REVIEW: UPPSALA REGGAE FESTIVAL 2005

For you who don't know the Uppsala Reggae Festival have been running for 5 years and is located in Uppsala, Sweden. It's the biggest reggae festival in Scandinavia with about 15.000 visitors. Artists and groups who have performed there are Junior Kelly, Max Romeo, Misty In Roots, Luciano, Richie Spice, Black Uhuru, Daweh Congo and many more.

Following is a humble review of what I experienced on Uppsala Reggae Festival's 2005 edition:

12/8 - Day One:

I can say that I didn't have much hope for good weather because of the rain that had poured down on us all week but on friday morning it cleared up and the sun came out through the clouds. Sunshine and music is always a good combination. I caught swedish acts Dubadown and Nazarenes in action who did good although I missed the horn section that use to play with Nazarenes.

The first international artists to play on the main stage on friday was Lutan Fyah, Chezidek and Turbulence who went by the name of Xterminator Showcase. First out was Lutan Fyah at 18 PM who started off good with "Bits & Pieces" on the Blaze rhythm. He delievered a couple of other well received tunes before leaving the stage to let Chezidek enter. Lutan Fyah's lyrical flow was continuous and steady over the the mainly uptempo rhythm delievered by the Gumption Band.

Chezidek, who's works I really like, didn't really move me at all though. He sung a lot of ballads and lovers styled tunes which kind of made the vibes drop. His backing singers on the other hand did a wonderful intro which I felt should have been more highlighted due to their beautiful voices. Highlight of his performance was "Leave The Threes" with its sing along chourus. One could tell Turbulence was the main attraction of the showcase since when he entered the stage the vibes just got to a high and lots of people came to gather. In contrary to Chezidek his performance was uptempo rhythms all though exept for one acoustic guitar based ballad. He played nuff hits all through although the only one I remember is "Think of Peace". Altogether a good showcase presenting the Xterminator family in full effect.

Then heading over to the tent stage were my friends in Roots Circus were rounding up their set of their kind of crossover roots reggae. Roots Circus plays a slow tuff version of Dawn Penn's "No no no" which gets a fair vocal treatment by the three female singers in the band. I missed out on Tanya Stephens as well as the Gladiators, who on the other side I have seen before, due to intake of food and drink.

Next big thing was the swedish soundclash championship. The competing sounds were Million Vibes (Malmoe), Axxion Pack (Göteborg), Topaz (Stockholm) and 2004 champions Trinity Sound System (Stockholm). I only caught the first round before I left for more food and herb because honestly I can't take 2 hours of chaotic screaming and shouting. This is a short recount of what happen. Million Vibes played some real good foundation dubs but their micman must sincerely work on his way to communicate with the audience. Axxxion Pack played more dubs on uptempo and fresh rhythms. Their micman was well hyped and his mic chat was good as well. Trinity seemed quite disorganzied as their mic men ran around the stage not seeing to pleased with the selectors choice of opening tunes which was two cuts on the Maroon rhythm. Topaz did good but it wasn't until they changed micman that they really got the crowd going before running a dread Tanya Stephens dub. Due to the dark clouds that creeped up around Uppsala and the rain that followed the tent stage was packed about this time which made each vote even more noisy and chaotic then usual.

As time was getting closer and closer for Capleton to start his show on the main stage people dropped off including me. I later heard Topaz had won the swedish soundclash championship of 2005 over Trinity who came second. The tune that seemed to have knocked the last nail into the coffin was Turbulence's "Notorious" which got Topaz huge forwards.

After a 15 minute power nap, in my travelpartners car, I went back to the festival area. Just as we entered the area Capleton's backing band began. They ran a long and bombastic intro before Capleton ran on stage kicking off "Jah Jah City" which mashed up the place. Capleton went through his long list of hits including "Whoa", "Cyaan Sleep Tonight" and the more recent "That Day Will Come". At one point he declared to see every lighter in area burning and I must admit I never seen so many burning lighters in one place before. Truly blazing.

Last but not least to do their thing was Jah Youth Sound. Legendary roots sound system from London, England. Selector Locksley kicked off with Jah Cure's "Trod In The Valley" as Prince Liv-I-Jah and Ras Echo let the people know who were running the selection. They continued with the latest Dubwise release running both Selah Collins and Hughie Izachaar's cut before running a heavy heavy Dub Judah dubplate stating:
- Nuff respect to Jah Youth. The Roots Ambassadaaahh!
At this time I sadly had to leave to catch my ride home. As I walked out the tent Locksley dropped the niddle on Jah Cure's "Vibes Man Ah Build". Massive tune.

