Is there a more eclectic festival for current alternative music in our region? An incomprehensible tangle for some, the perfect mix of different kinds of music for others. You would think it's not exactly the place where a reggae-enthusiast would feel at home. Yet the line-up of dour was filled with enough green-yellow-red to mobilize a lot of supporters of the genre in the direction of the Walloon village in the Borinage. This year was the second year they had the Dub Corner ,which is organized by Reggaebus and gives the organization an extra advantage to keep gratifying this part of their audience.
THURSDAY 17/07
The Dub Corner was very extensive this year, with five handmade sound-systems spread out over four days, at a new, much more spacious location, in the presence of a large and open tent, which provided shelter from sun as well as rain. A real improvement compared to last year, when there was not even an inch of shade and no tent to be found. After a long and hellish trip to the campsite and back to the festival grounds, we immediately checked out the Dub Corner, which was dedicated to Belgian sounds this first day, it was a session to look forward to.
Ionyouth got to open the dance with their own sound-system and they did so with a pleasant roots set, accompanied by Missing link taking the mic. Just before Irie Nation got his turn, they played 'Victory' by Dubkasm which arrived very well with the audience. (This song, with it's very recognizable blazer duet became history when Aba Shanti played this song as a dubplate for the first time at Nothing Hill Carnival in 2012). The vibe was feeling alright during the (literal) warming-up. Temperatures began to rise and for the audience it seemed time to seek some refreshment as the Dub Corner emptied.
This was my cue to check out the main stage, where The Slackers had already begun their performance which was part of their European tour lasting for a month and counting no less than nine festivals! Unfortunately the turnout was quite low. Most of us were trying to cool down in the shade, but the Americans couldn't be bothered. Those who were present at Ghent Open Air (2 July) will have noticed that they played the same playlist as then, with songs like 'Lost & found' (same title as their most recent CD from 2009) and 'We can work it out' (cover of a song by The Beatles).
Rocking' it steady
Time to get some rest myself and take another look at the Dub Corner. Meanwhile it was the turn of The Dukes of Skazzard from Antwerp, not exactly what you would expect to find in a dub corner, but it took us back to the time of the first sound systems in Jamaica. The atmosphere was good and the pace increased, just like the temperature inside the tent. Rocking' it steady.
The torch got passed to Forward Fever, the sound-crew from Bruges and Ghent. A group that arose from the driven enthusiasm of selecta's Ira & Dello and chanters Ras Cloud, Saimn-I & Ozi One. De Dub Corner began to fill up nicely for a selection roots and steppers, including own productions like 'Rasta me rasta', with vocals by Danny Red (soon to be released on the label of Dub fi youth) and foreign-made vocals (with, inter alia, 'Disconnect yourself' By Kanka with YT) and a couple from Irie Ilodica, who also played the melodica in three songs.
Time to close down with a two-hour lasting set by Ionyouth. Here you could hear that these guys know there sound by heart: everything perfectly in balance and instant vibe. As a surprise they got one hour extra and they made use of this to hold a 'dub fi dub' with Forward Fever. Beljam sounds inna di area! Unfortunately this is where the reggae line-up of the day stopped, I went on nostalgically taking a look at Mad Caddies. They bring top shelf ska-punk, and they still perform at their best even after 10 years. A much faster pace and a different kind of atmosphere. But definitely a good performance to end the first day of Dour with.
FRIDAY 18/07
On Friday all eyes were on King Shiloh, the renowned sound system from Amsterdam, which played a monster session here with verve from 14h till 22h. So we obviously stayed here for quite some time, surrendering ourselves to the thumping bass which pounded on our chests and eardrums.
We once again heard 'Rasta me rasta' by Danny Red (Forward Fever) before Afrikan Simba appeared, first he sang along to the dubs, but after Bredda Neil had played one of his vocals he performed on the foreground with an impressive a cappella rendition: "Don't have no fear fi no babylian!" During the showcase that followed, he was unable to keep the attention of the audience. Which raises the question if this is the right way make such artists appear in a sound system. The female chanter Nish Wadada, with roots originating in Cape Verde but born and raised in Rotterdam, wowed us all with her fresh tone of voice and dito lyrics.
We managed to just see the last part of Gentleman. Outstanding as always, but nothing new. And yet he was kind of the odd man out, as opener of the traditional dub night on Friday (this time in the Jupiler Boom Box) which only really kicked off by Vibronics and Brain Damage. A collaboration which in 2013 resulted in the double LP 'Empire Soldiers'. Sturdy steppers with –how could it be otherwise- vocals by Sir Jean ('Do you remember' – a nice commemoration to the world wars, 100 years after the start of the first.) and of course Parvez ('Youths to War', 'Sufferation') and Madu Messenger ('Letter Home', 'King's engine'), the regular MC's of Steve Vibronics, who live reinforce their songs from the album. This combi will also be at Reggae Geel.
The link to reggae was hard to find in the performance of High Tone, who were as always looking for experimental sounds in dubstep riddims, but who were using a little too much guitars. The tent was crowded for this welcome French live act, performing with the complete band, and the visuals always give that little extra. But overall we were a little disappointed by their act.
