Roots Manuva

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Reading Festival 2005

Friday 26th to Sunday 28th August 2005
Richfield Avenue, Reading, Berkshire, England MAP
£125 for weekend (including camping) - SOLD OUT, £60 any day

Daily capacity: 55,000

I’m really looking forward to this. I’ve been a fan for a while now. The hip hop outfit take to the stage, with a full band, decks and a backing singer. We get a little free-style for openers and it’s all good. My only gripe being the lengthy talking to the audience after a while, despite the penny whistle solo, I’m thinking for f**ks sake get on with it.

The sun is out and the temperature starts to soar, as he gives us some ‘voodoo’ and reminds us of how important ‘Make Poverty History’ is describing it as “some big sh*t!” We get a mix of old tunes and new stuff from ‘Awfully Deep’ though it doesn’t work so well in the sunshine and everyone’s trying out their best hip hop dancing.

I get a little frustrated by the whole thing to be honest and the apathy in the crowd is spreading as eventually they liven us up with ‘Witness the Fitness/Dreamy Days’. I was expecting something more from Roots Manuva and felt despite them enjoying themselves and playing hip hop without much hassle from the crowd (I’m thinking of 50 Cent last year here) they didn’t seem suitable for the audience. They’d be better off playing to a less rock-orientated crowd. On another day I might enjoy their energy more.