Travelling on the train to Antwerp from Den Haag marked the forth
time I was making this trip. Who knew this route would become a familiar one
for me. Verse, B and I were headed to the Smile! Reggae Festival, which was the
one I was looking forward to since Verse iTal’s first band practice with the
Asham Band. This is the performance they had all been working toward and as we
neared Antwerp my excitement mounted. Before heading to the venue, Verse had a
quick practice with the back up singers one more time and it was great to hear
the ladies add their two part harmonies to Verse’s tunes.
Walking to the venue, which was located in a forested area, I
tried to pay attention to where I stepped (there were patches of mud due to the
rain the day before) while marveling at the beauty of the surroundings. The
weather was chilly and a bit overcast but luckily the rain had held up. After
settling in backstage, we headed into the main area to see the lay out of the
festival. The Ska Reggae band, the Upsttemians were performing on the large
main stage and a crowd was
enjoying the DJ’s music as the hype man sang along to some beats in an indoor dance floor section. The rest of
the festival was laid out around a small clearing in the forest where people
moved between the food stalls, tables, vendors and another small DJ area. It
was a beautiful location as the trees gave a peaceful, mystical vibe that was
perfect for a reggae show!
Scenery as I walked toward the festival
The crew at Smile! Reggae Festival
The Main Tent- T: The Upsttemians on stage, B: The crowd in the main stage, R: Verse and I posing
The indoor dancefloor
Clothes on sale at the festival
Two lovely patrons at the festival
Food and drinks on sale, including my yummy Caipirinha
TL: Another DJ Area, TR: An area for kids to play, BL: Tables under the trees, BR: Beautiful festival grounds
Painted Banners
L: Verse's name on the line up sheet backstage, R: Posters advertising an upcoming performance with Verse iTal!
When Asham Band took the stage, they first backed Johnny den Artiest. They sing in Dutch so I couldn’t understand the lyrics but between the
matching animal print wardrobe, their energetic on stage performance and the
interaction with their stuffed Tiger, there was a lot for me to be entertained
by. They had the large crowd moving and enjoying the performance! After the
band took a short break it was Verse’s turn on the stage! Hearing him with the
whole band and the back up singers was incredible. On the stage and in the
crowd I took pictures and video with a huge smile. He sang six tunes, which
included “Vibesday” which hasn’t been released, and his current hit “Want NoPart”. I looked on as the crowd started to increase and people began moving to
the music. My favorite moment was when a couple started to slow dance (with
dips and all) to his song “Spring Water.” By the time he reached the end of the
set the crowd had grown and his on stage energy was radiating throughout the
tent.
Johnny den Artiest
Johnny den Artiest
Verse iTal on stage- Smile! Reggae Festival
Verse iTal on stage- Smile! Reggae Festival
Verse iTal on stage- Smile! Reggae Festival
Verse iTal on stage- Smile! Reggae Festival
L: A little child looks on as Verse smiles with the crowd, R: Verse with his lovely back-up singers
Later that night Ken Boothe took the stage and let me just
say I will never forget the crowds’ response to him. This energetic 66-year-old
Jamaican singer has been in the business for about 51 years. I must admit I
didn’t know who he was before this but from the packed crowd of fans it turned
out I was the only one. People of all ages cheered, danced and sang along to
his songs word for word! I was amazed. People even climbed on stage to hug him and
had to be removed by security! This guy was the ultimate superstar and he gave
a wonderful performance to an adoring crowd! Ward 21 performed next and I was
instantly transported back to the Great Race party days. As they performed their
hits memories flooded in of the nights partying on pigeon point in the 90’s! I’ve
never seen them perform so it was cool to see them live and watch how their
music moved the crowd!
This festival was such a great experience. It was well
organized and I was exposed to a great mix of artists. As I reviewed the
footage of Verse on stage with the live band, I couldn’t help but feel excited
for what’s in store for him as he continues on his musical journey. Check out the video below of Verse on stage with the band!
Ken Boothe
The crowd reacts to Ken Boothe's performance
Ward 21 and crew
The view from the crowd of Ward 21
Here is a video of Verse iTal on stage with the Asham Band at the Smile! Reggae Festival.
Im always pleasantly surprised at how much Europeans support Reggae music. What a lovely setting! Verse Ital is really getting a great experience and growing from strength to strength! Wonderful!
The drumming, singing, and dancing were captivating. As I looked on I was totally engrossed in what I was witnessing and I felt like I was on a tour in another country when I was in fact only a stone’s throw away from Port of Spain! We were in Laventille to learn more about the Orisha religion for a project on East Port of Spain and the camera crew was dutifully filming three ladies who belong to the faith. Several shrines of different colours were laid out in a row in one section within an open yard. They went to each shrine and told us about the deity they were built for, what offerings were usually given and a short sample of what songs might be sung in various ceremonies throughout the year. The singing was mesmerizing as their voices and the Yoruba derived lyrics they belted out pulsated a rhythmic vibration through the air. The ladies explain different aspects of the faith and answer questions The Yard with some of the shrines to the various Deities A tour of t
The massive cross sits high on a hill and is visible from miles away. Verse and I were driving in the Troodos region , heading to the Kykkos monastery when we spotted the 25-metre cross looming above us. Intrigued, we had to veer off route and drive up the hill to find out more. Stavros Fithkias is a small modern chapel with amazing wall paintings. As is common in the majority of their churches these frescos were intricate, bright and tell the stories of the gospels. This chapel was built in the 80’s and is a common stop for pilgrims heading to the Kykkos monastery. Prior to our trip to Cyprus I had no idea what a huge role religion had in their culture and history. (I guess that’s because I knew very little about Cyprus at all, save for the fact that it was the hottest location in Europe at the time I wanted to travel). A whopping ten of their churches (found on the Greek side) are Unesco’s World Heritage sites making this island a must visit for all those interested
This was the first museum we visited, although the description says it’s technically not a museum but an ‘experience’. After a quick tram ride from our flat it was a lovely short stroll to the old Heineken brewery (which was easy to find, as there is no way you can miss the huge Heineken sign). The line to buy the tickets was pretty long but it moved swiftly. The cost to enter was €17 for adults but with a coupon found in a tourist attraction book we paid €15 for one ticket (yay for discounts). Along with your tickets you are given a green Heineken band that allows you to get two free drinks after the self-guided tour. Slipping the band on our hands we had no idea what to expect and we were excited to get started on the experience! The Heineken brewery is well worth a visit even for non-drinking folks. Being one of the most successful and internationally known beer brands, Heineken has such a deep-rooted history in Holland and the tour presents this and information about the
great times!!
ReplyDeleteIm always pleasantly surprised at how much Europeans support Reggae music. What a lovely setting! Verse Ital is really getting a great experience and growing from strength to strength! Wonderful!
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