Original dub music
Luckily DJ Stryda came on next and brought us his very welcome roots vibe with, among others, 'Heavenly protected by Jah love'. This was the beginning of a special Dubkasm versus Gorgon Sound show. Both are from Bristol, have worked together in a studio and are now performing live. The 'tune fi tune' however wasn't always completely fluent and Gorgon's choice in records didn't always agree with our taste. Luckily Solo Banton knows how to work the audience and emphasize the power of this music on a festival like Dour. "This is no pop music, no techno music, no house music… Original dub music!". Although we had our doubts as to some of the tracks they played.
The vibe of Congo Natty was more than welcome. Up-tempo old school jungle, with own productions in collaboration with artists like Nanci and Phoebe, Rebel MC, Top Cat,… For this occasion he had brought with him dj/promoter Congo Dubz who played Lady Chann's 'Lala & the Booya' among other tracks.
SATURDAY 19/07
This was de least interesting day of the 4 days at Dour. The only live reggae was a Steel Pulse concert on the main stage (the Last Arena). It started way too late and was therefore much too short. Fifteen years ago they were here on the same stage and their repertoire is pretty much the same as then. They played songs from their album True democracy (1982) , like 'Rally round', 'Chant a psalm' and 'Your house'. Despite the fact that these tracks date from 30 years ago, they still sound very lively. A few slip-ups from lead singer David Hinds where therefore easily forgotten. For this Dour performance a tenor sax player joined the band. Usually the horns are played by the keyboard player.
Immediately afterwards their fellow countryman David Rodigan set the Dancehall on fire. We arrived halfway his one hour performance. "Thirty minutes left, time for dancehall!", and he lived up to the name of the tent. As it turned out he has not forgotten the craft. Jumping up and down, yelling, he played one classic after another, all in special dubplate versions of course. It's a Rodigan story…
In general there was not that much old school ragga/dancehall on this year's program – a tell tale sign that this style is going out of fashion? Live, we remember Admiral T, but we preferred his fellow countrymen Stand High Patrol in the Dub Corner. As expected, they had a less powerful sound system than Shiloh from Amsterdam, but for the second year in a row they presented an excellent digital selection of mainly French productions, including their own. Marina P en PupaJim were the Mc's on duty.
The sound of the police
Earlier that day we also got to know the versatile vocal talent of Soom T. 'Did you really know', from the Mungos Hi-Fi label, was the only tune we recognized instantly. But the petit singer showed she has a lot up her sleeve and she managed different styles with ease. She rhymed effortlessly to various riddims from ska to dubstep.
Jstar increased the hype - 'It's the sound of the police'! – and was striking with a few special remixes, like 'It's not unusual' by Tom Jones to the riddim of 'Rudie don't fear' and a combination of The Beastie Boys with Bob Marley's 'Could you be loved'. After which Soom T took back the microphone to a whipping ska-rhythm. "When I say Soom, you say T!". Selfie!
SUNDAY 20/07
My favorite day. We started off with Clinton Fearon and the Boogie Brown band. This legend is known as the third singer of the Galdiators (up until 1987) and of various studio productions like 'Rise and Shine' with Watty Burnet in the Black Air studio of Lee Perry. They brought songs from his solo project like 'Rich man, poor man' and 'On the other side', but also some Gladiators tunes, like 'Looks is deceiving' and 'Chatty chatty mouth'. To me it was a very memorable performance. This nestor of the genre has still got it and the Boogie Brown band is the perfect band to accompany this legend. The occasional raindrops brought a very welcome cooling.
The DUB Corner featured on this last day a sound-clash between OBF from France and Iration Steppas from England. They battled in volume but the sound didn't benefit from this clash… OBF performed with Soom T and Iration Steppas with Danman. In the first half we heard a dub version of 'Rumours' by Gregory Isaacs and a stepper version of 'Roots train' by Junior Murvin ft. Dillinger, recorded at Black Ark studio. The second half was marked by heavy inna year 3000 style (or what they like to call European Style). A variation of Iration and OBF dubplates, also a Sinai sound heavyweight dubplate and one by Mad Codiouf (Jahwed, selector and owner at M.A.D soundsystem), known as 'Kingz dub' .
Our next stop was the Last Arena where Dub inc. were about to start their set. The meadow was packed for this popular French band (they mobilized more people than Kaiser Chiefs) and they had no trouble captivating the crowd. They played mostly songs from their most successful CD 'Diversité, like 'Murderer' and of course 'Rude Boy'. The audience appreciated these sing-along's en reacted with enthusiasm despite the hot weather. Songs from their latest album 'Paradise' (2013) were also on the playlist, like 'Better run' and 'Revolution'.
A new sound, a new concept
Before returning home we went to see the new project of the Jamaican legend Winston Mc Anuff, a surprising and vivacious performance. The death of his son Matthew, who was said to have a promising future in reggae, must have been an terrible loss for this artist. Matthew was murdered a few years ago on the island of Jamaica. His father fought back en worked together with French accordionist/pianist Fixi on a new CD: 'A new day'.
A new sound, a new concept that we can only applaud anno 2014 in a world not enough open to change. Live, it was the most original set up of these 4 days in Dour. Accompanied by a drummer annex beatboxer, Fixi created atypical, whipping rhythms, that were the ideal background for the lyrics of Winston Mc Anuff. Highlights were 'Economical crisis', 'Wha dem say' en 'Garden of love'. As far as I'm concerned the covers of 'Sweet dreams are made of these' and 'Iron Lion Zion' were unnecessary, but hey, this is Dour, what did you expect…
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