soul II soul
back II life
Back II Life - Antigua 2005.
Words Darren Husbands,
Official photographer 2005.
It was presented as a unique addition to the international party circuit. Back II Life 2005 was to create an opportunity to experience the original vibe of the London club set in the beautiful island of Antigua one the gems in the Caribbean. Back II Life is a one week festival that hosts a series of sophisticated events with the backdrop of the Antigua's stunning scenery and the unique sounds of some of the UK's most influential DJ's - JAZZIE B, NORMAN JAY, DAVID RODIGAN & TREVOR NELSON. This was the second BACK II Life music festival, which took place a week before Antigua sailing week ensuring that the partygoers experience Antigua at its most vibrant. It played host to a cross-section of people from all walks of life flying in from 3 continents - some were veterans from the previous year and they returned to quench their thirst for good music and free flowing rum.
Wednesday 20th April 2005
Back II Life 2005 Presents David Rodigan@ Redcliff Quay, St John - Antigua
This was the warm up session that was to set a precedent for the rest the week. I heard reggae tunes that took me back to a youth spent burning cally weed in a rizzla and these were backed up with exclusive dubplates produced just for Rodigan. Demonstrating his ability to know his crowd, he didn't just play for the Back II Life crew but he also catered for the Antigua crew too. A skilled DJ, Mr Rodigan did not disappoint. Add this mix of classic reggae tunes - including Bob Marley's Natural Mystic - to the gentle breeze making the palm trees bend with the rhythm, the crowd swaying to the beats, the smell and the warmth of the island was caught with one tune. I felt that I had truly arrived and David Rodigan's set was a fitting introduction to the Back II Life 2005 experience. David Rodigan started playing out at the tender age of 15 and his early influences where ska beats which sparked his interest and his love for reggae. This man has been in the business for many years, battling untold sound systems to be recognised by those who doubt that this white guy can kill a sound. The presence of Norman Jay, Trevor Nelson and Jazzie B in the background stood as a testimony to the respect he's earned over the years.
Thursday 21st April 2005
Back II Life 2005 Presents Norman Jay@ Abracadabra - English Harbour Antigua
Abracadabra... And as if by magic an evening from Norman Jay MBE (Phd music science would be equally appropriate here). With Rodigan's promise of things to come, Norman Jay's set blew my expectations out of the clear crystal water. It began as a night taken by the Antigua sailing crew as their own, but ended with the Back II Life crew turning up to reclaim life as we originally knew it. Sooner and until very much later the Back II lifers were doing what they do best and getting down. This was no regular event and it called for something different - and Norman Jay pulling out old rare tunes and new house grooves out of the hat enticed the crowd to wonder what was coming next. With the music too good to hold your corner, the drinks flowed plentifully and allowed for an atmosphere that was both vibrant and appreciative of what they heard. The back to lifers met and bonded within a few short hours and it felt like one family under a groove with Uncle Norman. In the midst of raving it up the scores of sweaty bodies were glowing under the stars to the rhythm of Norman Jay's beats and the faint sound of the sea washing against the beach between tracks.
Saturday 23rd April 2005
Back II Life 2005 Presents Trevor Nelson - Secret Location MTV Beach Party!
Looking out from my hotel window on the morning of the much anticipated beach party, I'm slightly alarmed to see the sky is a peculiar shade of grey. Convinced of a temporary weather glitch, I knew it was sure to brighten up in time for the big event. By now we all knew the reason we had travelled across continents to hear the legendary masters at work. Trevor Nelson is assured of his place in that category and I couldn't wait for the secret beach party. All began well with the meeting point at the Jolly Beach resort and you could feel from the excitement and vibe that this was going to be a day to remember. All the events were filmed for The Lick - presented by Trevor Nelson on MTV which had all the ladies donning their carefully selected outfits in order to look their best for the cameras. We all boarded the Back II Life 2005 catamaran to take us of the a secluded beach where we could get down with no prying eyes. The journey took a bit of a turn for the worse with the waves starting to cop against the side of the boat and then the skies opened and rain fell. Huddling under some shelter in the middle of the boat proved a pointless exercise when water started to come through all sides and by the time we all got to the beach it was chucking it down. The family-like vibe on the boat with some carefully chosen music - not to mention free drink to get us in the mood - seemed to take our\minds off the weather. Feeling like sailors on shore leave after months at sea, we arrived on the beach, and it went off big time. People stripped off into bikinis and shorts and started dancing in the sea.
