UPDATE: The Chow show has been moved to The FCC Phnom Penh. Phil Manning is bringing his unique blend of front-porch guitar blues to Phnom Penh. Manning will play The FCC Phnom Penh on Friday Nov. 13 and Saturday Nov. 14. Phnom Penh, once a sleepy outpost along the Mekong River, has in recent years began evolving into a robust Asian capital. Manning is the latest in a string of international acts to perform in the city over the last 12 months. Others include DJ Cash Money, Sean Kingston and The Backsliders. “I never go anywhere far from home without a guitar,” says the 61-year-old Tasmanian bluesman, who will be traveling through the region with his wife. “It’s just terrific to have the opportunity to play while we are there.” Manning has been a fixture on the Australian music scene since the late 1960s. In 1969, he co-founded the band Chain, arguably the greatest blues band Australia has ever produced. Manning and Chain are often credited for exposing Australia to blues music, the roots of which come from America’s black communities in the country’s deep south. Critics praise Manning for his sensational technical abilities, silky vocals and insightful songwriting. A finger-picker and slide guitar player, he points to the six-string style of the early delta masters as the foundation of his music. With those powerful roots, Manning has blended a lifetime of further musical influence, and echoes of country, bluegrass and folk reverberate through his songs. “Later on I discovered players like Doc Watson, Norman Blake, Tony Rice and the whole bluegrass thing,” he says. “All that (and a bit of Celtic) have rubbed off in the way I play, although I never sat down and learnt much of it note for note. I’d probably be a better player if I had, but I’ve sort of got my own way of going about things as a result.” He has shared the stage with many of the genre’s greatest names, including Muddy Waters, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGee, Albert Collins, Freddie King and even Bo Diddley.

“We had about 10 minutes of rehearsal and that was it,” he says of playing with Diddley, the legendary Chicago bluesman. “From that we did an hour and a half show.” Manning says that after 45 years of pickin’ and grinnin’, he has now matured into a complete guitarist. “My influences are totally absorbed into my own playing, and there is sense of satisfaction that comes from that,” he says. For the Phnom Penh shows, Manning will play much like the turn-of-the-century American blues travelers of a hundred years ago. “I’ll have one of my acoustic guitars (with pickup of course) and a stomp box,” he says. Rather than work from prepared material, Manning prefers to let the crowd set the direction. “I usually have a few things I start with to settle in and relax. After that the set goes where it feels right,” he says. “I have a lot of songs in my head, mostly original and traditional blues or blues-based pieces.” Both shows start at 8 p.m.

Traditional stalwart Kheltica, a Phnom Penh-based folk band, offers an “entente chordial of musical traditions from France and the British Isles.” And they’re bringing their sound to the Mansion on 7 June, 2014.

It’s an  eclectic mix of songs and dances from Brittany blended with traditional Irish and Scottish folk music is rivaled only by that of the band’s make-up: a singer and a mandolin player from Scotland; a British piper; Brazilian  drummer; South African bass player; Malaysian pianist, and French flautists. “We had a Khmer violinist,” says Jean-Claude Dhuez, said flautist, “but since he got married, he’s disappeared!”

Bassist Andre Swart stopped by FCC to discuss the band and the upcoming show.

FCC: Who is Kheltica? How has the band evolved over time since it first started?

Andre: I joined in 2011 and I’ve been with the band three years now. This is the latest incarnation of Kheltica. The original one started in 2007/2008 with our flute player Jean-Claude. He’s the last standing member of the original band. It started off quite differently. It was an acoustic and small Celtic band. With the new band, it’s grown into a big ten-piece, composed of people that are all over the world. We cover all the continents, except Antarctica.

FCC: What’s your background? How’d you come to Cambodia?

Andre: I came in 2011 just looking for a change. I’m from South Africa. On my second night I was in Phnom Penh, I went to Score Bar and saw Kheltica play. Months later they posted an ad and I wrote in and joined the band. One of the major reasons I’m in Phnom Penh is because I joined the band. My original plan was Thailand, but once I started meeting people in the music scene, it sold Phnom Penh for me.

FCC: Talk about your life as a musician and your role in the band today.

Andre: I play bass guitar and guitar in the band. I had never heard Celtic music before. A lot of what we do is the French-Brittan side of music. In South Africa I’d never heard of it before.  It’s kind of what attracted me to it in the first place. I wanted to try something new. It was challenging, but once you get into the swing of it, it’s like every style of music. Once you are familiar with the style and get into the groove of it, it’s pretty easy to know the songs.

