Gregory Rabess gives WCMF thumbs up

Fans at Night Two of WCMF 2013. Photo by Zaimis Olmos
Fans at Night Two of WCMF 2013. Photo by Zaimis Olmos

Cultural consultant Gregory Rabess, has given a positive review of the 17th edition of the World Creole Music Festival (WCMF).

The festival, which was held from October 25th- October 27th, 2013 at the Windsor Park Sports Stadium, saw performances from major artists including Machel Montano, Busy Signal, Kassav and Carimi.

Also on the line up, were local artistes and bands such as Triple Kay, Wck and Krossvybez.

Speaking to Dominica News Online, Rabess said that he was particularly impressed with the performances of local artistes.

“I think people were quite satisfied with the performance of the groups and it had some outstanding ones. I was particularly impressed by Fitzroy, Freddy’s performance, the Swinging Stars, the Calypsonians, and Kross Vybes, they all put on a very wonderful performance as well,” he noted. “The local bands actually exceeded expectations. The idea to have the calypsonians perform old road march songs was a brilliant one.”

He noted that the idea to honor Fitzroy Williams at the festival was also a brilliant one, pointing out that the organizers should continue to honor various outstanding individuals.

According to Rabess, a sense of a high level of professionalism could be felt throughout the festival. However, he believes that that there should be a “seismic shift” in our relations with the neighbouring French islands.

“It is my view that we do not consider our French neighbors highly enough in terms of the strategic interest of the World Creole Music Festival and we must review that. In some parts of the system people do not display enough sensitivity to the importance of that strategic relationship to the success and continued evolution of the festival,” he pointed out.

Rabess added that there should also be an active engagement in Dominica for the development of the music and creative industries.

“There has been a lot of emphasis placed on tourism over the last years, because the festival was set up to bring in the numbers, developing the music industry was a second objective and remained there. We have to pay some attention to how can we utilize the World Creole Music Festival and other similar festivals to boost the local music industry,” he said.

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11 Comments

  1. LOVE
    October 30, 2013

    I have never been to a creole festival until i went in 2007 when i met my estranged husband, never me again, however the festival was nice, nice i must say, but why are people so negative about everything??? you can have negative thoughts about some thing? but please add a little positive to it, i am sure it was nice, but someone had to be negative.

  2. White Plains Rd
    October 29, 2013

    The turn out this year was decent, and the French Visitors made i would say 40% of the patrons…

    The Festival lacks a proper Sound System for that event, there is a Big difference between a Hi Fi sound and a Sound for live Bands in a large venue like a stadium,acoustics were horrible to say the least….this is air marked as a World Event…so the best should be on display,if not remove world from it..
    Sound plays a critical role to the whole ambience.

    The stage was lower and cheap, lack any sort of High end design for a event carrying a world logo.

    The bars are outside of the main area, which doesn’t happen in any world events around the globe..

    another silly point which is a NO,NO how come so many patrons parading the event with passes, are they technical,musicians,media,security or the DFC event team personal..i am not sure the DFC/DDA carriers over 400 team strong.come on we always seem to get things wrong in Dominica…

    Been to a few gigs and you don’t see to every 10 patrons 6 carrying these tags..it makes you wonder where can i get a free past…maybe folks should just have a cover fee of 20 dollars across the board and let the Government take care of expenses for bands and other personal directly with the Fest.

    Looking forward the Fest needs a good venue to create a festival outlook..think Lime’s event at the Botanical gardens fits in nicely and showcases the nature ambience of Dominica..

    So folks need to think Bigger,Better and Wiser about WCMF..are we just thinking of the french islands and a few dominicans here and aboard or creating a true World Class event…

    At present i don’t think our Ruling Regime is serious about the WCMF.

    • NatureIslander
      October 29, 2013

      Get out of the ghetto on White plains road and go home to make a difference instead of criticizing. We are proud of what we have until we can do better. People like you just kontwaying me. Rome wasn’t built in a day!

  3. truth
    October 29, 2013

    he is gregory rabess?…..

  4. CIA on the Watch
    October 29, 2013

    I was listening to DBS Radio durig the festival and when the lines was opened for texting i made a few suggestion to the commentators at the time one who was Gregory Rabess and i suggested that consideration should be given to move the festival from Thursday to Saturday and the Sunday could be used to host another event to the advantage of the vendors who will have one extra day for making some extra cash, I also made a suggestion that the creole in the park could start on a sunday since the gardens in the past was used for some sort of family fun in the afternoon, Mr Rabess was more interested in putting a goo pattan mama woosh in my suggesting by simply shrugging it off aside with comments as “someone else might say the following day ia a working day”. I sometimes wonder if persons of influence in Dominica think outside the box for the Development of anything Dominican instead the put this “GOO PATTAN MAMA WOOSH” IN THE WAY OF PROGRESS

    • hmmmm
      October 29, 2013

      the activities are good how they are, with your Thursday. what happen people not working man. stupes

    • Anonymous
      October 29, 2013

      I get what you are saying but Sunday morning is Creole Bord la Mer which goes up till noon or so-this based on what you were suggesting I believe vendors do benefit. I dont mind CITP going from Sunday to Wed either.

  5. WATCH OUT
    October 29, 2013

    Stupes everybody just talking, talking, talking you see that touge in our mooth everybody consultant now I myself one too we

    • Justice and Truth
      October 29, 2013

      :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

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