Reggae Sun Ska 2010

France biggest Reggae festival at his 13th edition.

France biggest and oldest open air Reggae festival took place the 6th and 7th of August 2010. Famous reggae greats like U-Roy, Steel Pulse, Alpha Blondy, Groundation but also younger artists such as Chezidek, Jaqee and Tarrus Riley were present.

The 13th edition of Reggae Sun Ska moved this year from Cissac, Médoc few kilometers to Saint Sauveur, Médoc which is situated only 60 km from Bordeaux. The moving was because of too little space for 30 000 visitors at the old place. The new ground can perhaps accommodate more people but the place was kind of dismal. It was just a small village stadium without any trees and shade and a lot of dust in the air in these hot summer days. Event if it was too small, the camping ground in contrast was very nice, partly located in a wood.

It was a very crowded festival – around 46 000 people in two days. Many of the visitors weren’t apparently Reggae fans, they came just to make party. Reggae Sun Ska is known for accompanying the movement “Eco Sun Ska” since six years. This means that there are only dry toilets, biological food, waste separation and also shuttle buses for free from the train station to the festival and a lot more.

At the beginning of the Reggae Sun Ska 2010 many visitors were still waiting in front of the ticket box to get their tickets. After buying the ticket and accurate inspections of your bags it was possible to enter the huge festival area. A merchandise booth, two big bars and a small market place were placed at the edges and two big scenes side by side were in the front. All the bands played alternately on these two stages so that there were only short breaks between the concerts.

First day: Raggasonic, Alpha Blondy and Tarrus Riley…

The music program started on Friday with Mo’Kalamity & the Wizards. They played some quite good reggae, unfortunately for little people, because the gates were opened only short time before the beginning of the concert. Because of the long row in front of the gate and the late opening a fast entry wasn’t possible.Mo’Kalamity has a deep, remarkable voice with high recognition value and a beautiful exotic look. She sings against discrimination, exclusion and about other political themes. In fact, Mo’Kalamity & the Wizards played really well – too good for the first band of a festival! Mo’Kalamity was followed by Chezidek. He performed a song together withLorenzo, who was there with Irie Ites Sound System. The massive knew his tunes Bun di Ganja and Call Pon Dem very well and were singing along with Chezidek.

Meanwhile the audience increased more and more. The next announced band wasRaggasonic and people streamed to the stage, but with the following act a lot of changes in program happened - it wasn’t Raggasonic which played next. For the rest of the day nobody knew the real order of the bands and the timetable was invalid. Another bad thing was the combination of the heat, no shade and too much alcohol, so that some visitors who drank too much got knocked out.

Back to the program – instead of Raggasonic the Easy Star All Stars entered the stage which led to a run of the Raggasonic fans. Easy Star All Stars played a lot of Beatles and Pink Floyd songs in reggae versions. The next act was finally the high anticipated group of Raggasonic. The crowd was enormously big and again many fans squeezed themselves to the stage so it was nearly impossible to move anymore. The great, strong Ragga sound ofBig Red and Daddy Mory is extremely powerful. They are on a great reunion tour after twelve years of separation! Raggasonic got one white and two black children onto the stage to show to the massive the real multicultural image of France and to sing against fascism with their song Faut Pas me Prendre Pour un Ane. The massive was enthusiastic!

The Original Wailers were up next. The three musicians of Bob Marley and the Wailers, Earl "Wya" Lindo, Al Anderson and Junior Marvin, performed some Bob Marley songs. In face of their great name they let the spirit missed and most of the time they were kind of subdued. This show was a little bit disappointing.

After a very long Intro, African reggae came upon the stage with Alpha Blondy. The first tune was the fantastic song Jerusalem. While the second song of the reggae legend from Ivory Coast it came to a complete loss of sound, after some technical problems. But Alpha Blondy took it relaxed and he continued in good mood and with much routine after 25 years of experience on stage. He sang a lot of his famous songs against discrimination and injustice in Africa like Politiki and Peace in Liberia and also his hit Cocody Rock. The visitors of the Reggae Sun Ska liked Alpha Blondy a lot; they celebrated together a fantastic concert. But unfortunately no photographers were allowed to take pictures.

A big musical difference followed after Alpha Blondy with The Aggrolites from California. Many people weren’t taken by this US-musicians and just little stayed in front of the stage. The Aggrolites played a lot of songs where people had to repeat some phrases, like A-G-G-R-O or Dirty Reggae.

For the last show of the day the audience filled up again. Many wanted to listen to Tarrus Riley and his exceptional singing accompanied by Dean Fraser at the saxophone. Tarrus Riley’s tunes made the people dance at the late hour.

