However, people still had energy to dance when Sidestepper jumped on stage during the early hours of the following afternoon. The crowd gathered in the Siam Tent enjoying the show, singing, dancing and keeping the tempo of the Afro-Colombian groove played by the five-piece band from Bogotà led by Richard Blair.
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A few minutes later on the Open Air Stage, it was all about inspiring and comforting traditional sounds. When Malian legendary kora player Toumani Diabate shared the scene with flamenco guitarists Juan, Josemi Carmona and Javier Colina, revisiting the seminal album titled Songhai. The audience was in raptures, delighted by the soothing solos. A peaceful mood also characterised the show back in the Siam Tent where Anoushka Shankar proved that Indian classical music can be fused with modern, jazzy arrangements to create a dreamlike atmosphere.
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Two born-and-bred London- bands made an impact on the second day of the festival. Sons of Kemet and the Hackney Colliery Band, representing two distinct embodiments of the UK capital’s music scene, brought their urban character to the Wiltshire countryside and needed no time to win over the audience. The sharpness and dynamism of their brass sections, whimsical improvisational skills and overwhelming all-round sound resonated all over Charlton Park long after their performances had ended.
Then two heavyweights of the world hip-hop scene stole the show. First it was the turn of Roots Manuva, who continued the London theme and metropolitan soundscape. The rapper from Stockwell, arguably the most popular MC in the UK, needed no introduction, gathering a robust and noisy crowd of young fans under the Big Red Tent. After more than 20 years, he was at total ease, and thanks to his original and outspoken rhymes and groundbreaking sound mixing hip-hop, electronic and dub, he proved that he’s still one of the most influential artists around. The same could be said for French/Chilean Ana Tijoux, who performed in the Siam Tent. She played some of her most acclaimed and meaningful songs, introducing her latest bolero scented single ‘Calaveritas’. At the end of her set everybody rushed over to the Open Air Stage, as Saturday’s main event was not to be missed.
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The Godfather of funk himself, George Clinton and his outstanding band Parliament/Funkadelic, set the night on fire with heated rhythms and burning grooves. But that wasn’t the last exciting moment of Saturday night. Half an hour later, when the echoes of the final notes blown by George Clinton into his saxophone died away, the North African band Kel Assouf set their lusty Touareg rock free. The audience went wild following the rowdy and rugged harmonies played by the band’s resolute guitarist. For those who still had energy there was time for one last dance after that with the unique and tasteful selection of African and Latin American vibes played in the Lunched Out Lizards tent by the beloved Racubah Sound System.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IELYqeNmcFY