BLOOD SHANTI'S NEW ALBUM 'UNDILUTED' NOW RELEASED.

This year's session was livicated to Sister Rowena who used to run the 'IsIs Arts Crafts' stall alongside ourselves, and who's brother Julian has taken up the mantle and now runs the 'Isis' stall.

Due to the upheavals in recent weeks concerning the carnival committee and the changes to the route; we decided to get to carnival early, and get there early we did. We arrived at 0800 in the morning and by noon the sound and the stall were set up. The previous few days had seen a frenzy of activity on our part getting everything sorted out,especially the generator. We hired a reasonably large generator but were left with one problem.We did not have a vechicle with a tow bar to get it to carnival as Blood had changed his car and the new car did not have a tow bar. Step up Little Andy (Gemi) and Mario to the rescue.

Due to the forecast of rain we had covered all the stacks in clear plastic, and at 10 minutes past midday the first tuned was aired to test the set.This was the spur to the early arrivals who had sat and waited patiently as the sound was set up.They sprang into dance as if as one and by 1300 our corner was jumping

The expected rain did not materialise, even though the sky at times darken.

A succession of people passed by the stall to buy Blood Shanti's new album 'Undiluted' on pre-release as well as the live session cd's.

A funny story attached to the new album: Momma Shanti keeps complaining that I take photos of her when she is unaware and that she does not come out good in photos. A photo I took at last years carnival is used on the last page of the cd booklet. Momma Shanti had gone for a walk away from our corner when she was stopped by a man with a booklet in hand saying; "You're Aba Shanti's mum!"

I think the photo must do you justice Momma Shanti for a total stranger to recognise you from it.

The vibe on our corner was as always, maximum peace, love & understanding and apart from a small fracas between two overspirited individuals which was swiftly dealt with by Blood and myself, which had more to do with personal space than anything else. (personal space at carnival, I ask you?) Tings as they say were nice. I doubt that most people on our corner even realised that the fracas had taken place.

Jah Trinity had come over from Australia to recharge his spiritual batteries and had brought with him a webcast film crew who were beaming live footage from our corner to Australia.

As I walked around I saw video cameras / still cameras and portable sound recording equipment in abundance.All being used by people to capture the essence of the Aba Shanti vibe. As they took pictures of Aba and the scenes around them, I took pictures of them.

As the day wore on the vibe increased, and I saw more and more new faces not just passing through our corner, but taking root.

There was a strictly enforced 1900 shutdown and we duly complied and as always the people on our little corner dispersed in a peaceful manner.

Raspects to the people in de area: Momma Shanti / Chaim, Martine & their unborn child / Gemi / Charles Steflion & Marie / Uncle Alex / Hisham / Pierre & Cru (Cultural Warrior s/s) / Big Benji (long time ) / Tim & Heidi / Jah Trinity,Terry & the webcast crew / Alston, June & Marcus / Digi, Fuzzy & Prince (from The Shanti-ites), / Mark Iration & Dennis Rootical / King Earthquake / DJ Stryda / Bushez / Gary / The Ras -Ites / Robert Tribulation / Mark / Leroy / Babs & Baba / Patrick Hewitt (we grew up together) / Simeon / Naphtali / Sister Millie & Cru/ Sister Carol & Cru / University Of Dub Cru / Stepoff & Cru /Stepper (who for some reason was dancing at the side of the tent rather than his usual centre stage spot) / The Italian, French, Dutch, German and Japanese Travelling Cru's.To all, One Love. The Humble Lion.

The weather since the previous Monday has been one of torrential rain and the forecast for Saturday was more of the same.
Aba was leaving for Leicester on the Friday night so that we could be up and running,(weather permitting) by the appointed time.So he phoned me at 21:35 on the Friday night to say that he was just heading off to pick up the tops and then he would be making his way up the motorway.He also asked if I could pick up the 'yout dem' as I was leaving London early in the morning to be at Leicester for 11:30 so that they could there to help unload the sound.
Saturday morning at 09:20 I picked Darren, Hezron and Napthali and along with the Lioness we started toward Leicester.
I called Blood to see if he had left yet and was informed of the following;
Aba had gone into the back of the lorry the previous night to place the tops in it and had to reposition a couple of boxes to gain access to the rear of the lorry. As he was manoeuvring the bins one of the double mids dropped onto his foot and his foot ballooned up. He called Blood on his mobile and Blood came and took him to hospital. They were in casualty for over 5 hours from 11:30pm to 05:15 and still they were not seen by the doctors. But as time was running they left the hospital, still with Aba's foot untreated, and an alternative plan was laid.Samari would drive the lorry to Leicester while Aba rested his foot and as soon as we could get up there the better, to help unload the sound.
As I finished speaking to Blood I called Aba.They were heading towards the motorway about 30-40 minutes ahead of us.I ask Aba if he felt up to the task in hand and he said yes.
I called Aba again just as my car hit the motorway to find out how far they were now ahead of us. They were still 40 minutes approx ahead of me. So with controlled speed I accelerated along the motorway.
We wouldn't catch up to them before they hit Leicester, but we wouldn't be far behind.

