Review

The years go by, but they are not alike, at one of the biggest reggae festivals in Europe. Whereas last year had seen many fresh artists parade through and seemed more in tune than ever with the Jamaican scene (just to name Busy Signal, Alaine, Etana, Queen Ifrica, Tarrus Riley, Mr Vegas…), this 24th edition offered a much less enticing and more mainstream line-up. The crisis, perhaps? In any case, it has to be said that some big sponsors were missing and attendance seemed lower. In 2008, the programming was more or less balanced – 50/50 – between Jamaican and European artists, but in 2009 the trend reverses: still fewer Jamaicans, more "mainstream" European headliners and a well-represented French scene. Are we at the dawn of a new Summerjam, or is it simply a matter of taking a little run-up to deliver a 25th Summerjam worthy of the name?   Reactions (0)    Friday 3 July Playing Summerjam for the first time, the French band Danakil and Glen Washington (accompanied by the group House of riddim from Austria) open the ball on the small stage. Big Ship crew We arrive just in time for the Big Ship crew, gathered around the Millenium band, and for Laden, one of the only fresh artists at this festival, who is finishing his short introduction: we hear his hit Time to shine and Working hard. Then it is the turn of Chino, one of the McGregor sons, to take the stage with a few mostly reggae tunes (he quickly slaps on the chorus of Redbull & Guiness). He then makes way for the patriarch Freddie McGregor, who has no trouble winning the crowd over thanks to his fine collection of hits: Push come to shove, the unmissable Big ship, I was born a winner, Africa here I come and Key to the city. A few covers too, with Loving pauper and a tribute to Dennis Brown over two tracks. Ward 21 We then head to Ward 21 on the main stage, who deliver a three-man show (Mean Dog, Kunley and Suku) that is rather old school, judging by the riddims on offer. Used to German stages, but absent for a few years (they were last here in 2005), Ward 21 put together a selection of classics such as Spy, Coochie zone or Ganja smoke. Horace Andy Horace Andy plays to a thinner and less lively crowd on the small stage, while Patrice, a local artist and festival regular, delivers his show on the red stage, alternating acoustic guitar numbers with numbers with his band. "Sleepy", who had not come for two years, treats us to some good moments, notably Elementary, the inevitable Skylarking and Cuss cuss. Anthony B He hands over on the same stage to Anthony B (who last came in 2007), for the biggest reggae show of the evening, which opens with Equal rights. In form and dynamic as usual, Anthony B runs through his set and one can regret the choice of tracks, which makes for a slightly less "punchy" performance than the one he gives in Jamaica. Within a selection that has not changed much, made up of hits from Star Trail (One thing, Hurt mi heart) or the classics Waan back and Good life, there are a few tracks from the latest album, "Rise up", released on Maximum sound, such as Iley, Iley, Selassie , but not necessarily the most dynamic ones. Anthony B gives two encores and sets the crowd alight with, notably, Raid di barn. Meanwhile, the main stage welcomes the German singer Jan Delay for a colourful, mixed and mainstream show, blending hip-hop, dancehall, rock… which draws a good part of the crowd. Saturday 4 July Alborosie The day starts relatively late for us with Alborosie, accompanied by the excellent Shengen Clan, playing Summerjam for the third year running. His presence in 2009 is nonetheless exceptional, as he is replacing Barrington Levy, the great absentee of this festival. His performance, discovered in 2007, is this time reinforced by the new tracks from his album "Escape from Babylon" such as Irusalem (inspired by Alpha Blondy's Jerusalem), Mama she don't like you or No cocaine. The show is also punctuated by covers with Horace Andy's Money and the now customary Black Uhuru session. Ziggi Another regular performs at the same time, also for the third year running. Ziggi, the Dutch singer, replaces Madcon (absent for health reasons). In front of a loyal crowd, he performs several tracks from his album "In transit", among them Youth dem today and Need to tell you this, which trigger the biggest reactions. He also covers Santana's Black magic woman. Tiken Jah Fakoly The Ivorian flag flies in the crowd at the main stage to welcome Tiken, whose last Summerjam appearance dates back to 2003. He introduces himself in English. He comes in on Ca va faire mal, then Alou mayé and follows with his best tracks, Plus rien ne m'étonne and Ouvrez les frontières. He returns for an encore with Africain à Paris and of course Françafrique, and even if he took a little while to warm up, Tiken held his audience, who give it back to him in kind at the end of a good hour of show. Junior Kelly With his new band, tried out in Paris in April, Junior Kelly seems more at ease. The show is all the more rhythmic and fast. Within the well-honed selection, already described many times over, there are a few changes such as the calm Take it easy, but few new tracks (Jah Jah's children to name one). Buju Banton It had been 7 years since we last saw Buju Banton at Summerjam. He storms the main stage while Michael Franti and Spearhead occupy the green stage, joined for the occasion