Reggae · May 08, 2002
1st Reggae Gerais Festival! Check it out!
1st Reggae
Hello friends of Surforeggae, today I'm here to tell how the 1st Reggae Gerais went, a reggae festival with 7 bands from the capital of Minas that took place on April 26, at Lapa Multishow, in Belo Horizonte - MG. I learned about the event on the internet (Massive Reggae), where the biggest promoter of reggae in Minas Gerais, Leo Vidigal, publicized it. Without anyone's support, I gathered my “spare change” and decided to cover the event for 3 reasons:
Check how Minas reggae is doing, since there is no reggae circuit in Minas, nor many reggae events in the capital, nor many bands either;
Record interviews with the bands and bring their CDs to promote on my show at Rádio Universitária FM in Viçosa – MG (Reggae Resistência/ Thursday, from 20:00 to 22:00h);
Write this article for Surforeggae, at Renato's invitation.
I decided to leave Viçosa at 12:30h to arrive at 17:00h in Belo Horizonte, where Leo Vidigal was waiting for me at the bus station. On the way to the event venue, he gave me an overview of how reggae is in the capital and we exchanged several ideas about how to work for the development of reggae in Minas, projects, ideas and actions... We stopped at the post office to pick up the Mystical Roots material that had arrived and at his house to grab the records to spin that night.
We arrived around 18:00h at the event venue, which was scheduled to start at 21:30h. Since Leo still had to teach at the university, he left me there and went on his way. The place was still being prepared and the Raíz de Jah crew was there, a reggae-themed bar that was being set up.
We exchanged a few words and I went to check the venue structure. I took some photos and hunger hit. When I was leaving to look for a PF, the people from Cria Produções, the event organizer, arrived and recognized me right away. We chatted, they gave me an access badge for the event and invited me to their house to take a shower, eat, and wait for the start time. And that's what I did. While waiting, we even watched Berimbrown live on the Marcos Mignon show on Bandeirantes TV (the guys tore it up, I take the chance to send a hug to Mestre Negativo and the whole band).
We returned to the event at 21:30h, where Leo was already waiting for me to start the DJ set. Then it was only heavy tunes for the crowd: Don Carlos, Upsetters, Abyssinians, Barbara Jones, T T Ross, Black Uhuru, Isaacs, Gladiators, Marley, Tosh, Israel Vibration, Mystical Roots, Rasta Joint, Tin Tim Gomes, Edson Gomes, Don Luiz, Unidade Punho Forte, Jahcareggae, Afetos, Dionorina, Tribo de Jah... I played more Brazilian artists than foreign ones, since Leo was a bit out of date and he played more of the foreign artists. We played until 23:30h, when the 1st band started. My action strategy was as follows:
Play the tunes until Leo introduced the bands (he was the host of the night);
Take photos of the band at the start of the show (all lasting 25 min.);
Run to the dressing room to interview the band that had just played;
Go back to the DJ set so Leo could introduce the next attraction.
And so it went throughout the event. I think I even lost a few kilos, because the sound table was on the 2nd floor facing the
stage, the dance floor was on the ground floor and the dressing rooms were on the 2nd floor behind the stage. I must have made that trip about 20 times.
From now on I describe the bands, based on the show and the conversation I had with them:
Lineup: Vocals/ Acoustic Guitar and BVocals/ Guitar/ Percussion, Flute and Harmonica.
Repertoire: Dread Lion, Natiruts, Marley and 3 originals.
Highlights: The percussionist, who has reggae feeling and plays transverse flute and harmonica, and a singer with strong presence and good English.
Intentions: Go deeper into reggae, release a demo tape.
Comments: Band with 1 year of existence, formed by a young crew in the 16-18 age range, lyrics focused on nature, acoustic reggae, the bass was missing to stitch the sound together.
Lineup: Vocals and Guitar/ Guitar/ Bass/ Keyboard/ Drums.
Repertoire: Bob Marley covers, Natiruts, 2 originals.
Highlights: No highlights.
Intentions: Keep playing covers until they get tighter with reggae.
Comments: Band with 1 year and a half of existence, formed by a crew of 18-21 years old, they make a tight sound, they are starting well.
Lineup: Vocals/ Guitar/ Guitar/ Bass/ Drums.
Repertoire: Original songs, 1 Camafeu.
Highlights: The singer, with strong stage presence, and the heavy guitar.
Intentions: Valuing black culture, mixing rhythms like reggae, soul, congado, Hip Hop, etc., release a CD soon.
Comments: The band is part of the black resistance cultural movement Agbara Dundum on the outskirts of BH, very conscious, already 5 years as a band, the rhythm section (bass and drums) has a very strong groove.
