Rio Loco Festival : closing session on 21st June
Edito: We arrived at about 7 pm in time to catch a folk session with Nibs van der Spuy and Piers Facini in a perfect setting, with sunshine and spectators sitting on the sloping lawns and even whiffs of marijuana on the breeze coming off the Garonne river. But, while Piers Facini does have a beautiful voice, I must admit I overdosed quickly on his folk songs and soon got bored, though everytime Nibs van der Spuy added his distinct South African sounds, I was tempted to stay. We moved on as I had to interpret for Patrick Labesse, a journalist from Le Monde who was to inverview Nibs van der Spuy after the concert. Here's a photo of the two of them taken in the official enclosure for musicians, journalists (and interpreters).
Below: Nibs Van der Spuy on left, Patrick Labesse, a journalist from Le Monde, on the right
Through my job as interpreter, both Marion Mésenge and I were given official ID which entitled us to free food and drink throughout the whole festival. Unfortunately we only realised this on the last day! While eating supper I suddenly spotted Vusi Mahlasela who had stayed with us when he came to Toulouse around about 1995 for a concert at the FNAC. I called him over to our table, but he didn't remember us.
Below: Vusi Mahlasela
Before going on to describe the final session, here are some more pictures of Freshly Ground, taken by Marion Mésenge; an original and very talented group of musicians worth watching.
The final session was a homage to Miriam Makeba featuring Hugh Masekela, Vusi Mahlasela, Tandiswa Mazwai, the Mahotella Queens and all of Hugh Masekela's musicians, including a great guitarist. All of them put so much feeling into their performances and their voices were so beautiful that the audience went wild. It was a fitting end to five days of South African art and music. Here are the last of our photographs.
Below: Hugh Masekela
Below: Vusi Mahlasela
Below: Thandiswa Mazwai's sister
Below: the small stage with the Nibs van der Spuy and Piers Facini concert and the Garonne river in the background
Below: Vusi Mahlasela and Hugh Masekela
Below : two of my colleagues, Rachida and Magali at the closing sessions
Well folks, that wraps up the Rio Loco Festival. Those who came will remember it, and for those of you who missed it, I do hope to see you some other time in the not too far distant future.
This blog was created to bring South Africans together during the build-up to the festival and I'm wondering now whether I shouldn't wind it up and lay it to rest.