SOUNDCLIP - Jah Youth Sound @ URF 2005

13/8 - Day Two:

After linking up with Murry Man for an interview earlier on the day I went back to the festival area. Although rain on friday night the weather was real good. Blue sky with a few harmless clouds. I'd missed out on some swedish acts as well as Julian Marley who wasn't too tempting for me anyway. Later when I reaching the main stage Jah Mason was on in full effect singing "Burn Dem For A Purpose". I didn't stay for long but during the time I was there he delivered good versions of "Run Come Love Me" and "They Don't Love Me".

I took a detour pass the tent stage to catch the last part of the swedish backing band Roots Disciples showcase which featured several domestic artists like Governor Andy and Junior Erik among others. The highly acclaimed singer Jaqee went on stage just after I'd entered. Pure talent and vibes. It's only a matter of time before she will break into the international market with her blend of soul, r'n'b and reggae.

One of the artists I really looked forward to see was Cocoa Tea who entered the main stage around 6 PM. Cocoa Tea was in a good mood and got the audiences attention right away with letting off classics like "Sweet Cocoa Tea", "Israel's King", "Too Young", and the more recent "Tek Weh Yuh Gal". Good choice of tunes and a voice that seems as fresh as it ever been and also a big plus for his over all positive approach. Top a top performer!

Next up was the ever so popular Gentleman which must have draw the biggest crowd on the festival. After his Far East Band had ran through their intro Gentleman entered to open up with a cover version Jah Cure's "Longing For" before heading into his own cut on the same rhythm. The show was tight, very tight and professional. If there will ever be a headlining reggae show in Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, than this is how it will sound like. Super slick. The show ends up with Gentleman, Cocoa Tea and Jah Mason sharing the stage together to the crowds delight.

At 9 PM it was time for more soundsystem pressure. This time from Uppsala's own roots heavyweight soundsystem Meditative Sounds alongside Ras Lion, Ras Peter, Bredda Daniel and headlining Murry Man on the mic. They started up with a couple of heavy vintage dubplates and then heading into Chronicle's "Rasta Unite" while Ras Lion was chanting on the mic. Ras Peter and Bredda Daniel soon joined him for a short set of their own before giving up the mic to Murry Man who enters under shouts of joy from the soundsystem followers. Murry Man delivers a strong set including "Bun A Fire Pon Dem", a cover of Dionne Warwick's "Walk On By" and a big tune by the name of "Lion Paw" which really kicked up the vibes. Murry Man also sung a few Tenor Saw stylish tunes which did well before leaving the mic over to the Meditative Sounds crew.

SOUNDCLIP - Meditative Sounds @ URF 2005

Ras Lion delivered the recent Meditative Sounds release "Bun Dem Out" which kept vibes flowing before Andreas and Jesper ran the last two tunes. One being Errol Bellot singing a special Meditatve Sounds dubplate version of his "Mob In A Fury" and two being the ultra heavy Tony Tuff dubplate cut of "Seperation".

Directly after Meditative Sounds session Skyjuice Sound from Denmark stepped up. They kept it rootical yet with a more yard stylish approach playing lots of dubplates on classic rhythms and tunes. A dub cut of Morgan Heritage's "Down By The River" tears up the place as they pull it up and play it back again as the peoples cheer of delight.

UK veterans Steel Pulse was already rocking when I got the main stage around 11 PM. I didn't stay for long since my belly was in real need of food. A good version of "Blues Raid" was performed before I left. I don't know if David Hinds mic was set too low or if his voice isn't what it used to be but his voice often got lost behind the backing singers. A friend later told me they delivered a strong nyahbinghi version of "Chant A Psalm" as their final song.

Last artist to enter the main stage on the festival was Anthony B. Due to the fact I've seen him twice in recent years and was about to leave I went into the stall area to link up with my travel companions and wish my other people there a good night.

All to all this festival was very much to my satisfaction. It seems to get better and better for each year. The URF crew tends to bring in popular acts as well as more underground artists. It's also pleasent that they don't tend to forget about the soundsystem culture. Both having the swedish soundclash championship for the dancehall heads and bringing in some serious roots sounds like Jah Youth for the roots followers.

As we went out of the festival area we heard Anthony B kick off one of early hits "Hurt The Heart" which for me is a good tune to sum up the whole festival feel. Upfull vibes altogether. See you next year.

/Jakob Levi - Guidelight Movement crew

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