Java Festival Production carried out again one of their annual music festivals. It’s Java Soulnation Festival. The festival was set in a bigger scale comparing to last years. Usually it’s only held in two days, but this year Java Festival Production set the festival in three days on 23, 24 & 25 September 2011, with more artists performed in 5 stages.
Day 1
The Festival was opened by 2 bands in two different stages, Un Soiree at Global Organic Stage and RAN at AHA Stage. Global Organic Stage where located next to entrance gate gave advantage for Un Soiree because many visitors came and see their show as soon as they came in before visiting another stages. As for RAN, unpredictably their show gathered many visitors as well. The Performance of trio Rayi, Asta and Nino were good enough in that afternoon. Brought their hits such as Pencuri Hati, Sepeda, Pandangan Pertama, and one cover song from Fatur, RAN was able to make the crowd dancing and singing along with them. After RAN, then we got into LA Lights Main Stage to see A Tribute To Amy Winehouse, a concert which was held to remember the late Amy Winehouse who just passed away at the age of 27. Names of Nikita Dompas (guitar), Ali Akbar (keyboard), Rayendra Sunito (drums) dan Arie Firman (bass) in the musician line-up and young female singers under 9 Super Soul Sisters, consist of Olive Latuppy, Jemima, Tike Priatnakusumah, Sania, Yacko, Davina, Jaydee, and duo Mollucas, Pita Loppies and Audrey Papilaja beyond all questions could be a great attraction. And it was true, by playing some of Amy’s hit songs such as Help Yourself, Back To Black, Monkey Man, and of course Rehab, they were a little bit able to bring all the crowd to the figure of Amy Winehouse.
In another stage, a new comer artist, Raisa, performed and played some song such as, Apalah Arti Menunggu, Cinta Yang Sempurna and Serba Salah. As a new comer, he has done a good performance, and also he was able to interact with the crowd. Besides brought songs from his own album, Raisa also played a song from Alicia Keys titled Woman’s Worth, and it’s real good for her to because this song is very familiar, and the crowd sang along with her.
Valerius from Netherland gave their best performance on the first day of festival. They appeared at AHA Stage for more or less one hour. Played their own song such as She Doesn’t Know, Whenever, Green Light, Valerius caught attention much from the visitors. As scheduled, Valerius would also play on the second day and the third day in another stage.
Then, it’s Maliq and D’ Essential’s turn to take over the LA Lights Main Stage. Their big fans even have been there a half an hour before the show got started. They were patient to wait for their favorite band appeared on the stage. This is an evidence that Maliq and D’ Essential was one of the bands which was most waited by the audience on first day of the festival. For more or less one hour, Angga and Widi Puradiredja and friends gave one of their best performances to the crowd. Their hits songs such as Terdiam, Untitled, and Pilihanku as always were still in the set list.
At TEBS Stage, Indonesian reggae ambasador, Ras Muhammad, seemed to tell everyone in the Festival that he is also one of most waited line up in that evening. His fans have been standing in front of the stage long before his appearance. They were dancing and singing along during the concert. As addition Ras Muhammad brought some songs from Bob Marley, the pioneer of Reggae music. After Ras Muhammad, the audience again moved out to AHA stage. At that stage the icon of Hip Hop music in the early of 90’s, Naughty by Nature would pump up their fans with their hits songs. Trio Treach, Vin Rock and DJ Kay Gee opened up with their hits O.P.P. and the crowd started to move their bodies following the songs played. It was about one hour Naughty by Nature performed at this stage. At the end of the show they invited a few persons to the stage to sing their famous song, Hio Hop Hooray.
The hysteria didn’t stop right there, after Naughty by Nature, the audience who got the special show ticket then started to stand in queue to get into the LA Lights Main Stage to watch R&B artist from St. Louis, Nelly. Nelly came up to the stage one and half hour delay from the schedule. Nelly brought more than 15 songs that evening in duration 75 minutes, included singing a little bit song from Far East Movement, Like A G6 before started to sing Hot In here. In the song titled Dilema, Nelly invited a young girl from the crowd to sing part of song of Kelly Rowland, and this definitely all of sudden caused mass hysteria.
