U.S. Embassy Hosts Free Concert Headlined by the Band Dengue Fever on May 13th

Released in Phnom Penh, May 10, 2010

The U.S. Embassy in Phnom Penh will inaugurate its celebration of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Cambodia with a free concert in the park across from Wat Botum Vatey at 19:00 on the evening of May 13th, 2010.  The concert will be headlined by the Los Angeles Band Dengue Fever which is led by Chhom Nimol, a well known Cambodian vocal artist.  The DJ and hip hop artist Pou Khlaing will open the event which will highlight the cultural connections between the two countries. 

“The US Embassy is thrilled to be able to host Dengue Fever for a free concert in Phnom Penh on May 13, 2010, as part of our celebration of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Cambodia and the United States,” said Carol A. Rodley, U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia.  “I cannot think of a better way to kick of this celebration than to have an acclaimed American band performing music influenced by some of the great Cambodian artists of the 1960s.  Sinn Sisamouth, Ros Serey Sothea, Pan Ron and many other artists perished more than 30 years ago under the Khmer Rouge, but their musical legacy lives on to inspire and delight new generations of listeners, not just in Cambodia but around the world.” 

On July 11th, 1950 the U.S. officially recognized Cambodia and both countries will commemorate the anniversary with a series of events in Phnom Penh and in Washington that will be announced later in the year.
 
Dengue Fever is Cambodian songstress Chhom Nimol, Zac Holtzman (guitar/vocals), Ethan Holtzman (keyboards), Senon Williams (bass), Paul Smith (drums) and David Ralicke (horns). They have released three albums, Dengue Fever, Escape From Dragon House Venus On Earth and the DVD/CD soundtrack to the band’s documentary Sleepwalking Through The Mekong, in addition to a collection of lost Cambodian classics, Dengue Fever Presents: Electric Cambodia. They are based in Los Angeles.