Antilliaanse Feesten/Caribbean Festival 2009

August 17th, 2009

Article By IPA Member: Guy Verstraeten
Guy594 Photography

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The Blauwbossen in Hoogstraten, Belgium turned out to be a paradise of Caribbean music and cultural festivity when the 27th edition of the Antilliaanse Feesten was held on the 14th-15th of August 2009. Contrary to the previous 4 years, this year’s festival benefited from the nice summer weather, making the ambiance more like in the Caribbic islands on this side of the globe.

This festival was witnessed by more than 30,000 visitors not only from Europe but from all over the world, making this event the biggest of its kind in Belgium. It’s a well-organized event complete with camping sites and accessible hotels. The traffic was properly regulated and public transportation was well-organized making it convenient for the festival goers. There were also facilities for guests with handicaps. The people present were from all ages and diversified races and cultural backgrounds who absolutely enjoyed this weekend to the fullest.

There were four stages available (TMS, Joker, Cahier Club, de Palacio de la Salsa) where artists of different origins and music styles performed from 20:00 to 5:00 am the following day, giving the audience non-stop music and listening pleasures. The stages were made bigger and wider than before. There were two big video screens and a lot of plasma monitors spread strategically giving the visitors more access to watch and enjoy the performing artists. The festivity would not be complete without the typical Carribean food and specialities. Naturally, it wouldn’t be a party without drinks; beer and world-famous cocktails were available in a number of tents. Guests could enjoy exotic drinks and non-alcoholic beverages too. There was also the one and only “Champagne Bar”. Aside from the recreational stands, an exotic market made it possible for everyone to buy products from the Caribbean islands and the Latin American region. The music CD’s from the performing artists were sold at CD stands. Visitors didn’t need to worry about cash shortage, because a bank outlet (ATM) was also in the area. Of course an information stand was provided for every inquiry any guest would need. There were security personnel all over to keep the place as safe and secure as possible.

This year’s performing artists were among the best in Caribbean and ska music genre:

Alex Bello – a Canadian artist and song writer from Toronto, who was named as “Artist of the year 2007” in Italy by Latinos United Italy for his successful love songs “Mio” and “Sin Ti”. Born in the Dominican Republic, he is one of the best Bachatero artists in Europe. His first solo-album was considered one of the best Bachata albums of the year. His smash hit single “Amor Mio”, is becoming the number one track in Italy, Germany, and Switzerland and other parts of Europe.

Magia Caribeńa – a group from Caracas, Venezuela under the leadership of Federico Betancourt Jr. This group stands for fresh danceable salsa beats and music pleasure on the stage. They already released 8 CD’s and this was their second time to perform in Hoogstraten.

Carlos Vives – Came from the city of Bogotá in Colombia. He specializes in vallenato music. Considered a superstar in Colombia and in the whole of Latin America, he’s in the same calibre as Juan delouses Guerra, Marc Anthony and Shakira. Carlos Vives popularized the “vallenato” with his timeless classic, Clŕsicos de la Provincia from 1993 which includes “Gota Fria” as a smash hit, a number that any South-American can sing. Six albums followed, among them the crossover CD “El Rock de mi Pueblo”. Carlos Vives performs before huge crowds from Bogotá, Barranquilla to Miami, Mexico and Madrid. Hoogstraten became his first and exclusive performance in the Benelux; he brought with him a 15 -member orchestra. He was the main-feature of this festival.

Bamboolaz – a band from Martinique. Bamboolaz produces a nice and successful mix of rock music and the French Caribbean zouk style, named “metal zouk”. Indeed, the screaming guitar of Eric Duhamel is the central sound on their debut album “Show”. It’s their premier appreance in Benelux.

Staff des Leaders - this young band is based in Brussels, where a large community of Congolese ex-pats are living. They started in 1999 and are considered as one of the best Soukous band in Belgium. 2009 is the first year they performed in this festival.

DJ Saca La Mois - comes from Australia, calls himself a “Swiss-Tasmanian pseudo-Mexican DJ living in Melbourne”. His real name is Moses Iten, and he’s crazy about cumbia influenced with his long stay in Mexico. His live project in Australia is called Cumbia Cosmonauts. As a DJ he effortlessly mixes without a problem ska with cumbia, reggaeton, soca and soukous.

KLC Clave Cubana – specializes in reggaeton and Latin mestizo rock, this group sounds like their fellow countrymen Clan 537, Cubanito 20.02 and Gente D’Zona. KLC Clave Cubana plays with live percussion with 3 singers and comes all the way from Havana.