The day one finally was ended up by Drew at Soulnation Stage. All the personnel dressed in uniform, white T-Shirt with Sing with Drew written in the back of t-shirt. Sing with Drew is the of brandnew album of Drew, which was just released before the festival. Time struck 00:30 AM when Drew started their performance. Besides played songs of their own, such as I Love You Too, Yang Ini Untuk Kamu dan Radio, Drew vocalist Sashi Gandarum also invited her friends Radhini and Jemima to the stage and played Spice Girls songs titled Two Become One and Who Do You Think You Are.
Day 2
Day two of Festival was started a little earlier from Day One. The first stage that we visited is AHA Stage. Agrikulture performed there. By playing songs of their own such as Damai, New Day and covered a song from Benjamin Sueb titled Kompor Meledug, they could create a mass hysteria. The crowd danced and sang along together with Agrikulture. The Vocalist Fandi DFMC, sometimes made some jokes during the performance and make the crowd laughing.
Then, there was famous acoustic instrumental duo from Japan, Depapepe at LA Lights Main Stage. It seemed like their performance had been waited by all their fans in Jakarta. The crowd, mostly their big fans had been in the venue long before Depapepe appearance. And it’s true, the audience gave a big applause when Depapepe started their performance. Duo Miura Takuya and Tokuoka Yoshinari looked trying to interact with their fans during the show. Sometimes Miura Takuya stammered to say something in English, and sometimes he also spoke in Japanese. Depapepe performed for more or less one hour at LA Lights Main Stage. Sakura Wind and Spur are included in the set list.
Meanwhile, at Soulnation Stage, electro-pop group from Bandung, Homogenic were also performing. Amandia Syachridar, Dina Dellyana, Grahadea Kusuf, and Maradilla Syachridar accompanied by special additional players such as Fandi DFMC from Agrikulture, and Widi Puradiredja from Maliq and D’Essentials could create different ambiance in their show.
Before Homogenic closed their show, we had to go in hurry to LA Lights Main Stage venue to get the best position to watch Mike Posner. And that is right, both in festival zone and tribune had been fully filled by audiences. Mike Posner opened his show with Please Don’t Go, and suddenly his big fans started screaming and yelling out loud to welcome him. Mike’s performance looked so great that evening. He was attractive and able to interact with the crowd, even during the show he came down to the barricade and saying hello to his fans.
We got a lesson learnt from Mike Posner show. It was full of the crowd. Considering this, we made up our mind to stand by at LA Lights Main Stage area waiting for the headliner on Saturday, LMFAO, an electro-hip hop duo from California. LMFAO (Redfoo and Skyblu) is very popular among the teenager in Jakarta, no doubt, most of the audience at this show is teenager. They seemed so exited to wait their idol rocking the LA Lights Main Stage. As LMFAO came up the stage, the euphoria couldn’t be dammed anymore, the crowd, both in festival zone or tribune started screaming out loud. LMFAO opened up the show with the song titled Sorry For Party Rocking. Accompanying by dancers, songs titled Take It To the Hole, Miami, and new single Sexy and I know It, played in a row. LMFAO closed their performance by playing their three hit songs in a row, Party Rock Anthem, Champagne Shower, and Shot.
Day two of Java Soulnation Festival was ended up by performance of electronic industrial band from Bandung, Mobil Derek at Soulnation Stage. Although not so many people watched, Mobil Derek still gave their best performance by playing their songs such as Believe in U.F.O., Aku Bosan Dengan Musik and also Money. All big fans of Mobil Derek seemed satisfied. Sometimes they did slam dance and moshing during the show. It’s a little bit strange since it’s not rock festival.
Day 3
The Last day of Festival was opened up by reunion of two bands in two different stages. At AHA Stage, one of veteran R&B band from Bandung T-Five again performed after long absent in local music industry. By playing some old songs which are their hits and some cover versions songs, T-Five was still able to entertain their big fans. Meanwhile, at Soulnation stage, Soulmate – where some of personnel were the member of Brown Sugar – also again performed by playing songs titled In A Rush from Blackstreet and also their single Cinta Buta.
