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 concertΒ at Mezzanine Bar on Friday March 3, 6.30pm. They will be joined by fellow Myanmar rockers System Error andΒ local acts The Die Hards, License to Kill, Cold Black Vines, The Greed and more. AdmissionΒ is THB200.
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On Saturday March 4, 7pm, the bandΒ will playΒ a multi-act charity concertΒ show Drop Food Not Bombs at the Overstay. The lineupΒ featuresΒ a mix of punk rock and funk bands. AdmissionΒ 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 aΒ screening of their documentary filmΒ My Buddha Is PunkΒ at Gallery VER+ on March 5, 8.30pm and hold a discussion panel alongside GermanΒ directorΒ Andreas Hartmann as well as perform afterwards. Find out more about the film here.
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Formed in 2007 by lead singerΒ 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 justΒ to get their hands on musical equipment.
Kyaw Kyaw and his bandmates, Zarni and Oakar, strive toΒ to beΒ a mouthpiece for those without a voice. Their motto is to rebel withΒ kindness, not just throughΒ musicΒ but also direct action.Β They do this by runningΒ charity programsΒ Food Not Bombs and Books Not Bombs, whereby they provide food and material to the poor and impoverishedΒ schools.
This is aΒ chance for Bangkok to listen toΒ punk as it is meant to be sung, with a message of unity, compassionΒ and the communal spirit.
