WEBLINKS
| |
The 大象传媒 is not responsible for the content of external websites.
|
 |  | The annual Leamington Peace Festival was on 15 - 16 June in the Pump Room Gardens, Leamington Spa.
The festival is free and aims to promote an understanding of international peace in all its aspects.
Review by Andrew Holdcroft, Leamington resident
听Still relevant after 26 years
| | 听 |
| 听 |  | People at The Leamington Peace Festival 2002
|
Now in its 26th year, the festival's roots in the response to the Cold War nuclear standoff (MAD) have renewed validity in an era of global tensions and conflict.
The continuity is reflected in the forum it provides for otherwise marginalised groups, causes, fashions, foods etc.
Noodle stalls stand beside henna tents, piercing booths, a variety of alternative therapy centres, groovy clothes sellers, spiritual guides and the whole arena is graced by fragrances of exotic food and combusting herbs.
听Uniquely non-commercial and inclusive
| | 听 |
It was noticeable that while police patrolled the streets of Leamington cautious about alcohol-fuelled passions of fans watching England and Ireland play, no touch of this troubled the laid-back vibes of the festival. The two tribes mixed not.
In an echo of the great 60s free festival movement, all generations hung out together at the festival, from the smallest of children to veterans of causes and lifestyle choices made in the 60s and earlier.
As a summer event goes, the Leamington Peace Festival is acquiring a uniqueness of non-commerciality and inclusivity that most towns' increasingly technology and money-driven fairs cannot seek to match.
While it continues, a small hope still exists for us all.
听Eclectic and representative music
| | 听 |
Music has always been a feature of the festival, indeed "World Music" has been the focus always, long before the term was coined elsewhere.
Leamington's music has always been typically eclectic and representative of non-commercial and diverse traditions.
The highlight was the superb Souler Rhythm, probably the "band most likely to" - certainly watch for them locally and, doubtless, nationally.
If you insist upon using labels then "Jazz" "Soul" "Funk" "R'n'B" might be possible descriptions of Souler Rhythm's music, but none fits exactly.
The second-best band was probably "Le Cod Afrique", a popular local dance-scene band.
The rest of the music on offer varied between the interesting and the predictable: acceptable when played by local enthusiasts, less so when attempted by the more earnest and less self-aware seekers after "authenticity".
Visit the festival website to find out more about what happened by following the link on the left.
|
