Amsterdam Roots Festival 2010 visited by 60,000 people.
A long weekend with four successful nights in venues and a full open air free festival day in the Oosterpark.
The long festival weekend started on Thursday June 17 with a sold out show in Theatre Carré by Portuguese singer Dulce Pontes with fado and more. The Sugar Factory hosted four young bands from Africa having their European premiere. On Friday June 20 the award winning Staff Benda Bilili gave a spectacular show in Paradiso. The band, some in wheelchairs, with heartwarming Rumba Congolaise conquered the Dutch public supported by the youthful Fatoumata Diawara, who (despite her broken foot) came, sang and conquered all.
The 13-piece band Kassav ' from the French Antilles celebrated on Saturday June 19 their 30-years anniversary during a warm, Caribbean Night in the Melkweg where a crowd of more then 1000 people enjoyed their zouk dance music. On the second stage Asere presented a new sound by mixing Cuban son and flamenco. Earlier our 'own' Izaline Calister warmed the audience with her charming latin-jazz from Curacao.
The Alliantie Roots Open Air free festival day on Sunday June 20 attracted about 55,000 visitors to the Amsterdam Oosterpark, where music and audience mixed to a unique blend. It was party time with La Pegatina from Barcelona and the Colombians of Choc Quib Town, the festival hit of 2010 with their unbridled power hip hop. Highlights were Hanggai with their particular voice acrobatics from China/Mongolia, the tasteful berberrock of Amazigh and the elegant rhythms of Cape Verdean singer Lura.
Music Mayday presented their project SKOP GAT: young South African talent meets Dutch newcomers. The Alliantie Roots on the Road showcases in two Amsterdam districts had its finale on the Ortel Mobile Urban Groove stage, where the young Afrobeat band Jungle by Night won the prestigious Alliantie Award.
www.amsterdamroots.nl