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 wide trail to the beach was sandwiched between a dense mix of vegetation that included what looked like mangrove and an array of beautiful local flowers. The thick foliage captured my attention and my eyes darted from side to side marveling at the plants. Nearing the end of the trail, I looked in front of me and caught a glimpse of the Marianne beach. I smiled and the wind blew as if to greet me. “Welcome to paradise,” it whispered. L: Marianne Beach, Blanchichesse, R: A lone coconut on the sand The waves rolling in at Marianne Beach Our country possesses some of most beautiful places in the world and Blanchisseuse is certainly on the list. Exploring this small scenic village, in the north coast of Trinidad, you find that adventure and breathtaking views are always right around the corner. Spreading a mat down on the sand I was filled with a joy that can only come from being within an oasis! Beautiful Scenery at the bea...
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 ...
Singing at the Spring We can spend time in nature to regain balance, to de-stress, to remember who we are and to gain a new perspective. Meditation really works for me but for those who find it’s hard to sit in silence during the day, make an effort to get into nature regularly. Four-Step Mantra: On the first in-breath say to yourself, “In this perfect moment.” On the first out-breath, say, “dwells my perfect peace.” On the second in-breath, say, “I cherish this perfect moment.” On the second out-breath, say, “I cherish this perfect peace.” What is your favorite nature spot? Share in the comments below!
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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