Live Music entertainment in Asia
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A
Acoustic Bar
The leading live-music venue in town, Acoustic pays homage to Jimi Hendrix, John Lennon and other rock ’n’ roll legends. Vietnam’s leading musicians flock here for cameo cover versions and, judging by the numbers that turn up nightly, the crowd just can’t get enough.
reviewed
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B
Equinox Bar
Acoustic jam sessions are held every Thursday and Saturday night in this animated bar. Happy hour 17:00 to 20:00.
reviewed
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C
Saxophone Pub & Restaurant
This nightlife staple is the big stage of Bangkok's live-music scene. It's a bit too loud for a first date, but the quality and variety of the music makes it a great destination for music-loving buddies on a night out.
reviewed
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D
Cuba
This Mexican/Russian restaurant is Almaty's Latin music hotspot with live bands whipping up a great atmosphere from 22:00 to 01:00 Thursday and midnight to 03:00 Friday and Saturday. For Friday and Saturday you need to book a table by about 18:00.
reviewed
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E
Bed
Get those bed puns ready: the space that launched a thousand quips is arguably the fulcrum of Kota Kinabalu nightlife, and it’s a rare night out that won’t see you ending up in Bed at some point. Bands play from 9pm, followed by DJs til closing.
reviewed
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F
Club FF
A top live venue with up to eight bands playing at the weekend until midnight. Afterwards it becomes a dance club with DJs. Local bands such as Galaxy Express and Pink Elephant play here. The youthful groups let rip with attitude and style.
reviewed
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Geographér Café
This ventilated, breezy bar with outside seating and late hours, in a prewar corner shophouse, is a godsend. A tasty choice of local and Western dishes (meals around RM8) and laid-back, but professional, service round it all off.
reviewed
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H
Mike & Dave's Speakeasy
A popular live band rocks this informal and friendly bar hidden down an alley on Fridays at 22:00. Set up by two enterprising Canadians, the beers include ABC stout.
reviewed
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I
Marronnier Park
This free performance area in Daehangno usually has something happening on warm weekend afternoons. Student artists draw portraits in one corner while rappers rap, B-boys break-dance and high-school rock bands crank it up on the outdoor stage. A samullori troupe bangs their drums and gongs while dancing around under the chestnut trees. ‘Mr Guitar’, a musician and comedian, regularly performs in front of a large and appreciative audience. Couples play badminton, people in wheelchairs play basketball, and yo-yo geeks spin their toys.
reviewed
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J
JJ Mahoney’s
Inside Itaewon’s Grand Hyatt Seoul, this classy nightclub has a live band playing every night except Sunday. DJs spin their decks, and special events also liven things up. A beer costs an eye-watering W19,000. If you get bored you can look at the black-and-white photographs on the wall, but that’s assuming you get in – there’s a dress code. Take a taxi from the subway.
reviewed
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K
MAO Livehouse
This fantastically popular venue for live sounds is one of the busiest in town.
reviewed
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Chakura
In the heart of Kokusai-dōri, Chakura is a celebrated 'live house' run by local music maverick Kina Shōkichi. Kina-san and his band, Champloose, perform here nightly (when not touring). Although there is a small English sign, Chakura is fairly non-descript, though it's famous enough that most locals can point it out to you if you're having problems finding it.
reviewed
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Salt n Pepper Village
Karachi has become quite well known for its high-end restaurants and this is a good choice for evening entertainment, as it always has live Pakistani music. Superbly situated by the sea, it's popular, so it can sometimes be hard to get a table, especially on weekends. The food receives glowing reports, the interior is smart and the ocean views are sublime.
reviewed
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L
Sudsanan
Down a driveway opposite a Shell Service Station, this warmly lit wooden house is filled with a lot of local soul. Long-haired Thais and expats, especially from local NGOs, come here to applaud the adept performances that jog from samba to pleng pêu·a chee·wít (songs for life). Oozing with character it's one of the best spots in the city to take in some local Thai bands. Be prepared for some bowed heads and sniffles during particularly tear-jerking songs.
reviewed
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M
Eggman
Follow the spiral staircase to the basement to hear blues, rock or light jazz musicians get down low. Most acts are local and of the lighter, sweeter variety. Show up to see whether tickets aren’t completely sold out on a given night, and be sure to take a quick listen at the door to sample before committing. Most shows commence at around 7pm.
reviewed
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Ratsky
A smooth bar where hip young things head at night for a drink and some live music. Pasta, sushi, burgers and oysters are on the menu. Enter by the door 50m (164ft) south of the corner of Mindanao Ave and Bohol St. If Ratsky doesn't do it for you, there are other bars in Ayala. Dress code applies and the admission price entitles you to one free beer.
reviewed
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N
Ark Live House
Incongruously located in the yuppie heart of Shanghai, this venue for Chinese bands, generally with an alternative edge, is the best place in town for live music. Weird Japanese acts and the occasional Western band end up here, too. Gigs get going on Friday and Saturday from 21:30, but there are also occasional weekend afternoon concerts.
reviewed
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O
Wanch
This place, which derives its name from what everyone calls the district, has live music (mostly rock and folk with the occasional solo guitarist thrown in) seven nights a week from 9pm. Jam night is Monday from 8pm. If you’re not here for the music, it can be a dubious scene – the Wanch can be a bit of a pick-up joint.
reviewed
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P
Coco Blues
At the north end of Chaweng, Coco Blues reinterprets New Orleans-style hedonism for Samui. The multi-storey bar and restaurant is best known for its live music (every night, except Tuesday, at 9pm) ranging from jazz to blues to cover tunes. For visual entertainment, check out the street-side bar overlooking Chaweng’s manic traffic.
reviewed
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Q
Parking Toys
Essentially a rambling shed stuffed with vintage furniture, Parking Toys hosts an eclectic revolving cast of fun bands ranging in genre from acoustic/classical ensembles to electro-funk jam acts. To get here, take a taxi heading north from BTS Mo Chit and tell the driver to take you to Th Kaset-Navamin. Upon passing the second stop light on this road, look for the small Heineken sign on your left.
reviewed
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R
Ole Stompers Rock Spot
This muso-owned Itaewon pub has live music, often a rocking blues expat band, most Fridays and Saturdays around 10pm. Look out for the Battle of the Bands shows, which have big prize money and attract top local talent, both Korean and expat. The signature drink is ‘tek and mek’ – draft beer with a shot of tequila (W5000).
reviewed
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S
Post Laserdisc
With an excellent sound system and well-placed monitors, this is a great joint to watch the latest blockbuster after dark; music videos are shown as fillers between films. Rockers replace movies on some nights, and the bands tend to be relatively good. Quash the booze with cheap pub grub from the East and West.
reviewed
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T
Handlebar
The motif is Harley at this expat fave, which boasts a big screen for sports viewing and pitchers of beer you can use to wash down a steak – or pour on your neighbour. Tables under the big tree in front are leafy delights. Decent cover bands, usually including one or two token expats, perform on the weekends.
reviewed
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U
Candlelight Bar
Tucked into a small corner of Karon Plaza is this dive courtyard bar furnished with timber tables, and decorated with beads, shells and coral. It’s the perfect venue for a reggae band, which it hosts every Sunday night. It also fires up the fish grill. Shirts and shoes optional. Live music starts at 9.30pm.
reviewed
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V
At Peach Hotel
Ladies and gentlemen meet your host, Thai Elvis. He’s a young Elvis – round about when he first discovered the power of his legendary pelvis. But his deep, velvet croon betrays his age and hidden heartache. Unfortunately, he doesn’t stick to the Elvis songbook, but when he does the place goes wild.
reviewed