Youth X-Treme - without a doubt Youth X-Treme is the most popular and creative soca-act from the small Dutch Caribbean island Aruba. Its members, with Aruban origin are all from the Holland part of The Netherlands. Performances of Youth X-Treme are an explosion of energy and lust for life. They were as Aruba’s best youth band two years in a row in 2005 and 2006. They perform frequently in The Nehterelands as well. The band produced 4 CD’s with a variety of soca-tunes, influenced by compas, zouk and the sound of Dominican Bouyon. It’s the band’s second time to perform in Hoogstraten, the first time was in 2006.

DJ Eduardo – provided the music which kept almost everybody on their dancing feet.

Desorden Publico – from Caracas and originated in 1985, this group is famous for their Venezuelan ska-act specialized in afrozouk. They are back on tour in Europe with 27 shows after 3 years of absence. They are one of the biggest groups on Venezuelan stages, and they’ve been performing all over the world. “Estrellas del Caos” is their latest CD released in Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Spain.

Destra Garcia – this charming singer started her career with the Roy Cape All Stars, then as solo singer in Atlantik. In 2003, she started her solo-career with her first album “Red, White, Black”. She was named the soca-queen in Trinidad when the song “Its Carnival”, a duet with Machel Montano on this album, became a huge hit. She’s well known for her energetic and vibrating live-shows. Her latest CD entitled HOTT has been gaining international recognition. She has a special edition CD with hand-picked songs selected just for this festival, “Destra Garcia Special Edition European Release 2009”, as the souvenir CD.

Havana D’Primera – a frist class Havanese musicians under the diection of Alexander Abreu. It’s the first time they played in Benelux. Characterized by their musical vesatility, they performed on stage with much energy and a great combination of dance and concert genres accompanied by soloists. They deliver the most geniune Cuban music based on brotherhood and professionalism. They will release their debut CD “Haciendo Historias” this summer.

App’tijt – from Surinam, this group makes kaseko music. It is one of the most popular bands in Paramaribo. The hit song “Boeke” is a typical example of the kaseko rhythm. This year is their third time of performing at the Antilliaanse Feesten.

Elio Reve – Elio Revé Jr. took over the orchestra after his father died. He continued his father´s legacy by producing CD`s and touring all over the world. Elio Revé Sr. played an important role in the development of salsa and timba in Cuba and he popularized the changui rhythm.

Milly Quezada – hails from Sto. Domingo in the Dominican Republic. She´s known as “the Queen of Merengue”. “Solos faltas tu” was her latest CD released in 2008.

Kassav´ - formed in 1979, just celebrated their 30th anniversary in Paris, France this year. This group from Guadeloupe is considered the godfathers and pioneers of zouk. Their first album "Love and Ka Dance" was started by Pierre-Edouard DECIMUS, seasoned veteran of the West-Indian music, and Freddy MARSHALL. Then they decided to conceive a new musical rythm. They were joined by Jacob DESVARIEUX and Georges DECIMUS, and many other musicians in the studio. In the beginning, the band performed just for passtime and not as a trade at all. Zouk conquered the world thanks to Kassav’ and their members: genius Jacob Desvarieux, the ever modest singer and guitar player, female singer Jocely Beroard, singer J-P Martely, bass player Georges Décimus, keyboardist J-C Naimro. They performed several times already in the Caribbean festival since 2001.

Aemelia Lias- a Paris-based artist who has his roots in Congo. It’s his debut performace in Belgium. His latest CD is The “Race de Vanquirs”. He is well-known for the Soukous, an African ryhtm which is based on Congolese rumba. His performance features his band together with female dancers and animateurs to amuse the audience.

Michael Stuart – born in NY with Puerto Rican parents is not only a music producer and a great singer but a good theater actor. He gained nominations and won awards from various musical and acting guilds. He was named as the Latin Music Ambassador during the 50th Puerto Rican Parade. His outstanding performance at the National Salasa Congress (2006), Chigago’s Herencia Boricua Festival (2006) and the 2006 Hispanic Heritage Awards in Washington DC has placed him as the leading tropical singer in his generation. His latest album “Sentimiento de un Rombrero” is dubbed one of the most complete tropical music production of the decade and marks the revival of the salsa music. Michael Stuart affectionately known as “mulato rombrero’ has performed in US, Japan, Venezuela, France This is his debut in the Benelux.

Tego Calderon – was born in Puerto Rico but spent his youth in Miami. He was exposed by his parents to the salsa music of Ismael Rivera and to Latin jazz music. It was due to the influence of the rap group N.W.A. that he became a rapper. He came back to Puerto Rico and was inspired by the growing music rhythm of raggaeton. His combination of Sapnish rap and African-American hip-hop made him the new voice on the streets paving the way for him to appear in various best-selling Latin hip-hop compilations. Tego turned out as an ovenight Latin superstar with the success of his first record ‘El Abeyarde” released in 2002. He gained nominations in Latin music guilds and a Source award for ‘International Artist of the Year’. He’s a universal artist performing in key cities around the world and it’s his first performance in the Benelux.

