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 concert at Mezzanine Bar on Friday March 3, 6.30pm. They will be joined by fellow Myanmar rockers System Error and local acts The Die Hards, License to Kill, Cold Black Vines, The Greed and more. Admission is THB200.
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On Saturday March 4, 7pm, the band will play a multi-act charity concert show Drop Food Not Bombs at the Overstay. The lineup features a mix of punk rock and funk bands. Admission 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 a screening of their documentary film My Buddha Is Punk at Gallery VER+ on March 5, 8.30pm and hold a discussion panel alongside German director Andreas Hartmann as well as perform afterwards. Find out more about the film here.
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Formed in 2007 by lead singer 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 just to get their hands on musical equipment.
Kyaw Kyaw and his bandmates, Zarni and Oakar, strive to to be a mouthpiece for those without a voice. Their motto is to rebel with kindness, not just through music but also direct action. They do this by running charity programs Food Not Bombs and Books Not Bombs, whereby they provide food and material to the poor and impoverished schools.
This is a chance for Bangkok to listen to punk as it is meant to be sung, with a message of unity, compassion and the communal spirit.