Bangkok is getting a new live music venue on a boat
Setting sail in early '18.
7 years ago
Yuval Schwok, 33, the owner of Charansanitwong’s underground, occasionally controversial, live music venue The Overstay, is gearing up to unveil another creative space with a difference. Taking over a reclaimed metal barge, Bangkok Island will set sail along the Chao Phraya River in early 2018. Schwok talks to us about his inspirations and Bangkok’s need for a more diverse nightlife.
What is Bangkok Island?
It’s a 320-capacity, modified sand barge that’s built to be one of Bangkok Old Town’s largest music venues and independent art spaces. It has its own engines and therefore can take trips along the river and even beyond. This means we are not restricted by business hours and can host events that last a whole weekend or which travel to nearby islands. We have a great docking station in Chinatown and we’ll organize some open-air events on both land and ship. The Island has many floors to explore, so we are exploring ideas such as a wedding space or workshops to make of full use of its potential. We are not making a club or a party boat, but a space to be used by all kinds of different people for different reasons.
How did you come up with this project?
I was talking to a crazy Polish guy who almost drowned trying to build a DIY boat out of plastic bottles. The next day, I walked past one of the metal barges on the river and I had a hallelujah moment.
How long have you been working on this project?
I have been talking about it for seven years and actually started doing it three years ago. It has been the hardest job by far that I’ve ever done.
When will it open?
It will arrive in Bangkok at the beginning of January, when we will complete work on the interior design. We may throw some small parties in January, but more reasonably the opening will be by February or March.
What are you trying to bring to Bangkok with this space?
Beyond the fact that it’s awesome to have shows on a boat, I think the critical issue for Bangkok is the lack of mid-size venues. As an event organizer for 10 years in Thailand, I have often had the issue of making shows with a great lineup but the space is limited to 100 people. That makes it hard for the artists, and myself, to make a decent living. I’d like to offer a space where each event will look different with a lot of work on lighting and projection mapping. We have one main room in the bottom of the boat for immersive music experiences and an open-air top deck for hanging out and enjoying the views.
How has Bangkok nightlife developed since you opened The Overstay?
The amount of choice has increased from nine years ago. Back then I would have to wait a few months before I could find an event that I would like to go to. Thanks to dedicated promoters and spaces, like The Overstay, I think Bangkok nightlife actually is better. But if you talk about business hours, I miss the old days [laughs].
Where do you see Bangkok nightlife in the next five years?
Worldwide I think clubs are not really hip anymore and if you look at RCA, apparently it’s going down very fast. At the same time I don’t think electronic music is dying at all, but becoming even more common, getting played at various venues, like minimalist venues where you are not blinded by a laser every other second. I think inner-city music festivals will connect these different independent places like gallery-hopping events are doing now.
What do you think is the main obstacle to Bangkok nightlife?
Well, obviously the powers above are inconsistent. However, the other issue for me is that people have become blase and aren’t experimenting enough with their nightlife. When you go to a restaurant do you always eat the same dish? So why do you go out to the same places every weekend. A great night out happens when you get out of your comfort zone.
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