Second day: Linval Thompson, Steel Pulse, Groundation…

At the second festival day the running order was according to the timetable. With The Jouby’s some rocksteady from France came upon the stage. They also had to play for a small audience – the fate of first bands of a festival day. Jaqee from Sweden with Ugandan origin did some soul-reggae at the early evening. Her great voice created really good vibes and the concert was fantastic. Kokoo Girl and Moonshine are just few examples of her special old school 70s sound. U-Roy, the legendary deejay from Jamaica, followed. His singing was accompanied by some perfect roots sound. U-Roy had great charisma on stage.

The fourth act of the day was the roots singer Linval Thompson. He presented his recent album 'Ghetto Living' and the best-of album 'Ride on Dreadlocks'. It was a pleasure for the audience to see him on stage. As he played the song Marijuana everybody was singing happily.

Then Steel Pulse came on stage. Many people had come to the festival only because of them. Their tunes Steppin’ Out, Chant a Psalm, Roller Skates and a lot more were celebrated enormously. The popular trio of The Abyssinians fascinated the audience after Steel Pulse. As always, their reggae was kind of mystical.

On this second day the area was again overcrowded. When you looked around in every direction you couldn’t see any ground – just people.
The next band was Groundation. They played their first concert in Europe from their Tribute to Bob Marley-Tour. The beginning was a bit subdued with Running Away and the bridge to Praisin’, the only Groundation song they played, they convinced the massives. The American group played Bob Marley songs in their own way - the typical jazzy Groundation style.

The final act of the festival was High Tone from France with some electro-dub. The sound was very crazy and mainly electric. This band was obviously for the party people and hadn’t much to do with reggae. Despite of it many people were dancing energetically.

Also during and after the concerts the festival visitors made big party at the Sound System area beside the camping ground. On Friday Dubmatix featuring Brother Culture, Irie Itesfeaturing Lorenzo and Lieutenant Foxy were up. On Saturday Own Mission featuringTakana Zion, Irie Crew and Digital Sound System got the vibe going and made big party. Unfortunately it wasn’t really possible to switch between the Sound System area and the main scene because the Sound Systems played outside the festival area and the gates and inspections were in between.

All in all many great musicians were on the stages, around 800 volunteers did a great job, but the festival itself was not that relaxed and nice. Maybe the Reggae Sun Ska is now too big for really good vibes and some smooth atmosphere - what should be on a good festival. The organizers are conscient of the problems from this edition and next year the festival location will change and could be limited to 20000 visitors.

History of Reagge Indonesia

In Indonesia, some famous names in the world of reggae music, among others, Tony Q, Steven & Coconut Treez, Joni Agung (Bali), New Rastafara, and Heru ‘Shaggy Dog’ (Yogyakarta) and many more new bands popping up.

Around the year 1986, reggae started echoed in Indonesia. The band was Black Company ( West Papua ) ,a band with a genre of reggae. Then a few years later came the Asian Roots which is derived from the previous band. Then there are also Asian Force, Abresso ( West Papua ) and Jamming. The existence of reggae music in Indonesia seem marginalized. Moreover, the impression gained when one sees the appearance of reggae musicians who impressed mess.

In fact, there are idioms which has made him synonymous with the drug that is reggae. Is Reggae synonymous with drugs? Inil simple misrepresentation. Just mention the name of Tony Q is very clear that his reggae is focused on peace-loving. When judging from the history that is so that is synonymous with ‘ital’ – Ganja – call it a song Petertosh Let Jah Be praised, Mystic man, etc. Legalized it. So glorify marijuana as a means of a union with Jah rastaman or their god. It is undeniable negative views about this music.

Actually not so Rastafari movement is a movement consisting of many sects and even non-binding, meaning that a person is free to determine his way of life but still acknowledge Rastafari Makonnen as the new Messiah. Even in Jamaica a Rastafarian is a pure vegetarian. If a Peter Tosh or Bob Marley with lyrics that smelled of marijuana only because they found that it was a road to inner peace, besides ital food and hemp is that according to their African culture as something to be embraced again.

