Pic by Nailman
Just played at an amazing festival in Rotterdam. The Numoon Festival, with Ursula Rucker, Joseph Bowie (defunkt), Bembe Segue, Mark de Clive Lowe, Kain the Poet. Collective improvisation with the Numoon Orchestra conducted by Hanyo van Oosterom.
I was there from Friday to Sunday in cold Rotterdam. Went walking round the block and came upon Kain in a record shop buying a TS Eliot album. Kain has long been an inspiration to me, ever since a friend gave me The Blue Gureilla LP, which every spoken word artist must hear.
The whole vibe of the fest was beautiful. The people were open and warm, the music; and it was all about the musiC - was spellbinding with Halle, Colonel Red, Spoonface, Pan Africans, even the Silent Disco where folks dance round with headphones. For me though the performance that moved, shocked and had me deepened was Kain. Deep is not the word for what he did.
I guess you can tell a festival is special when there is no merchandise stall and DJ Gea is spinning Louis Armstrong.
The concerts were filmed and will be shown in the Netherlands on New Years Eve I believe, it will also be available to view online at www.numoonlab.tv
For more info on the Numoon Lab see : www.myspace.com/numoonlab
there are some pics from the festival at http://flickr.com/search/?q=numoon
and thanks to Hanyo, Bembe, Mark, Gea, Spoonface and his band, Joe Bowie for making it so special. I gotta be there next time!
Footnote: There is nothing that can prepare you for a performance by Kain the poet. It is a life changing, soul intensifying experience. Watch out for the blue Guerilla.
