Wednesday June 6, 2018

An evening at Caribana Festival under the name of rock ‘n’ roll, with Swiss as well as foreign bands, newer and older bands all gathered to spread the message that rock n’ roll is not dead but very much alive!

6:30pm-7:30pm, Scène du Lac

The Last Moan

The Last Moan is a young Swiss duo from Valais, composed of drummer Gaëtan and guitarist Igor. The Last Moan released their new album Zig Zag Dream in March 2017. In 2017 the band was also awarded a Swiss Live Talents Award in the rock category. Their music has an addictive blues-rock vibe where drums and guitar are intertwined and chase each other.

At times dark and at times more colourful their songs take you back to the rock ‘n’ roll of the seventies, adding witty lyrics to it. Whileearing them live it’s impossible not to feel the need to move to the rhythm of their music! The downfall of having the first slot of the evening is that people start coming to the festival later on. Those who missed them will have to make up for it!

8:45pm – 9:45pm, Scène du Lac,

Mat Bastard

Solo project of the former leader of French rock band Skip The Use, Mat Bastard is a bomb of energy. On stage he is accompanied by his four musicians, two guitarists, a bassist and a drummer.

At the beginning of the show Mat Bastard gets off the stage and sings from the parterre, going towards people who are calmly eating at the tables. The audience in the back gathers around him while he sings.

Mat Bastard has rock ‘n’ roll energy to sell! True showman, he establishes a great relationship with the audience telling jokes and making ironic and funny comments about Switzerland, the public and French music. He plays songs taken from his first solo album LOOV (2017), which includes some tunes clearly having a hip-hop influence. His rock music becomes then tainted with hip-hop beats and grooves, with children’s choruses like in the beautiful “Stand as one”.

For one of the songs, as a rebellious punk-rock symbol, Mat Bastard asks the audience to raise their arms and show the middle finger in the refrain. Needless to mention that this gets quite a lot of success and appreciation from the public who participates widely.

A young kid also joins the band on stage for a couple of songs jumping with his fists in the air to the rhythm of the music. The band plays a great cover of Rage Against the Machine’s “Killing in the Name” at the point that it seems to hear the original!

For the last song Mat Bastard and his band leave the comfortable stage to come and play among the audience under the rain for solidarity. A great rock ‘n’ roll ending!

10pm-11:20pm, Grande Scène

Status Quo

Iconic English band Status Quo brings the audience of Caribana Festival back to the surfin’ 70s with their boogie rock and catchy rock ‘n’ roll. It’s an energetic rock ‘n’ roll characterized by colourful guitar riffs and keyboard sounds. The band underwent many changes in its line-up throughout its career, indeed the only founding member present since 1962 is lead guitarist Francis Rossi. Despite this their music remains the same and can take advantage of each and every musician.

Status Quo play one of their biggest hits “In the Army now” for which they ask the audience to sing along in the refrain.

When the unmistakable guitar strings of “Whatever You Want” are played, the audience screams and gets even more excited. Straight after it’s the turn of “Rocking all over the World”. The audience is magnetized, pending from the singer’s words, clapping and jumping to the songs. The band sends great seventies’ vibes! Their songs never get old and older as well as younger people sing along to it!

11:15pm-12:15am, Scène du Lac

Ecca Vandal

Ecca Vandal is a punk-rock band from Melbourne playing for the first time in Switzerland and for only the third time in Europe. Caribana Festival unveils therefore a pretty incredible and original band!

Ecca Vandal is the name of the female singer around whom this musical project rotates, she was born in South Africa with Sri Lankan origins but is based in Australia. A beautiful girl, she has the looks of an R‘n’B queen and her voice is rather soul.

The clash sets in when the band, composed by a guitarist, drummer and bassist, starts playing. Heavy and clear-cut punk-rock riffs add up to the drums beats and electronic sounds of the synthesizer as the singer’s voice switches from soulful to screams. Her girly moves on stage stand up against the riffs and beats. An effective blend, that definitely stands out for its difference and originality.

 

All in all, one phrase describe well this evening at Caribana Festival: long live rock n’ roll!

Simona @TakeMe2aConcert