Matt Smith, Founder

IN six years, Popscene has gone from being a monthly event in a dingy little club on Khao San Road to booking acts like The Cribs, Young Knives, and Andy Rourke from The Smiths, who perform at some of Bangkok’s most prestigious venues. Events have also been held in Manila and Kuala Lumpur, and most recently Popscene hosted an unofficial day event at the SXSW festival in Austin, Texas. 

As well as boosting the number of interesting international acts coming to Thailand, Popscene has had a positive effect on local talent, too. “There’s little doubt that the young people who attend Popscene shows are being inspired by what they see,” says Popscene’s founder, British expat Matt Smith, “and hopefully they will all go on to create music and tour in the same way my acts do.”

www.popscene.asia

Chris Catto-Smith, Co-owner

BANGKOK’S oldest operating nightclub steakhouse and bar originally opened in 1957. Three years ago – just hours before its scheduled demolition – it was saved by current owner and entrepreneur Chris Catto-Smith and his wife Mook, who, with no prior experience running bars and restaurants, took on unknown spiraling losses to successfully turn the business around. Steeped in history and with a colourful past, Checkinn 99 now hosts one of Bangkok’s most progressive live music programs (60 hours a week of live entertainment including cabaret, jazz and theatre entertainment) and has a unique profit share arrangement with staff and its resident band, Music of the Heart.

www.checkinn99bkk