Yahara Waterfront Festival: Day 2 in pictures

Sunday at Yahara park had more great music in store for folks who braved the afternoon showers with two great international acts taking the stage – Great Lake Swimmers (Toronto, Canada) followed by Tony Allen and his Afro Beat Orchestra (Nigeria/France/Germany/USA). I had caught the Great Lake Swimmers at The High Noon Saloon the last time they were in town, and had enjoyed the soft, hushed melodic folk songs the band had performed. For the festival, the band played a more upbeat selection of songs to get the crowd dancing on their feet, rain notwithstanding.

The highlight of the festival for me was to see the father of Afrobeat, Tony Allen and his Orchestra perform at such an accessible and intimate festival setting. Described by Brian Eno as “perhaps the greatest drummer who has ever lived” and Fela Kuti once stated “without Tony Allen, there would be no Afrobeat”, the 70 year old Tony Allen is going strong as ever. The energy, spunk and dynamism was evident throughout the extended 2 hour set that merged and weaved through high life, afrobeat, reggae and more showcasing genres and styles of music indelibly influenced by the man’s touch. Accompanying Tony was an eight person Afrobeat Orchestra included Kologbo, the tenor guitarist on 37 Fela albums and an original member of the Africa 70, and did the band play! I am still smiling from the great show last week… some pictures from the show…

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