UK Gathering @ Breakspear Arms,Uxbridge August 1st & 2nd 2008
If you check your dictionary for the meaning of a gathering the results will be...
1. an assembly or meeting.
2. an assemblage of people; group or crowd.
3. a collection, assemblage, or compilation of anything.
They now need to re-write this with the addition of...
4. Bringing the vibes and message to the people through organizing events featuring independent online reggae/dub artists and their websites.
That’s what it’s all about and it was the turn of the UK on August 1st & 2nd to Gather from all over the globe for a weekend of wicked vibes... The organisers John (El Bib) and Bill (Phatsemelia) really worked hard to make this happen and the result was beyond all expectations.
Things kicked off for us on the Thursday all meeting up at the Breakspear Arms and having a jam session before the official start the following evening. The next day people started to arrive and set up camp...a large ex army tent was erected as a chill out (after hours) area and also to provide shelter for those with no tents....by 6pm all was ready to get the show started...first up then was Idread playing the tunes to warm up the crowd before the live acts. The room started to fill up nicely and Viss Sound System took over the decks which really got the crowd bubbling and dancing.. next up was a great set from Bling & Don Fe...wow this girl can sing...such a powerful voice...taking to the stage next was The Reggae Dubwise Allstars a collection of musicians from reggaedubwise.com jammin together taking turns on the mic, this was the first time playing live together but you wouldn’t have known that. The highlight of this night for me was their version of Isreal Vibrations `Same Song`. Which is now becoming the theme tune for the band and the Gatherings. It just sums up what we are about and why we are there together in unity, bringing the Reggae vibes to the people as one. A few of us then Gathered in a large tent for acoustic tunes and reasoning. Phatsemelia on the Guitar, the Dubcats singers and not forgetting Don Fe in his sleeping bag playing melodica til he fell asleep...lol...then chilling and more music in our caravan until 9am.....
Saturday night was the main event with many artist performing some amazing sets...Getting things going again was down to idread.. more people turning up this night.. the room was packed... Viss followed again with I-Rebel pon de mic along with selector JahKricky playing tunes from members of Versionist.com...some really wicked tracks played here...We were then treated to a wicked PA set from Zacheous Jackson........next up we had Dubcats who played a heavy roots set...one song they did had a line in it that i thought was great...`I been smoking marijuana for 35 years or more, And the only harm it done me is I’ve always been poor`....lol...great lyrics...My good friend Clinake came along on the Saturday and joined Dubcats for their version of Bob Marleys `Heathen` which went down very well with the crowd... Clinarke really commands the stage and all take notice when he’s performing....Before anyone could get their breath back after the Dubcats set up comes Prince Jamo and Don Fe...now this artist is one to look out for...he sings in the style of the late/great Dennis Brown yet pure Jamo is best i can describe him...i look round the crowd during Jamo`s set...i could see that people were wondering...is this really The Breakspear Arms...such talent playing here for free?????...Next up then we had Dubheart with the incredible voice of Mr Zacheous Jackson...also sharing the mic with the likes of Prince Jamo,Clinarke, Mac.Yabass,I-Rebel, Ras bruno and Ras Rebel...I`ve known the Dubheart crew for a long time now and seen them play many times...but I gotta say that this was the best i`ve heard them play..maybe a cause of so many guest artists made them work harder, with Zacheous being called back to the mic many times. Too end it all off then came a set from Clinarke & Idread inna PA style...i think we manage about three songs before we were told to shut down as it was now well after 2am....
What a weekend, this was,great vibes from start to finish. People came from Germany, Spain, Iceland, Bermuda, USA, Czech Republic and of course the UK.....Many thanks go out to Bill & John for putting all this together...all the artists and DJ`s and soundmen for providing the quality music and equipment.....and not forgetting Darren and June and all the staff at the Breakspear Arms for letting us hold this event at the venue. This truly is what the internet is about for me...virtual friends from all over the world meeting in real time bringing the message of love and unity to the people through music....Check out the downloads below taken from the Saturday night sets....Long live The Revolutionary Dub Gatherers......All i can say is when and where is the next one??
Watch The Video >> CLICK HERE
Review by Idread.
Photo`s by Rachael.
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