Lineup: Vocals/ BVocals/ Guitar and BVocals/ Guitar and BVocals/ Keyboard/ Bass/ Drums.
Repertoire: Songs from the 1st and 2nd album.
Highlight: Moretti himself, a character.
Intentions: Return to the stage, promote the new CD, recently released, with participation from Wilson Sideral, 2 Rap groups and production by Juliano Mourão from Omeriah.
Comments: Very tight band, great new songs, new musicians gave weight to the band, one of the best shows of the night.
Lineup: Vocals and Percussion/ Guitar and BVocals/ Bass and BVocals/ Keyboard/ Drums.
Repertoire: 4 from the 1st album, 2 Marley, 1 John Lennon.
Highlight: Juliano Mourão, who drives the band.
Intentions: Recover the personality lost after the release of the 2nd CD, return to the stage.
Comments: The band is going through a process of self-knowledge, it still hasn't found itself again after changing style to pop and it didn't work out. The band is scattered and the old energy still doesn't flow, but they are good musicians and well intentioned.
Lineup: Vocals and Guitar/ BVocals/ Bass/ Drums/ Horn Sequencer.
Repertoire: 3 from the 1st CD, 3 Marley.
Highlight: Michele Wilson, an experienced singer with over 20 years of career, participation of Bulldog (Rasta Joint) on bass in one song, participation of Moacir Salvador (THC) on guitar.
Intentions: Resist the difficulties found in keeping their work alive, release a new CD at the end of the year.
Comments: Keyroga is the 1st reggae artist from Minas Gerais, has almost 15 years in reggae and does everything to keep his sound alive. There was a bit of trouble with the sequencer during some songs due to the last-minute participation of one more guitar, leaving the atmosphere tense at times.
Lineup: Vocals/ BVocals/ Bass and BVocals/ Guitar/ Guitar/ Percussion/ Drums.
Repertoire: Only original songs, 1 Marley.
Highlight: Aidê, the band's singer, who has a striking voice, excellent stage presence, and leads the crowd with mastery.
Intention: Promote their work, manage to release a CD.
Comments: In my opinion the best band of the night, they deliver an impressive energy. All the musicians deserve attention: female lead vocalist, male BVocals, “stone-hand” drums, “a la George Fully” bass, roots percussionist, heavy lead guitar and rhythm guitar with “machete” on top. At the end they called all the festival musicians to the stage to sing “Woman No Cry” by Marley together, a special moment.
The shows ended at 04:30h and the DJ set went until 05:00h. The crowd didn't want to move and only left because they cut the sound, turned on the lights and started sweeping the place. When I realized it was already 05:15 and my bus was at 05:30h. I ran and took a taxi, I didn't even get to eat the hot dog sold at the door of the event. I arrived at the station and the bus was leaving, but I managed to catch it. I sat down and only woke up at home. This festival was important to call the attention of the public and the media of BH to reggae, but mainly for the bands, which almost have no space to perform.
With this, they were able to live a festival atmosphere, where the exchange of information in the dressing rooms is very important for their growth and maturation, and for strengthening the reggae movement. It was very good to see new bands emerging, see another generation starting work in reggae, being influenced by the messages of Jah and Marley, believing and living that. It was also good to see old reggae artists rising again, like Omeriah, Keyroga and Moretti himself, believing in a page turn that reggae has been living in recent years. It was also good to see the producers opening space for reggae, believing in its potential. And the public as well, who showed up in great numbers, with their hats, flags, light and relaxed vibe, dancing and freeing themselves to the sound of reggae.
Of course here we are still far from the ideal, but all of this is already an indication of the potential that reggae has to develop in Minas Gerais and in Brazil as a whole. Now it's to keep fighting, believing in a common ideal which is reggae and its teachings, digging spaces in radios, TVs, communities, concert halls, record stores, and doing our part, composing songs and lyrics committed to reggae, setting examples for the younger ones, boosting new bands, putting into practice the teachings that reggae gives us.
Well, I close this report hoping to show Brazil that Minas reggae is more alive than ever, and with the feeling of mission accomplished, for reggae and for the brothers in struggle who deserve attention for their work and for their intention. I leave a hug to all surforeggae internet users and to all reggae artists in Brazil, who believe in the transformative force of reggae and the words of Jah. Until next time!
Leo Vidigal, from Massive Reggae (together we are stronger than alone);
Clebinho and the Cria Produções crew (the pool was great);
Rádio Universitária FM (Reggae Resistência Program);
Surforeggae website (thanks for the opportunities and credibility);
Lapa Multishow (free pass);
Keyroga, Moretti, THC and Juliano (we are all brothers);
Jah, our Creator (for the opportunity and the mission accomplished).