In Rasta doctrine that requires no to marijuana. Or his dreadlocks, it’s just thinking about cultural perangkulan Africa which is considered low by whites, and followers of this doctrine to prove that this culture is not low. Try to sink in the lyrics of one song this Rastafara Q Tony, “” Reggae does not have dreadlocks dreadlocks do not always have to maganjo reggae Reggae Reggae is a music lovers reggae peaceful way Sapa sing ora penak Wong penake ngene rich … .. “Keep going Reggae Indonesia Peace in the liver-Piss-Jah Bless All.

http://anfidz.web.id

Abresso Reagge Band, Pioner Music Reagge Indonesia

Setelah era Black Brothers dengan Hits yang fenomenal terjadi metamorfosis group-group band asal Papua

Semua tentu kenal dengan group band Black Sweet,Black Papas,Black Coconuts,Air mood dan terakhir Abreso band ,group band yang terakhir ini di bentuk pada awal tahun 80an,yang para personil terdiri dari anak-anak asli papua yang merantau di Jakarta dengan genre musik Reggae,

Kata "Abreso"sendiri berasal dari bahasa suku Atham/Arfak,Manokwari Papua,yang berarti "SALAM"dalam perjalanan karir group ini ternyata mendapat apresiasi tersendiri baik dari komunitas musik tanah air maupun di hati masyarakat Papua khususnya, karena mampu mewakili seni budaya Papua dalam setiap penampilannya.

Abreso band sendiri sebenarnya adalah gabungan dari group band Black Company dan Air mood,( sekedar mengingatkan bahwa cikal bakal lahirnya musik Reggae di tanah air salah satunya dengan hadirnya group band Black Company )awalnya mereka perfome Reggae Nite di Taman Impian Jaya Ancol

Group Abreso band pernah merilis album pada tahun 1997 yang di sponsori oleh salah satu tokoh pemuda yang terkenal pada saat itu Yorris Raweyai,Abreso dengan Hits “Sungguh ku tak percaya,I wonder dan Ada urusan apa” dan membantu menciptakan karya indah seperti pada group vocal ”RIO GRIME”

Mereka juga pernah perfome di Christmas Island dan mewakili Papua dalam misi perjalanan budaya ke Port Moresby(PNG),Tahun 2009 adalah awal kembalinya Abreso band setelah fakum yang cukup lama dengan merekrut muka-muka baru di barisan Vocal( DOMMY FENETIRUMA,ARY dan JONNA ) ini merupakan regenerasi dari group ini,sekarang Abreso dalam proses rec album ke 2. (ray)

Goyang Reggae Bersama Abresso

DARI sono-nya, musik ber-genre reggae memang lahir untuk menyuarakan kebebasan dan kemanusiaan. Lewat reggae, ekspresi kebebasan itu ternyata amat dirasakan. Di tengah komunitas reggae Indonesia, kini ada Abresso Band. Nama Abresso bukanlah nama baru, karena kelompok ini pada tahun 1980-an pernah meramaikan panggung musik Indonesia lewat album “Masuk Hitam Keluar Putih.” Saat itu Abresso (atau Abresso Airmood) mengusung aliran musik pop. Abressso kemudian tenggelam di tengah munculnya pelbagai grup baru.

Tapi jiwa musik yang terpatri di dada beberapa personilnya tak membuat nama Abresso mati. Dicky Mamoribo, Akon Bonay, dan Boyke Pattipeiluhu (Phu) masih tetap manggung dari kafe ke kafe di kota Jakarta. Sambutan penonton dan fans tak pernah putus, apalagi Dicky cs manjur dalam memainkan genre reggae.

Terpikir untuk lebih eksis, Dicky dan Akon merekrut tenaga baru, dan jadilah formasi terkini Abresso Band: Akon Bonay (bas, vocal, backing vocal), Dicky Mamoribo (keyboard, backing vocal), Boyke Phu (drum), Dommy Fenetiruma (lead vocal), Ary (vocal), Jonna (vocal), Robby Wambrauw (keyboard), dan Pilatus Daisiu (lead guitar).

Reggae yang dimainkan anak-anak Papua ini mengingatkan kita pada permainan reggae dari musisi kulit hitam Afrika dan Amerika. Setiap kali pentas, Dicky cs mendapat aplaus bertubi-tubi dan memaksa penonton ikut bergoyang. Semakin dikenal, semakin Abresso diundang kemana-mana.

Belum lama mereka “pulang kampung” ke Papua. Bagi masyarakat Papua yang masih berjuang untuk keluar dari kerangkeng kemiskinan dan praktik pelanggaran HAM, maka kehadiran Abresso yang menghadirkan “suara pembebasan” sungguh menyejukkan hati. Sedikitnya, Abresso hadir untuk memberi penghiburan dan peneguhan di “Tanah Perjanjian” Papua. Dan, tua-muda, laki-perempuan, sobat-pace, semuanya bergoyang “bunuh”. Di tengah-tengah kesibukan pentas dan tour ke daerah, kini Dicky cs tengah mempersiapkan album baru. Tentu saja kita berharap album itu secepatnya dirilis, agar kita bisa terus bergoyang sambil bertanya pada rumput yang bergoyang. ♦ Stef Tokan