The much heralded thunderstorms did not materialise as we entered Leicester and made our way around the ring road to Victoria Park.
We arrived at the park to be greeted by a wall of steel fencing. Where we normally would just drive up onto the grass and drive round to the cafe was all fenced off.
I called Aba and he said we would have to go round to the main gate and then send one of the yout dem to pick up a pass or we couldn't get in. So the yout dem were despatched to go to Aba and pick up a pass,while Napthali, the Lioness and I waited for them to return.
Well bwoy it look like the yout dem was on a sightseeing trip, for 15 minutes had passed and they still had not returned. The distance from our car to Aba's location was 250-300 metres. It should not have taken more than 5 minutes to return. So I told Napthali and the Lioness to hold fast as I went in search of the yout dem.
As I entered the park I spied in the distance the yout dem.They were ambling along without a care in the world. I shouted to them to hurry as I pointed upwards, for now the sky was darkening.
We hurried back to the car and drove up to the main gate with pass in hand.
"You can't come in" said the man at the main gate!
I got out and flashed the pass and still the answer was the same.
It transpires that the main gate was the main gate for everything as far as the carnival was concerned.
The procession would leave and return via this one gate.
The time was now 12:50 and the procession was due to leave in 10 minutes.

I questioned the scenario of having no other gate for people who had vehicle passes to enter and exit from, and as there was 10 minutes to spare he could just let me in and all would be well.
The answer was no.
He told me to go and park on one of the side roads. As he hadn't driven round the side roads I had to explain that they were all jam packed with cars. I emphasised that one of the performers, namely Aba
had a suspected broken foot, and he needed us to help him unload before the little drizzle that was now coming down, turned into a deluge.

De man mussy deaf ! For he just waved me away. I heard a voice and turned round to face 2 members of Leicester City constabulary.
"Is there a problem" one asked the gateman ?
I just threw the pass on the floor and got back into the car.
I drove back round to where we usually used to enter the park and not listening to the security men that were guarding it, removed the cones and drove up onto the pavement and into the park.
We drove round to where Aba was and then proceeded to assist in unloading the set.
I went and checked Aba out and he asked where Punk was; as he was supposed to be at the main gate as well ?
It seems that Punk was having the same trouble we had just had, but he had been at the main gate since 12:00; so that put a dent in the gateman's argument that we couldn't enter as there was only 10 minutes to go before the procession started. He wasn't letting anyone through.
I called Punk to find out that he had been sent to the very far side of the park. About as far from us as you could get and he still couldn't get in.
I told him to drive round to where the path was blocked of by cones on the London Road side and I would meet him there with a pass.
The rain was starting to fall a little heavier now.
I got back to the spot to face the security men and meet Punk. I showed them the pass and explained what had happen at the main gate and they gave knowing nods.
Punk turned up and the men removed the cones for him. He drove up the pavement and into the park..
The same scene was played out when Blood arrived a little later.

Anyway the sound was set up by 14:00 and just as Aba was about to drop the first test tune the heavens opened up. The rain lashed down like the last days and times were upon us.
We had taken the precaution of providing clear plastic covers for the speaker stacks as well as the amps and so all we had to do was wait out the deluge.
The rain eventually stopped and the set was tested.
The sun also came out and shone quite brightly.
The session was in full swing and people had gathered to dance. Aba hopping on one foot for some of the time, but he still kept the vibe alive.

We had pre-release copies of Blood's new album 'Undiluted' for sale on the stall for the first time; but vinyl only.
Nuff people wanted a cd copy but made do with the vinyl. Live session cd's were flying off the table as people brought copies of the various sessions. Everything was nice and then without warning the deluge started again.The time was 17:40.
The storm lasted for 15-20 minutes and when it had passed over the once soft ground was waterlogged.
The sun came out again and the people just skanked in the mud like they didn't have a care in the world From 18:00 - 20:30 the sun shone and a nice little session was in progress. Then the stewards with police in tow came and asked us to shut down.
Much niceness in the crowd and a pleasant vibe even with the rain.

Raspects going out to: Baba, Ken, Babbs, William The Conqueror, Sister Millie and Cru, De Yout Dem, Lioness, Blood, Samari, Punk, Bigger, Sister Dee and French friend, Dub Judah and Family, Asher from Bristol (synchronicity on the water bottle from Ethiopia.Wait till u see the album cover.),Terry Gadd, Leroy, Christos, Jubbie, Karl, Momma Shanti and the Shanti Sistren, Clement & Gus, Julian & The IsIs Crafts Cru, Soon Come, Gladdies, Atra, and to all the travelling and Leicester Crus. One love.

A special hail goes out to Aba himself. De man even with a suspected broken foot did not want to let the Leicester people dem down. Some people might refer to it as foolhardy but in my book that is dedication.
One love and raspects, Aba.

One Love The Humble Lion

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