It was a festival with a socially conscious outlook.
While one could expect to hear about global issues of concern at the Watch Us Watch You workshop Saturday morning, concern about the state of the planet and its people was a dominant theme in the music of several performers.
Jamaican songstress Cherine began her Friday night performance by describing growing up to a background of gunfire. She reminded festivalgoers how blessed they are to be living in this beautiful place and to be able to attend a festival like Roots and Blues in peace.
A powerful performer, Cherine engaged the audience with her reggae, dance hall, soul and R&B music.
She sang of death – dedicating one of her songs to a cousin who died by gunfire.
The effervescent Cherine also sang of love and the need for peace.
And the singer-songwriter does much more than sing about it, funding several charitable initiatives, including Reach One Child Jamaica foundation, which is dedicated to engaging teens in inner-city communities in order to better their futures.
At Saturday morning’s Watch Us Watch You workshop, St. Lucia’s Taj Weekes gave the early-morning Boogie Bar-n audience his message of peace and love.
He later reiterated his belief that humanity needs to let go of the “it’s-all-about’me” attitude.
“I really believe we are our brother’s keeper,” he said, calling the workshop experience incredible and giving kudos to the other participants – Alex Cuba, Shred Kelly and the Boom Booms.
Through his world travels Weekes came to the realization that we are all one, a message that is reflected in his second album Deidem (All of Us).
Weekes and his band Adowa also shared the workshop stage with the irrepressible Shred Kelly.
While they vocalize social issues, many of their songs reflect the need to protect the environment.
Inspired by their Fernie, B.C. surroundings, the five self-professed ski bums, well four boarders and one skier – that make up the band got their start in the mountain town, all of them attracted by awesome snow.
One of their songs describes the dwindling snowpacks and stories told to them by 1960s ski bums amazing snow – something that has changed since the 1960s.
“It’s great to see how your songs impact; when you write them you have no idea what impact they will have,” said keyboardist-singer Sage McBride. “It also gives you ideas on what to write about in the future.”
Shred Kelly’s banjo-playing singer Tim Newton was amazed by the nuances added to his band’s workshop performance.
“That was one of the best musician experiences for me,” he said enthusiastically. “I heard the conga drums behind me (courtesy of Adowa) and it was an awesome addition to our music.”
And the music keeps on growing – a theme repeated by many performers who participated in workshops.
Award-winning world fusion composer Adham Shaikh has spent the past 15 years exploring fusion blends with musicians from around the world.
“I like the effect and experience of musicians seeking harmony together,” he said, calling music the ultimate and powerful bridge between cultures.
He cites festivals like Roots and Blues as being important places in which to plant the seed of harmonies that go beyond the music to entire cultures celebrating their humanity, rather than dwelling on their differences. “At the end of the day we all want to live in peaceful communities, educate our children and have them grow up to be good humans, to eat good food, dance and celebrate.”
Tom Wilson of Blackie and the Rodeo Kings dedicated the band’s first song, Another Free Woman, from their new Kings and Queens album, to the local safe house, calling violence against women as “a crime that still needs to be dealt with.”