There is nothing quite like Reggae and Rock in the Rupununi. There is something different about swaying to Reggae on the grass, under towering mango trees, a huge campfire filtering lights into the shadows, all under bright moonlight with flaming flambeaux lighting the path to the festivities.
Fineman certainly knew how to keep an audience of locals and tourists entertained. Even Minister of Foreign Affairs Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett shook a leg as the Rupununi Music and Arts festival continued on Saturday. The festival, the first in the Rupununi and Guyana livened it up with the America alternative rock band, Filligar drumming, singing, Reggae and the infectious Brazilians always eager to do something.
The outdoor, camping festival is not something that has been experienced in Guyana before with a wide range of artistes from around the world and performances, which if something was not to your liking, there was always something else to do, attend, or watch.
The location may have been questioned by some but the question really is “why not,” said Bob Ramdhanie, the festival director. “It’s a beautiful space, it’s got all the kind of ambience we want for the festival, natural beauty, an ideal setting away from the hustle and bustle of city life… a stress free environment,” he said. Ramdhanie said that he came into the festival with no expectations and artistically and aesthetically it has been a tremendous success. He was coy about the financial aspect but noted that this was a first and the talk isn’t about money. “Ït’s been a huge success in terms of planning, execution and delivery,” he said.
Ramdhanie said that he became involved in the festival purely by accident. It is a labour of love and working on it was financially stressful, he said. “It was a total accident,” he stressed. But they worked with the spirit of the space. “We’ve complemented it and not altered the spirit of the place….we complement what exists without trying to control it,” he said.
Ramdhanie, whose mom is a Guyanese, runs Mapz Arts, and manages artistes with one of the objectives being to link up with other artistes from around the world, he said.
“I am interested in music from all around the world,” said Ramdhanie who has been working with musicians for about 40 years. Some of the artistes at the festival are managed by him.
“It is not about popular culture…it’s not about popular culture in the sense that you are bringing big name musicians,” he said. These are great musicians who may never have been heard of but that means nothing, he said, adding that they are interested in the quality and diversity of music,” he said.
The feedback on the eclectic range of artistes has been overwhelmingly positive, Ramdhanie said, while adding that as director, some things could have been done better.
There are plans to have the festival continue and the feedback suggests that this should be an annual festival, he said.
The local communities had free admission to the festival and this will continue, Ramdhanie said.
This is the first time that Guyanese and foreign artistes have appeared together in such a setting and while attendance could have been more, it was a wonderful experience.
“Hope you have a wonderful night and hope to see and talk to you soon. Take care,” the vocalist for the rock band Filligar said Sunday evening before breaking into “come away with me, come away with me, come away with me.”
As Iryna from Ukraine, said, a magical evening.