Sindicato to Sonico – a local band based in Antwerp and specializes in ska with a tint of rock ‘n roll introduces a new music genre: mariachi funk ‘n roll. This year is their first appearance in the Caribbean Festival.

Pannonia Allstars Ska Orchestra (PASO) – is an Hungarian band specializes in ska music with Hungarian motif which swiftly gets everybody’s feet on the dancefloor. They brought ska music rhythm not only in Hungary but in majority of European key cities (Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Italy, France, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Denmark, Slovenia, Serbia, Ukraine, Belgium, Croatia and Hungary). This is however their first performance in Belgium.

In 2005 they signed up with Megalith Records(the leading US ska label that manages most of today’s leading ska bands around the world). Founded in 2003, they started playing in various clubs in Budapest before enthousiastic cheering crowds. Within a few years, the band transformed and found a new style which led to the ska revival from Hungary to the other European stages. Their debut album was Budapest Ska Mood and was followed by the Babylon Focus Ep and the Biblical 7 single.

The band is composed of nine musicians and sometimes guests joined them. Aside from the vocalist Lord Panamo and the most acclaimed Hungarian ska drummer Lipi Brown, the band includes Tony Ass (trumpet), Mr. Vajay (trombone), Luki & Tomi (saxophone), Laca & Csakikapitany (guitar), Mr. P (keys), Dr. Strict (bass) and Barne György (violin). The violin adds some Hungarian tint and spiced up the traditional ska music combined with raggae rythms and jazzy melodies. PASO’s song lyrics reflects their stand on social issues and condemnation to discrimination. With a special touch and fine composition the band keeps its merry and fun-loving attitude which makes their audience enjoy and run wild with their songs and acts.

PASO throughout the years had been touring and appearing in main festivals such as the following: Easter Ska Jam tour (2006), Budapest Ska Mood Tour (2006), Lowlands Festival (NL) (2006), This is Ska Festival (2007), Sázava Festival (CZ) (2006), Hodokvas Festival (SK) (2003, 2006), the Mighty Sounds Festival (CZ) (2005, 2006), X3Music Festival (UA) (2005), Donauinsel Festival (A) (2006), the Big SkaLand Festival (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007). Besides performing at Hungary’s all remarked festivals they packed the halls at the World Music Mainstage of the Sziget Festival (2006).

Not only that PASO a great band which acclaimed success but they have shared the stage with the scene’s biggest international artists including: The Skatalites, Jimmy Cliff, Alton Ellis, Rico Rodriguez, the New York Ska-Jazz Ensemle, the Slackers, Victor Rice, the Aggrolites, Bad Manners, the Rotterdam Ska-Jazz Foundation, Dr.Ring-Ding, King Django, the Toasters, Open Season, Mr.T-Bone, Firebug, Babylon Circus, Intensified, Westbound Train, Moon Invaders, Trojan Sound System. On the other hand they played with such remarkable Hungarian folk artists as Lajkó Félix, Besh o’ Drom, Parno Graszt, Palya Bea, Szilvásy Gyspy Folk Band, Aurelio.

PASO has several side projects aside from making music: The PASO’s Roots Rockers, the PASO Soundsystem, the PASO Traditional SKA Special, the PASO Booking ans the SKA club.

Bomba Estéreo – originated in Bogotá, Columbia. Bomba Estéreo, was formed as a musical project in 2005 by Simón Mejía. With the lead singer Li Saumet, this group is composed of 5 musicians and is nowadays one of the most important groupings of the new Colombian music. Their numbers include sounds of the folklore of the Atlantic coast in an explosive mixture with electronic music, reggae and hip hop. Their live shows are characterized by the combination of electronic sounds with live musicians and video projections. Rythms such as the Cumbia, the Bullerengue and the Champeta give the show a mixture of traditional folklore melodies and flows of hip hop. They are on promotional tour here in Europe after UK, Brazil and the USA. It’s their premier performance in Benelux.

DJ Mystique – Provided the lively dance music until the end of the festival.

The Antilliaanse Feesten/Caribbean Festival is one of the best organized festivals ever in Belgium, giving its visitors the best they can offer. No wonder they reached the 27th edition and are still getting bigger and more popular every year. Every guest has for sure experienced a unique, exotic, passionate, exhilarating, vibrating and an unforgettable weekend in Hoogstraten.