ONE LOVE PEACE FESTIVAL: UNITED TO PROMOTE PEACE & GOOD MUSIC
On Sunday, July 31st, Live ‘N Loud photographer Keith Doyle found himself at the One Love Peace Festival, born from Bob Marley’s song, One Love. A major player when it comes to reggae concerts, could Busta Rhymes, Sean Paul and Levi Roots deliver love and peace to the Wembley Arena in London, UK?
The theme of One Love Peace Festival 2011 was ‘Throw Away Your Guns, Throw Away Your Knives And Save a Life’, aimed at the young British public with artists like Skepta, Donaeo, Bashy and Princess Nyah on the line-up. With Imperial Ethiopian flags being waved in force, whistles and horns being blown, it felt like a carnival in a compacted space, an instantly explosive atmosphere made up of people from many different races, united to promote peace and enjoy good music. Natty King, Etana, Horace Andy, Nitty Kutchie, Gyptian, Abssynians, John Holt and Levi Roots were just a handful of the other artists that took to the stage. Speeches from Levi Roots, Communities Against Guns & Knives, The Kiyan Prince Foundation and two teenagers representing Not Another Drop delivered memorable speeches, pleading for no more blood to be shed in the streets, naming people from Damilola Taylor to Steven Lewis, who have been innocently killed in the past from gun and knife crime.
A performance from south London dance group Dance Wicked, from Peckham, left the crowd wanting more. Another dance collective, Nu Flow, took the stage with their routine to a dubstep mix but then nine year-old Akai was brought in. Absolutely amazing, He was better than the whole crew, taking over the huge stage with breakdancing, flips and the crowd were loving him, a well deserved standing ovation.
Busta Rhymes blasted on stage to ‘Respect My Conglomorate’ and ‘Ante Up’. Joined by his usual right hand man Spliff Star, and his DJ, Busta performed a full set of songs new and old including ‘Dangerous’, ‘I Know What You Want’, ‘Touch It’ and ‘Look At Me Now’. Busta even threw in some of his feature songs, performing a short section of the Pussycat Doll’s ‘Don’t Cha’ and Lumidee’s ‘Never Leave You’. Busta Rhymes put on a great show. He even overran and had to be pulled off the stage as the show was already running around an hour and a half late, but not before he popped open a bottle of Champagne to celebrate, showering photographers and the lucky fans lucky enough to get up close, overall a very energetic set by Busta.
Click right here below for all the photos from that day!
- Photos & Text by Keith Doyle -
Category: Photo Updates