BANGKOK 2026

Can’t believe it took me 3 years to get back to Bangkok… From the moment you land, it’s chaos. You grab a ride to your hotel, and even with barely any sleep from an overnight flight, you instantly feel the need to get out and find food and coffee.

I found a coffee spot nearby, went straight there, and got talking to the owner. I asked where was good to eat around the area, and he put me onto such a good spot that I ended up going there most mornings. The dish was “Khao Moo Dang” which was this 3 type of pork dish - I made a video of myself reviewing it.

That night was the Concrete Jungle sideshow — so of course we went. The show was sick, honestly. All the bands were insane — metalcore, proper nostalgic energy. Angel Last Plague, Your Final Embrace & Figure Out played, plus a secret set from “Earth Spike” that was honestly my favourite of the night - They covered Terror Ave.

Concrete Jungle Day 1 (Friday) — Funnily enough, I booked this trip a week before leaving, telling myself how much I wished I could go… then said YOLO and did it out of pure FOMO. Day 1 had a crazy lineup with Soul Search, Three Knee Deep, Fury, The Chain, Wreckonize, Forewarned and more.

I came hoping to take photos, but there were about 20 other people trying to do the same, all pushing for position. I got a few decent spots here and there, but by the end of the night I’d pretty much given up — it was just too crowded, especially on stage. I didn’t want to be another stage potato.

That said, Thailand / Southeast Asia hardcore is something else. They’ve got their own sound, their own style — it’s so fresh. Even the mosh style is unmatched. I couldn’t imitate it if I tried. It’s completely their own thing, and it’s sick to watch. By the end of the night I was completely dead and went straight back to bed.

Concrete Jungle Day 2 (Saturday) — Another massive day ahead of us with 13 bands including Forced Order, Criminal Instinct, Whisperers, Disgrace, Moneybag, Otus, Defy, Halfman and more. Still managed to get some decent film shots and videos though. The show itself was unreal — I finally got to see Disgrace again, and Criminal Instinct was insane. Whispers’ set was pure chaos, especially when they brought out Kickback for a cover that sent the room insane.

After the show, our friend BCHAN was DJing, so we stuck around for a bit before heading home. These shows ran from 4pm to midnight… honestly, I can’t do that two days in a row anymore.

Sunday — “day off.” Taine and I went into Chinatown to walk around and shoot. This is my favourite part of Bangkok, so I was fully in my zone. Had one of the best coffees I’ve ever had, and from that point I was just running around taking photos non-stop.

That night we checked out the Whispers boys’ vintage stalls at the train night market, which was cool. After that, I went out with some friends while they got drunk. Got home way too late — again.

It was also awesome meeting people from all over the world in one place, all sharing the same love for hardcore music. Even without speaking the same language, we were still able to bond and become friends through the experience together. There’s something really beautiful about that.

Monday — my last day. I hung out with my friend Kenny at this wet market / rough area that was perfect for photos. After that, we chilled at his hotel pool for a while, then went out again that night before heading home the next morning.

Tuesday — Sitting in the Grab to the airport, I couldn’t stop thinking — this is how I’m meant to be living. Travelling, eating, being around friends, drinking great coffee, going to hardcore shows, taking photos.

I do all of that at home in Sydney too, but it just feels different. Stale. I feel like I need to be somewhere new every couple of weeks — exploring, shooting, meeting new people along the way.

Now I just need to figure out how to fund it, and build a life where I can travel the world doing what I actually enjoy.

All photos from this trip can be found in my gallery.