Review
Publication date : Wednesday, July 23rd 2008 - 10 335 views Juan les Pins Reggae Festival
In the absence of a major reggae festival, the South of France is once again hosting some fine nights this year. With Dub Incorporation, Toots & The Maytals, Mr Vegas, Busy Signal and Alborosie, part of the Summerjam line-up rallied to the Mediterranean coast at the start of the month in Juan les Pins, for the twelfth edition of the Big Reggae Festival in the Pinède.
 Under a bright sun and the best of auspices, the 12th Big Reggae Festival in Juan les Pins gets under way. It is 8pm when the Shenghen Band set up and warm up the sound with three cuts by Alborosie's backing singers, Julie and Aisha. Puppa Albo makes his entrance on Rastafari anthem with a first pull up, despite a fairly thin crowd in front of him. The Sicilian singer launches into Herbalist, which he finishes on a well-felt ska tempo, then Call up Jah (another pull up) and Precious, a song sung as a duet with U Roy on the single released on Fastforward Records. After Police, slightly dubbed out at the end, we have to wait two more tracks before the big hit Kingstown Town arrives. A quick introduction of the band, a few words for the artists to follow, and that's it: 35 minutes of show (only) in an arena half full but enthusiastic.
 After a twenty-minute gap, it is Busy Signal's turn to introduce himself to the Riviera crowd. After the band's intro on a hybrid Coolie dance, the young Jamaican deejay, whom we left on an excellent impression at Summerjam a few days earlier, delivers another supercharged performance. His half-hour show has no dead time, running through a dozen of his tunes including Badman place, Wine up pon me, The days and Pon di edge. He leaves the stage on the terrific Jail. Decidedly, this one will go far.
 It is 10pm when the now veteran Mr Vegas bursts on stage full of energy. Accompanied by his Jamaican selecta, who livens up the set nicely, Mr Vegas fires off Taxi fare and Man a badman straight away before flipping the show around, which takes on the feel of a sound system. Vegas turns into DJ Vegas: while a good Burro Banton tune is thrown on the turntables, he sings over it (Shes a hoo), then plays a new selection (Beenie Man) before launching into a marathon: Hot gal today, (nike air) Hands in the air, and his mega hit Heads high. There is just time to pull up the Coolie Dance Riddim (dance lesson included) and off we go again with the sound atmosphere, with Murder she wrote by Chaka Demus and Pliers and One blood by Junior Reid. We don't escape the tribute to Bob Marley: Buffalo soldiers and Who the cap fit ring out, sung along to by the whole assembly; this time it is the artists who applaud the crowd. Vegas asks for the lights to be turned off to deliver Turn your lights down low, lit up by hundreds of lighters and mobile phones. The show picks up intensity again with Hot wuk, to a display of pure, completely unleashed yardie dancing by two very supple young women. Vegas leaves the stage after more than an hour of intense show. The night is now well under way and the crowd fully ready to welcome Toots and the Maytals.
 Despite the years piling up, Toots Hibbert is as energetic as ever. In front of a won-over crowd, the Jamaican Otis Redding runs through his many classics, which are acclaimed in France: Pressure drop, Sweet and dandy, the funky Louie Louie, then Time tough. His well-oiled show sees him pick up his guitar for a Bam bam. The best of is not over: he follows with Funky Kingston and Do the reggay, brings the tempo down for a (Take me home) Country roads and finishes with a flourish with Monkey man and the classic 54 46, which he precedes with an intro worthy of a soul preacher. Toots hands out water bottles to the front rows, and ends up going down, bottle in hand, to quench his fans' thirst himself. He disappears from view for several minutes then climbs back on stage striking a pose, flexing his muscles like a wrestler in an exhibition. He finishes by introducing all his musicians before disappearing again, but for good this time.
 Another change of stage, giving the members of Dub Incorporation time to set up. It is nearly 1am when the Saint-Étienne band begin their performance. As usual, the group, used to long tours, delivers an impeccable show. Their one-hour set takes place in communion with the crowd, in a very good atmosphere. The classics alternate with tracks from the new album. With tunes like Métissage, Jump up, Afrikya, Rude boy and Murderer, the band sets the place on fire. So much so that Mr Vegas joins them on stage for a one-off combination, the apotheosis of a memorable night.
Report written by Nicolas Swartebroekx et David Brun
Photos : David Brun
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