Know of any blues bars in BKK? I mean the traditional, real, hard-core stuff. Heard years ago about some places, or a place, around Victory Monument but don't know if they still exist or not. Tnx.

In my opinion, the best blues bar in Bangkok is Ad Here the 13th at 13 Samsen Road, in Banglamphu. Bottom (temple end) of Khao San Road, cross the main street and turn right, continue until you cross the bridge over the canal, and the bar is just on the other side of the bridge. There you can hear the Georgia Blues Band Thurs to Sat. Thai blues lady Georgia really rocks and she has sidemen who blow the joint apart. A real world-class blues bar on a good night.

The other venue is Tokyo Joes on Sukhumvit soi 26 opposite the Tara Hotel, where the Soi Dog Blues Band plays Friday and Saturday night.

There are other groups and performers worth seeing as well at both venues.

The place you heard about at Victory Monument is Saxophone, which has a mixed diet of various flavours of jazz, and some blues and R&B. It can be a bit iffy; I wasn't very impressed with the group I saw there last night.

In my opinion, the best blues bar in Bangkok is Ad Here the 13th at 13 Samsen Road, in Banglamphu. Bottom (temple end) of Khao San Road, cross the main street and turn right, continue until you cross the bridge over the canal, and the bar is just on the other side of the bridge. There you can hear the Georgia Blues Band Thurs to Sat. Thai blues lady Georgia really rocks and she has sidemen who blow the joint apart. A real world-class blues bar on a good night.

The other venue is Tokyo Joes on Sukhumvit soi 26 opposite the Tara Hotel, where the Soi Dog Blues Band plays Friday and Saturday night.

There are other groups and performers worth seeing as well at both venues.

The place you heard about at Victory Monument is Saxophone, which has a mixed diet of various flavours of jazz, and some blues and R&B. It can be a bit iffy; I wasn't very impressed with the group I saw there last night.

i agree 100%, last time i was there the place was jumping, the band were tearing everything apart, sweat was dripping from the ceiling, it was rocking.

tokyo joes i find to be a bit more laid back, but still an excellent night out.

saxaphone is too jazzy for me, it doesnt really have the same atmosphere.

i tend to alternate between the first and second, and once in a blue moon go to saxaphone, which usually leaves me feeling i wish i had gone to ksr.

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The place you heard about at Victory Monument is Saxophone, which has a mixed diet of various flavours of jazz, and some blues and R&B. It can be a bit iffy; I wasn't very impressed with the group I saw there last night.

When you say you were there 'last night', I am curious - was that Tue. or Wed.? Although not Blues, Wed. and Thur. features 'Big Band Jazz'; a 10 piece band with a good singer which I quite enjoy.

http://www.saxophonepub.com/ (Note - a visiting Blues group on 16 Feb.)

Billp just about nailed it there, I reckon. One of the biggest problems for me is the layout of TJ's and Saxophone - too many tables crammed into TJs', and Sax has massive pillars in the middle of the stage - the worst layout I've seen for a stage.

IMO, TJ's is more of an expat scene and Sax is more tourists and Thais.

In my opinion, the best blues bar in Bangkok is Ad Here the 13th at 13 Samsen Road, in Banglamphu. Bottom (temple end) of Khao San Road, cross the main street and turn right, continue until you cross the bridge over the canal, and the bar is just on the other side of the bridge. There you can hear the Georgia Blues Band Thurs to Sat. Thai blues lady Georgia really rocks and she has sidemen who blow the joint apart. A real world-class blues bar on a good night.

The other venue is Tokyo Joes on Sukhumvit soi 26 opposite the Tara Hotel, where the Soi Dog Blues Band plays Friday and Saturday night.

There are other groups and performers worth seeing as well at both venues.

The place you heard about at Victory Monument is Saxophone, which has a mixed diet of various flavours of jazz, and some blues and R&B. It can be a bit iffy; I wasn't very impressed with the group I saw there last night.

Thanks for the reply, esp. the info about Ad Here the 13th. Sat night I followed your directions and found it. Great! Enjoyed the night immensely. Good music, bar had lots of character and characters, Georgia did indeed rock, and sidemen were just excellent. Stayed till closing, seemed nobody wanted to leave. This place is a gem. I'll certainly be going back. I want to check out Tokyo Joes next, but it may be a while.

Billp just about nailed it there, I reckon. One of the biggest problems for me is the layout of TJ's and Saxophone - too many tables crammed into TJs', and Sax has massive pillars in the middle of the stage - the worst layout I've seen for a stage.

IMO, TJ's is more of an expat scene and Sax is more tourists and Thais.

I agree.

At Saxophone I seem to spend most of time peering round beams, columns and pillars.

A bit like how Richard Burton must have felt playing Anthony in the first hour or so of Cleopatra.