Honky-tonk heaven at the first M’sian Country Music Festival and Awards

September 23, 2024

PETALING JAYA: For over four decades, legendary band Os Pombos has been blazing the trail for country music in Malaysia. Their unique musical style, which combines traditional country elements with Portuguese elements, has influenced many Malaysian performers through the years.

On Sunday, the band was honoured at the first-ever Malaysian Country Music Festival and Awards (MCMFA) with a Lifetime Achievement Award for Country Music. Both former and current members of Os Pombos were present to accept the award.

“I’m really thankful for this recognition. I also hope that radio stations will play more country music, so the younger generation can appreciate it more. I’m sure if they have the chance to listen, they will be attracted to it, band leader Jude Singho said.

The group treated everyone to several infectious tunes, including David Allan Coe’s Tennessee Whiskey, which got many of the audience members up and line-dancing.

Held at Harmony Hall in Menara BAC, Petaling Jaya, the MCMFA was organised by the country music division of Persatuan Karyawan. It was held in aid of the Malaysian Association for the Blind and supported by FMT.

The aim of the event was to present the Malaysian country music fraternity with well-deserved recognition, as well as spur interest in country music for a new generation.

The festival proved to be a rootin-tootin’, heartwarming honky-tonk homage, featuring passionate performances from the nation’s best and brightest country music artistes. Cowboy hats, checkered shirts and boots were the outfit of the night as gleeful fans donned their best ranch attire for a night of toe-tapping tunes.

Kicking the evening off was the duo of Mark Renesh and Raymond Chia, whose powerful vocals blended nicely on tunes such as Brooks & Dunn’s “Neon Moon” and Glen Campbell’s “Southern Nights”.

They were presented with an award for Special Contribution to Country Music as a Duo.

Another highlight of the night was the Thompsons Country Band, whose members are all in their teens and 20s. The family troupe, who received the Most Promising Country Band award, added a youthful vigour to the proceedings with songs such as Luke Combs’ “Beautiful Crazy” and Taylor Swift’s “Mine”.

Melaka-born songstress Lyia Meta, winner of many overseas accolades including the 2018 World Music Artiste of the Year, was presented with the International Achievement Award.

Her big, brassy voice shone during renditions of songs such as Junior Parker’s Mystery Train, and Home To You, an original single written by her and collaborator Denise Dimin.

I’ve won awards internationally, but to be acknowledged on my home turf means a lot. I think this is a great idea to really keep country (music) alive, Meta told FMT.

Another highlight was a spirited performance from OnStrings, who hail from Bau, Sarawak. The Borneo band raised the roof with rousing renditions of several Tanya Tucker hits, and infused the evening with some East Malaysian flavour through Penghulu Andrewson Ngalai Asom’s Iban hit, “Berkikis Bulu Betis”.

Special guest Miro Saymour Simuh, a Sarawak state assembly member, also joined them on stage for the song!

Onstrings also took home the Most Progressive Country Band Award.

Other winners included veteran DJ Emile Moissinac, who was presented with the lifetime achievement award for radio broadcasting, and Elvis Presley impersonator Eddie Francis, who took home the lifetime achievement award in entertainment.

Francis showed he could still rock at 86, with a performance of the King of Rock and Roll’s Good Luck Charm that brought the house down.

Of course, there was only one fitting way to end an event like this: with a rousing musical jamboree! All the featured musicians took to the stage together for a stirring finale that local country music fans would remember forever.

Persatuan Karyawan Malaysia president Freddie Fernandez pronounced the night a success.

“It was superb, there was some amazing talent on display. We aim to promote and develop all kinds of music, and this genre truly deserves recognition.

Some of these bands have contributed to the industry for many years, and we truly appreciate them, Fernandez told FMT.

We hope to have this on a bigger scale next year, hopefully with even more bands featured.

Source: FMT