In their past two incarnations they performed live scores to the films La Haine and Battle Of Algiers to both critical acclaim and rapturous audience responses.
This year’s Festival opening gig promised their trademark spirit of political resistance live with many of the artists who collaborated on their latest album The History Of Now.
The end result was a classic ADF gig on a grand scale, powering through a two-hour set, stunningly framed by Jimmy Cauty’s visuals and sumptuous lighting.
The sheer strength and quality of ADF’s musicianship was what allowed the guest artists to dip in and out of the set, bringing with them a variety feel. Whether it was the driving rhythms of the Ministry Of Dhol on Dhol Rinse Jam, Kerievas’ haunting vocals on This Land Is Not For Sale, Chi2 string section or melodious Nathan “flutebox” Lee, they punctuated the dub, dynamically complementing the music while underscoring the political message.
Unfortunately, the PA couldn’t quite deliver either the clarity needed for the lyrics or the internal organ-rearranging bass; this was a gig that resonated predominantly in the head rather than the soul.
But by the grand finale of Fortress Europe and Rebel Warrior – performed in true Festival style with all the artists jamming together on stage – the whole audience reciprocated with their dancing, confirming that in a world where our ethnic differences are constantly accentuated by the media we can still all be united by the beats.
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