If you ever watched Catatan Si Boy (2011) movie you might know one of the soundtrack titled Sunsine (Sashi). That Song belongs to Amanda and Friends, a project of composer/song writer/arranger/music director Dinda Amanda seven other friends namely Imela Kei (Ten 2 Five), Rayen (Pasto), Sashi (DREW), Yacko, Pandji Pragiwaksono, Teza Idol, and Yara Idol. Imagine eight vocalists with different tones and styles join hands in one group, it could create such a party just like what they gave this time at the Java Soulnation Festival.
Then at LA Lights Main Stage, Barry Likumahua and Friends were ready to perform to the crowd. This was a special show titled A Tribute to Funk. Some of familiar classic funk songs from Kool and The Gang, James Brown, George Clinton are in the set list that evening. This show became so special during this festival as Barry Likumahua and friends also accompanied by talented young singers such as Jemima, Dimas from Twenty First Night and Bayu Risa.
It seemed like Soulnation stage and AHA Main Stage have been set up for a great performers. Aditya then appeared at AHA Stage and Andezzz at Soulnation stage. Aditya in this show, made a surprise, he also played one famous song from the late Chrisye titled Juwita. Meanwhile the crowd of Soulnation Stage seemed to enjoy song by songs brought by Andezzz. He played bass instead of DJ deck this time accompanied by all female players dressed in pink polo shirt. Songs, such as Shooting Star, Pergi and Baby, It’s You got a great response from the crowd.
The Euphoria of Festival still continued as next show was Sophie Ellis-Bextor, although this is her second coming and having a concert in Indonesia, but it seemed crowd didn’t want to miss the performance of this pretty British singer. The crowd looked to sing along in every songs played without a command from Sophie. This was a very breathtaking show to see how enthusiastic the crowd that evening. Some of hits such as Take Me Home, Starlight and Murder On The Dance Floor included in her set list. In other hand, Sophie also seemed in her best performance, she many times gave compliments to the crowd for the good response. Her show finally was ended up by song titled Heartbreak (Make Me A Dancer).
Upon Sophie Ellis Bextor show, I then went Soulnation stage to watch the performance of Tangga. But it’s too bad, when I got there, Tangga almost finished their show. Sephia, a famous old song from Sheila On 7 was being brought by them with a little bit disco touch. Tangga ended up their show by playing Hebat. Tangga dedicated their performance for the victim of suicide bomb in Solo which happened on that day.
Then it’s the time to watch how hip hop legend from New York, Public Enemy to entertain their fans at LA Lights Main Stage. The crowd seemed not as many as Sophie Ellis Bextor show, but Chuck D, Flavor Flav and DJ Lord still gave their best performance to the crowd. As soon as Flavor Flav took out his clock necklace, the party was started. The crowd at festival zone seemed never stop jumping when songs such as 911 Is A Joke and Bring The Noise were being played. Chuck D also a few times gave a respect to the crowd and to Hip Hop Scene in Indonesia. It was a surprise, during their concert Public Enemy also invited someone from the crowd to come up on the stage and singing together at a song titled Don’t Believe The Hype and they also introduced Ucok, ex. Homicide to the crowd. Ucok is one of legendary MC from Bandung.
Different ambience appeared when Rock N Roll Mafia took over the stage at Global Organic Stage. Rock N Roll Mafia is an electronic/nu-rave band from Bandung who just released their EP. Their own songs such as Translave and Question were played that night.
Finally, Java Soulnation Festival 2011 was ended up by performance of headliners from Bulgaria, Martin Denev, appeared to the crowd with a band named Martin Denev Jazzawacka. Accompanied by Audrey Papilaja and Matthew Sayers on vocal, and Demaz Narawangga on drum, Martin brought some songs nuanced broken-beat jazz, all of the songs were taken from his album which released by one of Independent label in Jakarta such as Quiet Is A Newland, All Of Us and Strong Finally. It looked the crowd enjoying the show, some of them moved their bodies following the songs played. (Words: Anthono Oktoriandi; Photos: Agung Hartamurti, Budi Susanto)
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