As people set up their tent and started to make their way to the Fort de Saint-Pere, NOLOGO BZH opened its doors for its first day on Friday, August 8th. Over on the main stage Brazilian singer Bia Ferreira, alone with her guitar, started the festival with an intense set with powerful lyrics.
Only 10 minutes after her set came Mellow Mood in total contrast, this reggae duo took the stage with an electric energy, and the crowd absolutely pulled up.
The other main attraction of NOLOGO BZH was the Dub Arena, an intimate stage surrounded by a sound system making you literally feel the music inside your body. With non stop sets and amazing sound, this was the place to be if you liked dub music.
Back over on the main stage, as golden hour began to shine, French singer and guitarist from the group “Tryo” Guiz followed the energy brought by the previous set, with lyrics rooted in activism and an amazing stage presence, people were absolutely vibing.
This wouldn’t end as the Twinkle Brothers followed up. The Jamaican reggae legends had an amazing set as bouncy guitars and profound vocals resonated through the festival site as the sun went down.
Then came festival headliners Danakil, the whole crowd waited impatiently, as the saxophones and trumpets started playing the whole festival lit up with energy. The band would play songs like ‘Marley’ and ‘Les Vieillards’, and the crowd was on, singing every word and vibing to saxophone solos.
They would be followed by A Tribute to Naâman by Fatbabs, an emotional set commemorating the French reggae artist who died less than 6 months ago. In his spirit the crowd and artists gathered to dance, sing and most importantly carry on his music and legacy. Flying giant flags in his honour, the festival day would end in an emotional tribute to this beloved artist.
Written by: Leny Munier
Photographed by: Leny Munier
Edited by: Sabine de Graaf