With no control over the rain, we all felt that there was nothing else to do but enjoy ourselves. It was a unique experience, like one I'd never had or imagined. With the rain coming down, Trevor playing his party tunes, people where getting down in the sea, under the gazebo, on the beach. Keeping dry and looking cool was off the menu and with everyone looking like shipwreck survivors we had weathered the worst and needed to celebrate life to a time when it didn't mattered how you looked. With the adverse weather, DJ Trevor Nelson was faced with some problems. But he rose to the challenge and still managed to hold onto that that cheeky look of music mischief while he played a mixture of old and new R'n'B tunes with the odd classic soul groove thrown in to keep us all alive inside. What a day...
Monday 25th April 2005
Back II Life 2005 presents Jazzie B Secret location Private party - Antigua
The last event of the week was to be held at Jazzie B's yard. Is there any other festival where you get invited back to the organiser's yard for a party. The vibe from the past week was still with the beautiful people while we boarded the shuttle bus from Jolly Beach resort on a journey up into the hills. We arrived at a set of gates with a guard and after a brief conversation with on of the co-coordinators (Nigel) the electronic gates opened and the shuttle bus made its merry way inside. First impressions - well\kept lawns and a basket ball court to one side - nice touch. This hill top retreat had an amazing view over looking English harbour that was set with an eye full beautiful horizon with crystalline blue water of the Caribbean Sea. A view of hope, and a view to watch the sun set.
At each event Jazzie and his guests had mingled with the crowd with an air of chilled out, laid back warmth that would be hard to find in most people. Jazzie's hospitality was second to none and having opened the doors once again to their hideaway, they laid on a barbecue and supplied partygoers with endless drinks. Aitch one for the co-founders of Soul II Soul warmed up with a set which was on the same tip as what we had been hearing all week, classics, with a bit of funk and old school with new vibes and generally feel good music while we were fed and watered and let loose to mingle in the sunshine.
Soul II Soul had a massive impact on the UK Black music scene with a new movement they created a unique sound and electric mix of soul, funk, and reggae with a thumpin' base. Any true music lover will have one of the Soul II Soul albums in the collection, the tunes which took them into the limelight were "Keep on Moving" with the lead vocals of Caron Wheeler and the timeless classic "Back II Life". When any of the tunes are played they can transport you back to a time and place and memories of the past.
The Back II Life festival was a vision of Jazzie's to bring his vibe of putting on parties back in the land of his people. This event is not a for the masses to turn up in their football shirts and spoil. It's an intimate, social and very friendly event where the menu consists of carefully selected tunes from the most influential DJ' s in the business. At each event over the week you could walk up to David, Trevor, Norman and even Jazzie himself and have a chat. They were all open and accommodating, which has been something missing from the club scene for many years, people should be with people and not cut off from them. Earlier in the week I was chilling out on Jolly Beach bathing in the sun with Trevor Nelson and he remarked that this is the only thing he goes to where he can properly rave, because all the other time he is working.
Jazzie B is listed on the 100 great black Briton's website. And rightly so. His contribution to Black Music paved the way for others to break from the norm and come with something fresh. The last event took a bit to warm up but when it did the music was wicked in all the right places the stars shone bright the moon was full and I was left feeling that this is what life should be like. So I'm glad to say that Back II Life was an amazing experience. These are still early days in terms of a festival, but one I would have to note in the diary for next year. Back II Life and the Soul II Soul family are still providing a Happy Face, a Thumpin' bass for a Lovin' race.
