By: PAULO SILVESTRE
paulo@fleet-street-portugal.com
August 6 and 7
IN ZAMBUJEIRA do Mar everything was ready for another edition of Festival Sudoeste. On August 6 the night began at the Positive Vibes stage and concerts began with Bob Sinclar and his great ability as host. This was a concert that brought together a mixture of sounds including hits World Hold On, Sound of Freedom, Together and Love Generation. Tiefschwarz, Full Metal Funk and Tiago Santos were just some of the other names performing in the Kubik space.
After this first thrill, the official start of the festival began. With the space totally full, the public divided itself between three stages. The diversion formed part of a set of proposal gifts in the alentejano enclosure. After the beach, walks across the landscapes and hours of rest, the night became the meeting point for all festival goers.
August 7 began with the Brazilian group Natiruts. Starting with songs such as Quero Ser Feliz Também, Presente de um Beija-Flor and the emblematic Liberdade Para Dentro da Cabeç, they immediately captivated the public. Mixing Brazilian sounds with an African style, the group created a great environment for the afternoon to end.
Portuguese band, Clã, were next and leapt on stage with their energetic attitude, led by their sensual lead singer Manuela Azevedo. The band prepared the audience for the peculiar and Icelandic Björk that would perform after Clã.
Björk demonstrated her unique and peculiar style of performing music. The artist delivered herself to a world that also
 Bjork |  |
turned out to be part of the public. On this distant planet that Björk inhabits came Pleasure Is All Mine, Overture, All Is Full Of Love and in encore The Anchor Song and Independence Declares. Different intensities and environments created true orchestral moments. On the other hand, the most advanced technological equipment provided a vibrant and surprising show.
Tinariwen were next. This band, whose latest work was Aman Imam transferred Björk’s alternative sound to blues and rock. With guitars and percussion, they gave a very visual performance using a proper language in its expression, helped by all the cultural elements. The guitars helped the universal language of music.
August 8
This was a very promising day, with a poster of The Chemical Brothers calling our attention. The Portuguese band Rita Redshoes was the first to get on the Planeta Sudoeste stage. Rita’s red shoes (the lead singer of the band)
 Franz Ferdinand | |
decorated the end of the afternoon. Gracious as always, Rita Redshoes presented the audience with a nice and enjoyable show.
Tindersticks were the next on stage. The owners of a mournful ambience, Thindersticks brought a darker spirit to the event, gaining dimension in the voice of Stuart Staples. Between acoustic guitars, his voice gave to life themes from their last work The Hungry Saw.
With Goldfrapp everything became much more celestial and slightly hippy. Playing in the style of their last album Seventh Tree, Alison Goldfrapp appeared wearing a wide dress with pompons, followed by the band members in white suits. Manipulated sounds, increasing beats and the public dancing denounced the enthusiasm, although at this time many were already waiting to see what The Chemical Brothers had to offer.
Without doubt, the most long awaited performance was about to begin. Everyone joined to admire the magnificent concert that was to be given by The Chemical Brothers. All danced, sang and appreciated the superb visual effects that this duo provided. Beyond the pleasantly electronic music, no one was indifferent to the images on giant screens – a mythical bust with a clown’s face, images of monkeys, men dancing, tigers, insects, seagulls, robots, landscapes, etc. All of this, together with other visual effects produced by lasers, resulted in a hallucinating combination that took all to the purest state of diversion.
August 9
The festival continued. Today suggested David Fonseca, Brandi Carlile, Vanessa of Mata and the sounds of Nitin Sawhney on the main stage.
Brandi Carlile showed the greatness of her voice. Simple, with an enthusiastic smile on her face, she played guitar and adapted songs that the audience appreciated. As well as playing a version of Creep by Radiohead, Johnny Cash was also part of her influences. The public waited anxiously for her song The Story and applauded the American who did not hesitate in demonstrating her contentment. Cannonball and It barks Morning Lullaby offered great moments. Brandi did not want to leave the stage without singing Hallelujah.
Next on stage was Portuguese singer David Fonseca. It was ten years since he performed for the first time at the festival, then as a member of Silence4. The Dreams in Colour had been all there, also given by the song Together in Electric Dreams, original by Philip Oakey and Giorgio Moroder. As a real surprise, David became a true astronaut during his performance. Dressed in a white NASA astronaut suit, David gave real credibility to the moment when he sang ‘I’m the man they think I am at home…. I’m rocket man.’
Vanessa of Mata was the ‘Sudoeste Girl’ for a night. Wearing Indian pants, which were very popular at the festival by the festival goers, Vanessa combined that funny visual effect with the sound of Brazilian rhythms. In the audience, groups of friends created choreographies with happy smiles, particularly when she sang Boa sorte/Good Luck. Vanessa of Mata danced throughout her performance, helping to forget the cold night that it was.
English singer Nitin Sawhney was the performer due on at dawn. With a new album about to be launched, London Undersound, he brought an alignment his most well known song Prophesy.
August 10
Portuguese band Xutos & Pontapés, part of the musical rock history of Portugal, started their performance with Não Sou o Único, whetting the public’s appetite for the rest of the concert. Um Mundo ao Contrário and Dia de São Receber were performed next. Improved with The Rock n’ Roll Big Band orchestra, Xutos &Pontapés filled the enclosure with young and older fans who sang and danced along to their themes. Xutos & Pontapés and The Rock n’ Roll Big Band left the stage flooded by infinite applause by the public, demonstrating the Portuguese affection for the band.
Franz Ferdinand was one of the most waited names that night. Everything was set for a memorable concert. But nobody was expecting what happened next. Problems with the sound was followed by silence. The public demonstrated its discontent, fearing the band would not come back on stage. For comfort of many hearts, Alex Kapranos reappeared on stage and yelled ‘Are you still alright?’
With conditions that stifled the guitars, the group resisted and continued. They had a second sound cut when they were playing Michael. At this time Kapranos opened his arms, infuriated, and left the stage with the rest of the bad.
Demonstrating professionalism Franz Ferdinand come back to try again and this time the sound problems were solved. The song The Dark of The Matinee was applauded and many were proud of the artists’ attitude. In the end, the public congratulated the band and its attitude. Even with all the technical problems, Franz Ferdinand gave a great show to their fans.
Next year, the Festival Sudoeste returns to Zambujeira do Mar on August 6, 7, 8 and 9.
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