planned on March 5, head down to Kep, take in the tunes and support a worthy cause while you're at it.

The Kep Beach Festival kicks off at 14:00, running through till midnight and will be happening right on Kep beach.

Have fun!

El Dealbreakers on tour in Cambodia

El Dealbreakers, the self-described “rhythm and greens” band, starts their 2011 Cambodia tour tonight in Kampot at the Bokor Mountain Lodge. They’ll be in Phnom Penh January 21st to 29th at various happening venues around town.

Matt Shumacher of Montana and Frank Ruffolo, a half-time resident of Kampot, have been playing together for more than a decade. Almost four years ago they formed El Dealbreakers with Frank on accordian, Matt on bajo quinto -- that’s a 10-stringed Mexican guitar -- as well as a trombone, sousaphone, trumpet, mandolin and tuba. For their Cambodia gigs Phnom Penh’s Chris Davis is on the fiddle.

El Dealbreaker’s sound is very much rooted in American music -- they liken themselves to a New Orleans street band with a twist of polka-billy. You can have a listen on iTunes. It’s not your usual type of blues -- they don’t have drums, a bass or harmonica but they say that more than any particular musical style they “deliver fun”.

If you want to be on the receiving end of said fun, you can catch El Dealbreakers from January 13-29th at the following venues:

Jan. 13: Bokor Mountain Lodge, Kampot, Cambodia
Jan. 14: Bodhi Villa, Kampot, Cambodia
Jan. 15: Kukuluku, Kep, Cambodia w/ The Mekong Pirates
Jan. 17: Aqua Resort, Sihanoukville, Cambodia 7:00 PM
Jan. 18: Sun Tours Dreamboat Cruise, Sihanoukville, Cambodia
Jan. 19: Mojo, Sihanoukville, Cambodia
Jan. 20: Pagoda Rocks, Sihanoukville, Cambodia
Jan. 21: FCC, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Jan. 22: FCC, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Jan. 23: Maxine's aka Snow's, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Jan. 26: Hosting jam at Setsara, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Jan. 27: 3 Rivers, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Jan. 29: Paddy Rice, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Tags: live music