Humidity clings like vintage silk and the streets hum with scooters and ghosts of colonial architecture. Something is stirring. Not the usual cafe openings or rooftop soirees that require sunglasses past sunset, but something deeper. Smoother. Slightly tipsy, probably.
The International Jazz Celebration is less a music festival and more an elegant rebellion against linear time. Hosted by Siwilai Sound Club, from April 24 to 26, this three-day sonic pilgrimage unspools down the storied lanes of Charoenkrung. The sound of jazz will echo through the rhythm of the old town.
This isn’t just a playlist come to life. It’s a living, breathing mixtape set in motion by the legacy of Chez Eve, one of Bangkok’s earliest jazz dens. Back in the 1950s, it stood as a smoky beacon of rhythm and rebellion. Now, decades later, the vibe’s been uncorked again – and frankly, it’s intoxicating.
Day 1: Mainstream jazz and Texas blues
It’s the opening night. The Bob Mocarsky Trio teams up with Cherryl Hayes in a tribute to Ella Fitzgerald, which will probably make you feel things. Later, Banglumpoo Blues Company keeps it gritty. Gritty enough that even if you’ve never been to Texas, you’ll leave convinced you once rode a freight train across it.
Day 2: Swing jazz and Chicago blues
The second night slips into its petticoat and heels for the golden era of swing jazz and Chicago blues. If the first night was about elegance, this one’s all swagger and soul. Monkonkwan Blues Band kicks off with licks that sound like cigarette smoke and old regrets, followed by the Thailand Jazz Orchestra, who’ll be joined by Toey Tanchanid or Berlin.
Day 3: Cool jazz and New Orleans blues
Closing night is for the philosophers, the heartbreakers, the ones who read horoscopes but pretend they don’t believe them. Cool jazz and New Orleans blues come to the fore. Jultrane Quartet pays tribute to John Coltrane, which may or may not trigger an existential crisis (in the best way). After that, Cotton Mouth King takes you by the hand and leads you somewhere warm, a bit melancholy and strangely comforting.
Entry on the day is B700 at the door, but if you're a glorious planner, it’s B600 for one day or B1,800 for all three via Ticketmelon.