Rock icon Datuk Awie is set to entertain Sabah with his favourite leading lady Erra Fazira, and Sarawak with his band
IF there is one hugely popular screen couple most Malaysians growing up in the 1990s can best remember, it has to be Datuk Ahmad Azhar Othman (better known as Awie) and Erra Fazira.
Dubbed the Sembilu couple after Datuk Yusof Haslam's 1990s blockbuster
Sembilu, which they starred in as well as its sequel Sembilu 2, both have risen to become icons of Malaysian pop culture.
Awie and Erra were even a couple off-screen back then, but had since gone separate ways. However, they are still best of pals.
This month, they are set to present Sabahans with a Merdeka treat to remember at 8.30pm on Saturday in their Konsert Romantika Datuk Awie & Erra Fazira, which will take place at the Sabah International Convention Centre in Kota Kinabalu.
SCRUMPTIOUS DINNER
The 90-minute showcase, which comes with a scrumptious full-set dinner, is co-organised with FazBuzz Event & Media Sdn Bhd, Awie Entertainment and HS Shazlicious.
Awie and Erra last held a concert that celebrated their legendary on-screen partnership two years ago in Konsert Awie Romantika 2020 at Stadium Malawati in Shah Alam.
"Erra and I are very excited to be having our first major concert in Borneo. We love visiting Sabah, a tourist destination with beautiful and friendly people," said Awie at the launch of the showcase in the Royale Chulan Hotel in Kuala Lumpur recently.
"I've never performed in this grand concert hall before, so it's going to be a first for me, and I hope everybody will have a great time," said Erra.
FIRST MAJOR SHOWCASE
FazBuzz director Fazura Azima A.G. Sha said it would be Sabah's first major showcase involving the country's best known "screen couple" of the 1990s.
"Awie and Erra have thousands of fans in Sabah, and Sembilu also has a cult following in the state," she said.
"We've planned this showcase over the last two years. We actually wanted to hold it earlier, but the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent Movement Control Order had slowed things down."
FULL OF IDEAS
Fazura added that the last time she and Awie collaborated for a gig was during an International Secretaries' Week showcase in Sandakan in 2000.
"It's always great to work with Awie and Erra, as they're full of ideas on how to make their shows a blast."
HS Shazlicious managing director Mubarak Akhtar said the dinner showcase would feature nostalgic songs performed by Awie and Erra from Sembilu and Sembilu 2.
"Awie and Erra will not only sing, but also re-enact their famous dialogues and scenes from the Sembilu films," he said.
GIVING GENEROUSLY
Awie said: "Erra and I will perform 18 songs, and we will be accompanied by four experienced musicians.
"Actually, I'll be singing four to five songs only and that includes duets with Awie," Erra quipped.
She added that proceeds from the showcase would be channelled to a good cause.
"We're going to donate generously to all organisations involved in providing flood relief to the people in various parts of Sabah, who endured massive floods not long ago," said Erra.
Tickets are priced at RM3,500, RM5,000, RM8,000 and RM12,000 (tables of 10).
GREATEST HITS
Meanwhile, Awie and his band Wings will be rocking Kuching, Sarawak, with 20 of their greatest hits in the Wings One Night Only Live In Kuching show on Aug 27.
The two-hour showcase at 8.30pm will be held at Sarawak Chambers, Riverside Majestic Hotel, and is organised by BMS Event Sdn Bhd. The co-organiser is HS Shazlicious.
RARE GEMS
Awie said Wings, which also comprises drummer Black, guitarists Edrie Hashim and Syam, and bassist Eddie, would reintroduce some of their "rare gems" that seldom get radio airplay these days.
"These songs used to be very popular in our early days, but unfortunately, they gradually faded away from the airwaves.
"We want to revive them, so that the current generation of rock fans would fall in love with them!"
GOOD TO BE BACK
Eddie said his last visit to Sarawak was a decade ago and he greatly missed the state and its people.
"Sarawak is a destination I enjoyed visiting as it is a beautiful place with lots of culture, history and great music," he said.
Black said: "It's so good to be back in Kuching again. I love the Cat City because it is peaceful, friendly, clean, green and scenic."
BATTLING DISEASE
The event's organising chairman Bidari Mohamad Suhaili said proceeds from the Wings' showcase would go to the National Cancer Society's Sarawak branch.
"As in all Wings shows, we must help the needy, and this one's specially for brave Sarawakians who are battling the deadly disease," said Bidari.
CRUSADERS FOR JUSTICE
Meanwhile, Awie said he would soon be appearing in a new action-packed film entitled Rebel, which he also directed.
Scheduled to premiere in cinemas nationwide in February, it is an action adventure involving silat exponents who fight for justice. Besides himself, it also stars popular actor Ben Amir, MK of K-Clique and Shiqin Kamal.
"Ben and I make a great team. We are no-nonsense crusaders for justice in this movie. I hope it will be a blast like the successful Mat Kilau movie!" said Awie, who is directing for the first time.
SECOND MAJOR CONCERT
Wings One Night Only Live In Kuching is the band's second major concert this year after their Dewan Filharmonik Petronas show on July 15.
Tickets are priced at RM3,000, RM5,000, RM8,000, RM10,000 and RM12,000 (tables for 10).
For more information on the showcases, call Perry at 013-868 8282, Fernalis (013-803 4232), Shaira (011-100 2383), Hana (019-692 8417), Zul (010-248 0106), Shasha (019-769 5588) or Sofiq (012-363 6790).