'It's
a funny family. We are a
little
bit strange... but we
always
have a good sense of humour!'
-
Roxanne Dumont
will be accompanied at Slur
Bar
tonight by a special guest arriving
directly
from Siem Reap... her Dad! If
Mr.
Dumont has the same
musical talent and positive energy as his daughter then
a great gig is ensured. Roxanne
told Leng Pleng
that she loves to play songs by artists
as diverse as The Rolling
Stones, Johnny Cash and
(Spanish
punk-reggae band)
Che Sudaka. Tonight will be the last chance to catch the Belgian
singer-songwriter before she leaves Cambodia for a
couple of months. Wherever
Roxanne
plays, audiences
will
always respond to her
groovy playing, sweet voice and permanent smile.
![]() |
Photo: Slur Bar |
The
first goal of most expat musicians and gig audiences in Phnom Penh is
to have a good time. Everyone usually prioritises enjoyment above
other concerns - such as
looking cool. This week we highlight a number of great singers and
players who always give out a positive vibe at their gigs. Marsyas
return to Equinox
on
Friday, with the excellent and funky guitarist Greg
Marino.
Greg is always on hand with his Fender Telecaster and Boss ME-50
effects processor, prepared to do whatever it takes to get
the crowd
moving
–
hot licks, goofy dancing or even getting
dressed up
in a tiger costume.
Last
time around
the
Marsyas
boys almost had their groove interrupted
by a persistent stage invader at Equinox.
The
over-stimulated young lady made unsolicited attempts at lead vocals
on various instrumental funk classics
before
making a mid-song advance
towards drummer
Greg Lavender.
'Can
I play drums on this one? I'm really good!'. Fortunately the invader
was repelled
and
one of the tightest bands in the country continued their set without
dropping a beat.
Good vibrations continue
in Phnom Penh on Saturday with a number of great gig opportunities.
Notably, The Submarine Brass Band
return to Sharky Bar
for the last in a series of Cambodian shows. The group of ten
Parisian
music students do not waste a lot of time with subtle dynamics. Their
modus operandi is to
get on stage and blast the room with a huge wall of funky
sound
that
comprises
of saxophones, flutes, trumpets, trombones, a pair of booming bass
drums and one
small man wrapped in the snaking coils of a sousaphone. It works!
Think
more New Orleans' Rebirth Brass Band, less Grimethorpe Colliery Band.
![]() |
http://thesubmarinebrassband.org/ |
![]() |
Miss Sarawan - http://kenedgar.com/ |
Khmer-rock revival time at Metahouse on Saturday when Miss Sarawan and DJANE Sao Sopheak team up to provide an evening of retro sounds. Like The Cambodian Space Project and Kok Thlok, the diminutive diva Miss Sarawan works her way through the 'Golden Era' songbook of Ros Sereysothea, Pan Ron and Sinn Sisamouth. She gives the repertoire a minimal, acoustic treatment, with an endearing stage presence and genuine love for the music. Later on in the evening, DJ Sao Sopheak will turn up the volume with some Khmer classics from the 1960's and 1970's. Visitors to Siem Reap should note that the excellent and numerous ensemble Kok Thlok will be at the Laundry Bar on Saturday night.
![]() |
Rhiannon Johnson - http://kenedgar.com/ |
Rhiannon Johnson
rounds off the weekend in style with a return to the
Riverhouse Asian Bistro & Lounge.
Rhiannon told Leng Pleng:
'Sunday will be a
soul night... I am excited to play there again, it will be a little
nostalgic. It was one
of the first
venues
at
which I
sang.
We
used to play on Sunday
nights when GTS [GTS
Jazz – Gabi
Faja,
Toma
Willen
and Sebastien
Adnot]
and Euan
Gray
would
have
have their
open mic jazz night ...a lot of gigs came out of that
time.
It
was
always a great
night because a lot of Phnom
Penh musicians would
descend on the
Riverhouse. They
would
all be
there... a really
great feeling.'
Two
of Asia's finest musicians will be accompanying Rhiannon on Sunday:
master drummer Lewis Pragasam and
keyboardist Phillipe Javelle.
Until
next time, enjoy the great album Season 1 from
Songkites, which you
can download from Bandcamp via the link below.
Stay
safe out there and... see you around the traps.
- JACK
DIAMOND
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