A musical performance at the Alley Cafe.
This is the Alley Cafe, located in alley 50, Quang Trung Street, Ninh Kieu Ward. The owner is Mr. Tran Van Phong, a retired chess coach, who, along with his wife, Ms. Nguyen Thi Mai Loan, has been running this cafe and homestay business for many years. Mr. Phong shared: “I play many musical instruments and wanted a musical space, so I equipped the cafe with instruments to the standard of a band and invited some friends and fellow music lovers to come and play and sing for fun. Usually twice a week. Later, due to many people being busy, we now only play music on Saturday evenings. And yet, we've managed to keep it running for almost 5 years!”
Starting as a small group, the café gradually gained popularity and became a popular meeting place for music lovers every Saturday night. The café has a small, enclosed space, with live music from 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM. The interior is simply and classically decorated, creating a warm atmosphere. The most unique aspect is that despite having a live band for customers to sing along to, the prices of drinks remain affordable (all drinks are priced at 25,000 VND) and there are no extra charges.
The second unique aspect is that the orchestra here isn't made up of professional musicians, but rather retired or working individuals with a passion for music. Most are capable of playing multiple instruments and they don't receive any remuneration. A prime example is Mr. Nguyen Thien Tam, currently a lecturer in the Faculty of Foreign Languages at Can Tho University. He can play piano, violin, saxophone, drums, and guitar proficiently. Mr. Tam shared: "Playing music here feels comfortable, like being at home, without pressure, and it's a place to unleash creativity. The musicians here don't need to practice beforehand; with time, they naturally develop a bond and understanding of each other."
For Mr. Huynh Tan Phat, former principal of An Lac Primary School, after retirement, he returned to playing the guitar – a passion from his childhood – to add joy to his life. Other members, such as Dr. Vo Quoc Toan (formerly of Can Tho Central General Hospital, now retired), Mr. Tran Khach Bosa (working in the tourism industry)… each has their own unique talents. For example, Mr. Tran Khach Bosa can play a few drums, then switch to playing the saxophone, and then sing a few love songs…
An indispensable element is the presence of people who love to sing. These could be retired professional singers or ordinary people. They can sing with a band or request to sing with just an instrument, singing one song or many songs… Anyone who knows how to dance can also perform. Ms. Nguyen Thuy Dung, residing in Cai Khe ward, said: “I love singing, and my friends introduced me to this place. From the first time I came, I fell in love with it.”
Last weekend, Ngõ Hẻm cafe held a New Year's Eve concert with songs about spring, Christmas, and love… It can be said that this space doesn't require elaborate techniques or skillful artistry, but rather emphasizes harmony and emotion. This creates a cultural hub in the heart of the city.
Text and photos: LE THU
Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/diem-hen-am-nhac-ngo-hem-a196292.html
Comment (0)