From the Vault: ONE LOVE – Raggamuffin ’08
ONE LOVE: RAGGAMUFFIN ’08 at the WACA
Saturday, February 9, 2008
On a balmy summer night, thousands of reggae-crazy fans headed to the WACA to not only celebrate Bob Marley’s birthday but to farewell a band, in its entirety, as UB40’s lead singer Ali Campbell, goes solo after three decades.
Crowds gathered early to see New Zealand band Katchafire, who played their popular dub style to get the crowd warmed up. Arrested Development took to the stage next for a solid albeit brief set. Focussing more so on early ’90s hits Tennessee, Mr Wendal and People Everyday which provided the first major sing-a-long for the evening.
As Speech farewelled the crowd, Maxi Priest took to the stage and with him came the Jamaican vibes that saw many of the crowd surrounding the stage and stand dancing and bopping to the rhythm. Although many were not familiar with the whole catalogue of songs Priest offered, it wasn’t until Priest introduced a very special guest – his son Marvin to the crowd that the audience really got into the set. With vocals in lieu of his dad, Marvin Priest proved he has the star power to go far, with many young female fans flocking to the side of the stage when he moved across to sign merchandise. Priest performed his rendition of Cat Steven’s Wild World, and ended with the song many in the crowd knew him most for Close To You.
The Wailers, although significant, didn’t capture the crowd as much as the previous acts had, and provided a little more of a down-tempo feel to the evening more suited to an earlier time. It wasn’t really until the band performed No Woman, No Cry and a 15-minute long rendition of Exodus, that crowd participation grew to 100 percent. After a break of over 20 minutes it was the moment many had been waiting for all night. UB40 took to the stage with an almost orchestral and mesmerising feel, as the aisles of the WACA disappeared with thousands taking the opportunity to dance the night away.
It was a track listing featuring hit after hit, with Ali Campbell igniting the stage with every song. Strangers found the opportunity to embrace each other and sing.
The band used the opportunity to showcase their new album 24/7 playing a number of songs they didn’t expect the audience to know and just when the audience could not have asked for more the band invited Maxi and Marvin Priest, One Love from Arrested Development and The Wailers back to the stage for a version of I Shot The Sheriff, followed by those songs that have spanned generation after generation- Red Red Wine, Here I Am and ending on Can’t Help Falling In Love.
As they left the stage the encore chants rang out across the ground and the band returned to perform Kingston Town and some more new tracks.
As the WACA lights came up, and the crowd slowly staggered their way to the gates there was a sense of peace and an atmosphere buzzing with appreciation for the music and for each other. It really was a night that invoked the powerful message of One Love, and on his birthday the legend that is Bob Marley would have been proud.
DEMELZA GOUDIE
This review originally appeared in Issue 1096 of X-Press Magazine, published on Thursday, February 14, 2008. Share your memories of this and other classic X-Press content by joining the Rewind Facebook group. Rewind: 40 Years of X-Press Magazine by Bob Gordon is on sale now in hardcover and softcover.
