Martin Nilsson was curating movie nights at an artsy dive bar off lower Sathorn Road when the pandemic forced it to close, a move that would prove permanent.
On July 1, he will reopen Jam; a beloved bar where Bangkok’s music, arts, and party tribes gathered for everything from inscrutable Japanoise to sweaty hard rock; as its new owner.
“I want to keep it pretty much the way it’s been,” Nilsson, 45 told Coconuts. “There’s not a whole lot of underground live music venues that are like Jam. So I kind of want to keep it the way it’s been.”
In late 2018, Nilsson, an insurance attorney in his hometown outside Gothenburg, Sweden, had become a regular at Jam, which opened in 2012.
“I think its different than other places, and why it became my regular home, it is a magnet for good people,” he added. “I’ve always had great talks and discussions with people there.”
He plans to keep the same range of events going, even bringing back things like its regular movie and retro gaming nights. He’s brought musician Gate Garnglai back on board to book and manage shows. Gate said to expect live gigs “similar as before, and more things to come.”
While the crew behind its kitchen’s famous burgers and bar food will not be returning, Nilsson said former owner Napanarit “Butter” Savantrach has volunteered to help bring the new team up to speed.
The grungy and comfortably grimy aesthetic is likely to remain as well – Nilsson isn’t planning any major renovations beyond maybe adding a mural and other improvements. At some point, he wants to relaunch the second-floor gallery.
And while there may be fewer snoozing dogs to climb over to reach the toilet, guests for now will likely encounter former owner Dhyan Ho.
“I’m really glad that its continuing,” Ho said Tuesday. “I’m really glad that it will live on.”
A two-day weekend opening party will begin July 1, with a lineup of live bands and DJs to be announced at a later date.