FCC: What’s the history of Kheltica?

Andre: Jean-Claude is the band leader and he’s the original member/founder and he absolutely loves and lives for Celtic music. He’s not even from the Celtic part of France but he learned to play the flute because he loved Celtic music so much. A lot of people come into the band through him. He’s got a lot of friends in the French embassy. The French musicians come in and the embassy says “Hey, speak to Jean-Claude.” It’s more of a social club, more than just a band. Anyone who wants to come can come to our rehearsals on Wednesday[andrehswart@yahoo.com]. It will never be a big money making band, but it’s not about the money, it’s about the social club feel.

FCC: Who are the band members currently?

• Jean Claude- Flute & Whistle
• Daniel- Flute
• Sarah- Whistle
• Tracy- Violin
• Angie- Piano
• Chris- Vocal & Guitar
• Andre- Bass & Guitar
• Toma- Bass & Drums
• Luis- Drums

FCC: Describe the “style” of Kheltica.

Andre: We play Celtic music, which stems from Ireland, Scotland, and into France and Brittany and northern Spain, which falls into the Celtic arch. We play music from all these parts. Just now we started to do Northern Spanish songs, because it’s got that Flamenco-Spanish flair to it. Celtic music is staying the same and changing all the time. We don’t stick to the traditional way that it’s played. A lot of it is our own interpretation, and depending on our instruments we have to play. Like any music or art form it’s always moving and changing, never standing still.

FCC: Where do you play in Cambodia?

Andre: We play everywhere. A big night is St. Patrick’s Day. This year we played at Paddy Rice. One year we did Paddy Rice and then FCC. That was a long day. Our audience is split up. We’ve played Irish weddings, Burns Night (haggis) Scottish, we played at Le Creperie for a French Celtic evening. We played a fundraiser on a boat. In the past Jean Claude organized a Celtival, where he brings a band over from France and they collaborate with local musicians. We put on shows at Wat Phnom’s outdoor stage. There might have been 2,000 people, locals and foreigners. We played and the band from France played. We’ve had a lot of really successful shows. We were also flown up by the French Cultural Institute of Laos in Vientiane for Fest Noz, a Brittan festival. They flew the whole band up for the weekend. Usually we play in Cambodia. We don’t gig that regularly. Maybe once or twice a month, depending on where we get shows, because it’s hard to get everyone together. It’s always a challenge. We never know who’s available to play.

FCC: What type of shows do you most enjoy?

Andre: I personally enjoy the smaller, more intimate shows we do. It captures the essence of the Celtic style. We’ve done quite a few shows completely unplugged, in places like Opera Cafe. We crammed the whole 9 or 10-piece band in Opera, where band members were playing at tables next to audience members. For me it’s always nice to play big crowds but I love the smaller shows we do where we connect with people and can play and talk with people in between them.

FCC: What do you like most about life and music in Phnom Penh?

Andre: Phnom Penh has a unique music scene. What I’ve found in other places is that there’s always the cliques of musicians, where if you’re not part of those musicians you can’t play in those venues and with those musicians. But with musicians here it’s very open. I’ve played music before but here it’s like a World Music University. Even here we have a Brazilian drummer, a Malaysian piano player, two French flutists, a whistle player from the UK, a Scottish singer . . . just in Kheltica, I’m playing with people from all over the world, exposed to styles and rhythms and ideas of music that in my own country I’d never in a million years come across. Come here and you stumble on a whole world of music. You can learn much here, grow in any direction you’d like.

I play in quite a few bands. Grass Snake Union, Joe Wrigley and the Jumping Jacks, and I also play with Mwauka and the Gang, as part of “the gang.” I play in a Chinese band too, Malaysian Chinese. The lady who plays piano in Kheltica, and her husband and two daughters all play music. We played at Koh Pich City Hall, a wedding, just a few shows around. Sometimes it’s high pressure. Like I said, it’s World Music University. If you’re willing to jump in the deep end you’ll learn anything.

The FCC Hotels and Restaurants in Cambodia are all about professional development. We regularly offer valuable trainings to our staff to ensure they improve their skills and gain the knowledge that can make them excel in everyday life, both on and beyond the job.