Check how Minas reggae is doing, since there is no reggae circuit in Minas, nor many reggae events in the capital, nor many bands either;
Record interviews with the bands and bring their CDs to promote on my show at Rádio Universitária FM in Viçosa – MG (Reggae Resistência/ Thursday, from 20:00 to 22:00h);
Write this article for Surforeggae, at Renato's invitation.
I decided to leave Viçosa at 12:30h to arrive at 17:00h in Belo Horizonte, where Leo Vidigal was waiting for me at the bus station. On the way to the event venue, he gave me an overview of how reggae is in the capital and we exchanged several ideas about how to work for the development of reggae in Minas, projects, ideas and actions... We stopped at the post office to pick up the Mystical Roots material that had arrived and at his house to grab the records to spin that night.
We arrived around 18:00h at the event venue, which was scheduled to start at 21:30h. Since Leo still had to teach at the university, he left me there and went on his way. The place was still being prepared and the Raíz de Jah crew was there, a reggae-themed bar that was being set up.
We exchanged a few words and I went to check the venue structure. I took some photos and hunger hit. When I was leaving to look for a PF, the people from Cria Produções, the event organizer, arrived and recognized me right away. We chatted, they gave me an access badge for the event and invited me to their house to take a shower, eat, and wait for the start time. And that's what I did. While waiting, we even watched Berimbrown live on the Marcos Mignon show on Bandeirantes TV (the guys tore it up, I take the chance to send a hug to Mestre Negativo and the whole band).
We returned to the event at 21:30h, where Leo was already waiting for me to start the DJ set. Then it was only heavy tunes for the crowd: Don Carlos, Upsetters, Abyssinians, Barbara Jones, T T Ross, Black Uhuru, Isaacs, Gladiators, Marley, Tosh, Israel Vibration, Mystical Roots, Rasta Joint, Tin Tim Gomes, Edson Gomes, Don Luiz, Unidade Punho Forte, Jahcareggae, Afetos, Dionorina, Tribo de Jah... I played more Brazilian artists than foreign ones, since Leo was a bit out of date and he played more of the foreign artists. We played until 23:30h, when the 1st band started. My action strategy was as follows:
Play the tunes until Leo introduced the bands (he was the host of the night);
Take photos of the band at the start of the show (all lasting 25 min.);
Run to the dressing room to interview the band that had just played;
Go back to the DJ set so Leo could introduce the next attraction.
And so it went throughout the event. I think I even lost a few kilos, because the sound table was on the 2nd floor facing the
stage, the dance floor was on the ground floor and the dressing rooms were on the 2nd floor behind the stage. I must have made that trip about 20 times.
From now on I describe the bands, based on the show and the conversation I had with them:
23:30h: Banda Sítios
Lineup: Vocals/ Acoustic Guitar and BVocals/ Guitar/ Percussion, Flute and Harmonica.
Repertoire: Dread Lion, Natiruts, Marley and 3 originals.
Highlights: The percussionist, who has reggae feeling and plays transverse flute and harmonica, and a singer with strong presence and good English.
Intentions: Go deeper into reggae, release a demo tape.
Comments: Band with 1 year of existence, formed by a young crew in the 16-18 age range, lyrics focused on nature, acoustic reggae, the bass was missing to stitch the sound together.
00:05h: Banda RaJah
Lineup: Vocals and Guitar/ Guitar/ Bass/ Keyboard/ Drums.
Repertoire: Bob Marley covers, Natiruts, 2 originals.
Highlights: No highlights.
Intentions: Keep playing covers until they get tighter with reggae.
Comments: Band with 1 year and a half of existence, formed by a crew of 18-21 years old, they make a tight sound, they are starting well.
00:40h: Banda Agbara
Lineup: Vocals/ Guitar/ Guitar/ Bass/ Drums.
Repertoire: Original songs, 1 Camafeu.
Highlights: The singer, with strong stage presence, and the heavy guitar.
Intentions: Valuing black culture, mixing rhythms like reggae, soul, congado, Hip Hop, etc., release a CD soon.
Comments: The band is part of the black resistance cultural movement Agbara Dundum on the outskirts of BH, very conscious, already 5 years as a band, the rhythm section (bass and drums) has a very strong groove.
01:20h: Celso Moretti e Barraco de Aluguel
Lineup: Vocals/ BVocals/ Guitar and BVocals/ Guitar and BVocals/ Keyboard/ Bass/ Drums.
Repertoire: Songs from the 1st and 2nd album.
Highlight: Moretti himself, a character.
