minidub: just how bad did it suck?

[jb welda]

I hope no one else minds this thread or finds some interest in it as it is regional in nature to northern California/west coast usa and more specifically putting on large (presumably) outdoor reggae music festivals.

So, Michele, I am assuming you attended or possibly had a slot at that northwest world reggae festival thing up there in Oregon? Care to share your observations or opinions on what when on up there? from what I understand artists were standing around and not performing because they wouldn't get paid? like all day Saturday until 1am when third world (gag...but what the heck) finally came on stage? and what about sunday, was there anything scheduled that day, did it come off? Just sounds like one heck of a big mess with lots of built up goodwill just being chucked down the toilet by the promotor(s)? If you don't mind, your observations please?

one love
jb

[minidub]

ites jb.

i can’t speak to this year’s nwwrf, as i didn’t go…even though i had a free pass. i didn’t go because i swore after last year’s fest, i wouldn’t make the same mistake. last year the production/sound issues were pretty extreme and inexcusable. after x amount of years, it seemed so junior-varsity. it was the worst reggae festival experience i had ever had. all night friday the sound would COMPLETELY shut down -- no mics, no instruments, nothing but crickets. live wyah, duane stephenson and wailing souls all had to deal with this happening a number of times during all of their sets. it was just painfully bad; i felt so bad for the artists up there, trying to maintain a professional dignity up there, but really getting brutalized by the sound equipment failures.

so we all hoped things would change by saturday. saturday was worse yet. not one sound from DJs or artists was to happen until after 5pm…nothing all day long—just silence…at a festival. then when the music started, they still had all the local acts up there taking up precious time from the headliners; folks that were supposed to be playing at 1pm were starting things off—didn’t seem right. when i-taweh, batch, kulcha knox and luciano performed, it happened badly with them as well. it’s is just such an incredible vibes killer. it was pure amateur hour. i bailed about 1am, and was just so extremely disappointed. left quite early that morning after a bit of sleep.

this year sounds as if was even worse. i can’t explain how it stuns me that this year could have really been worse than last year, as last year was “the straw breaking the camel’s back” time for me personally. herb daly told me that queen makeda & empress showcase played a set at 5:30pm on saturday, but then there was no more music until almost 1am. artists were there but hadn’t been paid (this is what I’ve heard, so it’s second hand) so they refused the stage. if this is true, i'm sure it's a back-breaker for nwwrf, as JA is a small island and word will surely get around. just a major debacle and like last year, junior-varsity effort all the way. i have a couple friends who are very involved in this fest, but i have yet to commit much real support aside from advertising the fest on our radio show and some DJing a few years here & there. it is an event that seems to get worse every year. regardless of the fact that it’s held in my backyard, i’m out.

m.

[jb welda]

thanks for that minidub, I just read on that other (really pathetic if you take reggae music seriously I gotta say) board that you didn't go and went rafting instead. good choice; I think I would have done the same especially after what you describe last year. I went some years ago (midnite at midnite, that year) and while it was a pleasant thing I could catch some really wicked undercurrents and bruised feelings amongst some of those involved, so I pretty much decided I wouldn't bother with the long drive in the future. what cracks me up, and why I asked you here instead of on snwmf board (which I don't post to anymore but still read) is how some of those folks wouldn't say "sh*t" if they stepped in it. that rossta guy for one, wow I wonder what part of naiveville he grew up in. I mean if it stinks, say so. so I was hoping for some insider info on the real scoop from you but seeing as how you wised up beforehand, I guess I will read it in the news. thanks again for the account of last year; I had heard it was less than spectacular but sounds like it was a glowing time compared to this year. personally I hope that doug promotor guy stops trying because he just seems pretty slimey, from reports from people involved with him on a personal and/or business level, and for this to go on this year was unbelievable. I would be demanding my $ back, that's for sure, but it wouldn't cover the true cost of the weekend at any rate, when you figure hotel and gas and food and all it would easily be a 500$ weekend...to sit around for hours for turd world of all washed up outfits. I could barely stand them for the 15 minutes I caught them at snwmf a couple years ago and when that cat coore dude starts in on the cello stuff...im out of here.

one love
jb

[minidub]

you nailed all of it, JB!

by the way, i'm curious if you got the PM I sent to you & capullo?

m.

[ephteeay]

Herb Daly .. what a good name !

[jb welda]

Herb Daly, original Rastafarian




one love
jb