Reviewed on Saturday October 18 (photo by Ashley Mar)
Soulfest was announced months ago with a lineup that had many scoffing. Common! Mos Def? D’Angelo?! As the date drew closer, people were almost waiting for artist cancellations to flow in thick and fast, but nothing. Maybe this was going to work out after all…
Ex-flame of D’Angelo and incredible talent in her own right Angie Stone gave everything to her allocated 2pm set time, indicative of the fact that she deserved to be later on in the day. As one of only two women on the lineup of international artists for the day, she made a case for the women in neo-soul with an on-point set including her 2002 banger ‘Wish I Didn’t Miss You’ and the luxe ‘No More Rain (In This Cloud)’.
The impending arrival of Yasiin Bey (Mos Def)was getting the crowd buzzing, but we were sideswiped when it was announced that due to “travel issues” he would not be playing. Negativity was flowing through the festival while the spirited local acts on the Spotify stage did their best to revive the vibes.
Aloe Blacc was singing and dancing and being the well-dressed do-gooder he is. Unfortunately sound levels were an issue but he did his best to reignite the positivity, getting down to his soul/pop hits ‘I Need A Dollar’, ‘The Man’ and ‘Wake Me Up’.
Common emerged next, wearing a Sydney Uni jersey and looking every bit the charming rap icon. Dropping the impossible-to-dislike ‘The People’, Soulfest’s mojo was back and Common had us in the palm of his hand. Going through his hits ‘The Light’ and ‘Blak Majik’ as well as his collaborations with Kanye, Kid Cudi and Nas, Common showed a genuine enthusiasm – even spitting a little freestyle about Australia. Hearing Common say “mate” and “youse” was a massive life tick.
D’Angelo, as enigmatic as he is influential, took to the stage smoking a joint and draped in leather a good 15 minutes after he was meant to – resulting in an abridged set. With the monumental Pino Palladino on bass (who’s played for Elton John, Nine Inch Nails, Eric Clapton, et cetera) and a healthy band, D’Angelo gave us a glimpse of his inimitable magic. With highlights ‘Left & Right’, his cover of Prince’s ‘She’s Always In My Hair’ and a sexy extended jam of ‘One Mo’ Gin’, the absence of ‘Brown Sugar’ and ‘Feel Like Makin’ Love’ were forgiven.
Many were wondering why Maxwell headlined Soulfest over D’Angelo, but after his powerful, joyous set all doubts were quashed. While D’Angelo may be more iconic, Maxwell’s talent and humility won over Sydney. The lynchpin of his set was a cover of Kate Bush’s ‘This Woman’s Work’, a song that made Maxwell himself tear up and the audience hug their better halves a little bit tighter.
Soulfest wasn’t without its hiccups, but it had clash-free set times, good food and it was only the notoriously slack Yasiin Bey who failed to show. Soulfest 2015 please!