by Cherine Anderson. It is one of the most anticipated moments of the festival, and the show did not disappoint, even if it has not changed much: led first by a rather dancehall medley (Me & oonu, Only man…), then by his hits on Penthouse (Not an easy road, Champion, Destiny, Buju moving, Massa got world…), the rest of the show is rather roots. Incidentally, we did not see Delly Ranks, who were supposedly meant to accompany Gargamel on his tour. The crowd reacts with enthusiasm, notably to the last tracks from the album "Rasta got soul" (A little bit of sorry for example, but oddly no Magic city). One of the biggest crowd reactions comes near the end with Driver. Of note, Buju also pays tribute to Michael Jackson with Heal the world. Arrested Developpement But we have to wait for Arrested Developpement, on the small stage, for a tribute worthy of the name, started by the bassist at the end of an impressive freestyle: he moves straight into the bass line of Billie Jean, simply masterly. The American group's show was boiling hot and funky. Bunny Wailer At the same time, "Jah B" spreads his performance across the main stage, with a show very close to the one given at Ja' Sound in 2006: a very roots first part, with tracks from the album "Blackheart man", a refreshing dancehall detour, before concluding with the Wailers repertoire. Stone Love Usually disappointing (easy selection and a crowd won over in advance), the sound system stage was an exception this year, mostly thanks to Wee Pow of Stone Love. In a tent a little less full than in previous years, the selector, on his own, starts with a few "anthems" (a series on the Real rock for example), but quickly pulls out some new dubplates: a series of Movado, Vybz Kartel's Dollar sign or Mr Vegas's I am blessed. The crowd answers the call and the level seems for once up to scratch. The other sounds are more disappointing, notably Sentinel, who, by contenting themselves with replaying most of last year's tracks, made us flee. Sunday 5 July Conducive to discoveries, but not especially transcendent for fans of Jamaican reggae, the last day looks rather quiet. The German artist Howie Blendah opens the main stage and warms up the crowd with his tracks, mostly on very well-known riddims. U-Roy & Pablo Moses We then welcome U-Roy, with pleasure, even if the show is rather short and skips several hits from his early days, which nonetheless marked the history of reggae. Pablo Moses takes over, with the same band, for a very roots show, where the vocal accuracy is made up for by the rasta vibration that emanates from it. He naturally wins all votes on his hits Pave the way, I man a grasshopper and Ready, aim, fire. A little African break on the main stage with Baaba Maal, the Senegalese star, who delivers a disorienting performance with very varied influences. Sly & Robbie and Bitty McLean Having already come two years ago, the Taxi combo and Bitty McLean had already accustomed us to their formidable efficiency. The show here is made up of two parts, first rocksteady (album "On bond street"), then more rub-a-dub thanks to the Taxi riddims that still sound wonderful (album "Movin' on") such as The real thing. The original Taxi riddim turns the crowd upside down with Lately, and after an encore it is the turn of the Guess who's coming to dinner riddim with Plead my cause. Meanwhile Nneka, a German-Nigerian artist, takes the small stage: this slip of a woman (incidentally one of the only female representatives) delivers a new-soul show tinged with African influences. Committed, she does not hesitate to address the crowd to underline the themes of her songs. Admiral T The Guadeloupean deejay gives us a nice surprise, having not trodden the stage much of late: for his first time at Summerjam, on the small stage, he offers a well-prepared and dynamic show, with two backing singers and two dancers. With a fine range of tracks, whether reggae or dancehall, Admiral sets off to conquer the German audience: Everytime, Rev an mwen, Lanmou épi respé and Toucher l'horizon. He also places Mozaik kréyol as an interlude. The crowd is boiling and particularly receptive, especially as Admiral gets them involved, goes down into the crowd and has dancers come up on stage at the end of the concert. Groundation Present in 2007, Groundation were supposed to headline this Sunday evening. But in the end it is UB40 who get that honour. The organisers nonetheless gave the American group a long time slot, allowing them to develop their still musically very rich performance. It is above all a chance to hear live, shortly after their appearance at Solidays, the tracks from their new album "Here I am", released this summer. Meanwhile, the French band Babylon Circus play the small stage and manage to set their crowd alight. UB40 Led by Maxi Priest on vocals, who now replaces Ali Campbell, UB40 close this 24th edition in front of a very dense crowd. A very mainstream high point, with unavoidable hits such as Red red wine, Homely girl, Here I am baby, Food for thought and Kingston town. Let us admit it, the musical quality was there and the group delivered a grandiose finale with a Can't help failling in love to kick off the traditional fireworks. Report written by La rédaction Tags : Bunny Wailer (46), Festivals 2009 (23), Allemagne (34)   Reactions (0)

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