Intentions: Return to the stage, promote the new CD, recently released, with participation from Wilson Sideral, 2 Rap groups and production by Juliano Mourão from Omeriah.
Comments: Very tight band, great new songs, new musicians gave weight to the band, one of the best shows of the night.
02:00h: Banda Omeriah
Lineup: Vocals and Percussion/ Guitar and BVocals/ Bass and BVocals/ Keyboard/ Drums.
Repertoire: 4 from the 1st album, 2 Marley, 1 John Lennon.
Highlight: Juliano Mourão, who drives the band.
Intentions: Recover the personality lost after the release of the 2nd CD, return to the stage.
Comments: The band is going through a process of self-knowledge, it still hasn't found itself again after changing style to pop and it didn't work out. The band is scattered and the old energy still doesn't flow, but they are good musicians and well intentioned.
02:40h: Keyroga e banda Kalimba
Lineup: Vocals and Guitar/ BVocals/ Bass/ Drums/ Horn Sequencer.
Repertoire: 3 from the 1st CD, 3 Marley.
Highlight: Michele Wilson, an experienced singer with over 20 years of career, participation of Bulldog (Rasta Joint) on bass in one song, participation of Moacir Salvador (THC) on guitar.
Intentions: Resist the difficulties found in keeping their work alive, release a new CD at the end of the year.
Comments: Keyroga is the 1st reggae artist from Minas Gerais, has almost 15 years in reggae and does everything to keep his sound alive. There was a bit of trouble with the sequencer during some songs due to the last-minute participation of one more guitar, leaving the atmosphere tense at times.
03:20h: Banda THC
Lineup: Vocals/ BVocals/ Bass and BVocals/ Guitar/ Guitar/ Percussion/ Drums.
Repertoire: Only original songs, 1 Marley.
Highlight: Aidê, the band's singer, who has a striking voice, excellent stage presence, and leads the crowd with mastery.
Intention: Promote their work, manage to release a CD.
Comments: In my opinion the best band of the night, they deliver an impressive energy. All the musicians deserve attention: female lead vocalist, male BVocals, “stone-hand” drums, “a la George Fully” bass, roots percussionist, heavy lead guitar and rhythm guitar with “machete” on top. At the end they called all the festival musicians to the stage to sing “Woman No Cry” by Marley together, a special moment.
The shows ended at 04:30h and the DJ set went until 05:00h. The crowd didn't want to move and only left because they cut the sound, turned on the lights and started sweeping the place. When I realized it was already 05:15 and my bus was at 05:30h. I ran and took a taxi, I didn't even get to eat the hot dog sold at the door of the event. I arrived at the station and the bus was leaving, but I managed to catch it. I sat down and only woke up at home. This festival was important to call the attention of the public and the media of BH to reggae, but mainly for the bands, which almost have no space to perform.
With this, they were able to live a festival atmosphere, where the exchange of information in the dressing rooms is very important for their growth and maturation, and for strengthening the reggae movement. It was very good to see new bands emerging, see another generation starting work in reggae, being influenced by the messages of Jah and Marley, believing and living that. It was also good to see old reggae artists rising again, like Omeriah, Keyroga and Moretti himself, believing in a page turn that reggae has been living in recent years. It was also good to see the producers opening space for reggae, believing in its potential. And the public as well, who showed up in great numbers, with their hats, flags, light and relaxed vibe, dancing and freeing themselves to the sound of reggae.
Of course here we are still far from the ideal, but all of this is already an indication of the potential that reggae has to develop in Minas Gerais and in Brazil as a whole. Now it's to keep fighting, believing in a common ideal which is reggae and its teachings, digging spaces in radios, TVs, communities, concert halls, record stores, and doing our part, composing songs and lyrics committed to reggae, setting examples for the younger ones, boosting new bands, putting into practice the teachings that reggae gives us.
Well, I close this report hoping to show Brazil that Minas reggae is more alive than ever, and with the feeling of mission accomplished, for reggae and for the brothers in struggle who deserve attention for their work and for their intention. I leave a hug to all surforeggae internet users and to all reggae artists in Brazil, who believe in the transformative force of reggae and the words of Jah. Until next time!
AGRADECIMENTOS
P.S: I would like to thank the people who gave me support in this endeavor: Leo Vidigal, from Massive Reggae (together we are stronger than alone);
Clebinho and the Cria Produções crew (the pool was great);
Rádio Universitária FM (Reggae Resistência Program);
Surforeggae website (thanks for the opportunities and credibility);
Lapa Multishow (free pass);
Keyroga, Moretti, THC and Juliano (we are all brothers);
Jah, our Creator (for the opportunity and the mission accomplished).Category
#Reggae