Myanmar rock activists The Rebel Riot are about to prove Bangkok that punk, charity and Buddhism go in harmony.
The Yangon trio will headline Unite We Punk concertย at Mezzanine Bar on Friday March 3, 6.30pm. They will be joined by fellow Myanmar rockers System Error andย local acts The Die Hards, License to Kill, Cold Black Vines, The Greed and more. Admissionย is THB200.
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On Saturday March 4, 7pm, the bandย will playย a multi-act charity concertย show Drop Food Not Bombs at the Overstay. The lineupย featuresย a mix of punk rock and funk bands. Admissionย is THB100 and will be donated to “for “street kidz in Yangon”.
The visit coincides with the upcoming Bangkok Underground Film Festival 2017 which runs from February 25-March 5. They will attend aย screening of their documentary filmย My Buddha Is Punkย at Gallery VER+ on March 5, 8.30pm and hold a discussion panel alongside Germanย directorย Andreas Hartmann as well as perform afterwards. Find out more about the film here.
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Formed in 2007 by lead singerย Kyaw Kyaw, The Rebel Riot have been using their music to fight against poverty, racism, censorship and authoritarianism in a country where the average musician struggles justย to get their hands on musical equipment.
Kyaw Kyaw and his bandmates, Zarni and Oakar, strive toย to beย a mouthpiece for those without a voice. Their motto is to rebel withย kindness, not just throughย musicย but also direct action.ย They do this by runningย charity programsย Food Not Bombs and Books Not Bombs, whereby they provide food and material to the poor and impoverishedย schools.
This is aย chance for Bangkok to listen toย punk as it is meant to be sung, with a message of unity, compassionย and the communal spirit.