When it comes to our trainings, we focus on diversity and range, impact and sustainability, and relevance and context. Often we have guest trainers, whether they are internal management or otherwise.

In empowering our employees, we bring them into the family and promote their critical thinking, open their intelligence, and improve the entire operation on and around the business.

If you have questions about our training and social responsibility programs, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

Thanks to all of our visitors and guests who reviewed the FCC Angkor hotel on TripAdvisor. With your contributions and positive feedback, we’ve been privileged to receive a 2014 Certificate of Excellence. We hope you will continue to share your thoughts with us on TripAdvisor so we can best serve you.

If you have a moment, please consider visiting our other TripAdvisor pages and leaving your reviews!

FCC Angkor restaurant

FCC Phnom Penh hotel

FCC Phnom Penh restaurant

FCC Angkor is proudly celebrating Mother’s Day this weekend (24 and 25 May) with a special “Seafood Stand” available at our restaurant during lunch and dinner. Tell your mother you love her by stopping by and enjoying delicious seafood for only USD $35. Book reservations in advance by emailing vanthan@fcchotels.com!

This Saturday, come experience the return of the soulful, jazzy Mwauka and the Gang. Though they played in January, FCC found a captivated audience we know will enjoy the band once again. Whether you’re interested in letting loose on the dance floor, or enjoying the groove from the comfort of our chairs, we know you’ll have a fantastic experience at the Mansion. Be sure to also check out the Heritage Bar, which will be serving drinks all night! The show starts at 830pm and runs late.

FCC prides itself on employing diverse people to fit our staff. From our early days, we have enjoyed seeking out special individuals who can fit the roles perfectly, while also adding a familial spirit to our business. FCC often offers internships and training opportunities by working with local training operations in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh. Those who might not have had opportunities are given opportunities to learn valuable skills and gain access to employment. As we expand our operations, we regularly have additional positions open up that can help those near and far join our team.

In this post, we want to highlight two FCC employees who have helped make FCC a better place. Ms. Koeun Kimly and Mr. Soun Rith are valuable staff members we hope will stay with us for years to come.

Ms. Koeun Kimly has been working at FCC Angkor since March, 2014. When she was young, Kimly’s father passed way. Kimly has four siblings. Her mother is 55 years old and stays at home. Her family is from Leang Dai village, Leang Dai Commune, Angkor Thom district, Siem Reap Province, which is 35 kilometers from Siem Reap City.

Kimly reached the 8th grade. In 2011, she found a job as a worker at a ceramic shop. Later, she got a chance to train and learn kitchen skills at a provincial training center, and the school sent her for an internship at FCC Angkor for 3 months. After, there was a job opportunity available for her at FCC Angkor. Now she rents a room with 3 friends in Siem Reap City.

Mr. Soun Rith has been working as bar staff at FCC Angkor since 2011. When he was young, his father passed away. His mother is 58 years old and a farmer, and he has eight siblings. Rith’s family is from Sala Kakoh Village, Kean Sangke Commune, Sotnikum District, Siem Reap, which is 43 kilometers from Siem Reap City.

Rith reached the 8th grade as well. In 2006, he got a job working at the Apsara Holiday Hotel. Later, he found a job opportunity at FCC Angkor as a cleaner, and then transferred to the restaurant. He is happily married and living in Chreav Village, Siem Reap,, which is only 10 kilometers from Siem Reap City.

Following the holidays this week, we’ll be bringing you the Weekend Flash Out at FCC Angkor this Saturday. Stop in from 630-10pm and enjoy saxophone music while eating our delicious antipasti. Price of entry includes wine.

Yesterday FCC Angkor was proud to join Karavansara Retreat & Residencies, Shinta Mani, La Residence d’Angkor, Chateau d’Angkor, Thavy Apartments, and many others in cleaning up many areas along the river in Siem Reap. We hope we can contribute to cleaning up the environment and bring positive change regularly in the future!

Here’s the FCC Angkor team helping gather a total of 67 bin bags full of rubbish around central Siem Reap!

Stop by the Mansion in Phnom Penh seven nights a week and try one of the six legendary cocktails, including the Dark chocolate Old Fashioned, Lemongrass and ginger Collins, Mojito, Mango and cardamom Daiquiri, Gin & tonic, and Passionate Englishman. For information on cocktail ingredients, see our previous post.