Even though the temps have hovered in the low 60’s, this year’s Milwaukee Summerfest is not an oxymoron unto itself. Summer has definitely arrived here in the frozen tundra when this annual mammoth festival opens.
For me, it was another great experience. Earlier last week I had photo-pit access to Earth, Wind & Fire performing with Chicago in the Marcus Amphitheater….
…and The Wailers performing at the Miller Oasis…
The grand finale for me came last night as a back-to-back-to-back-to-back lineup of West African peformers hit the Potowatomi Rock Stage. Starting with my good friend Lucky Diop and culminating with the legendary Femi Kuti with Positive Force, the beats were amazing, the rhythms were lively and the dancing was, well steaming.
The highpoint for me was meeting with Femi in his backstage room before his performance. I gave him one of my prints (Cape Coast Fishing w/quote), as well as an image of him I took in 2007 . It was almost surreal meeting such a gracious, world-class and social conscious artist. We talked about Africa and music.
and here’s one of my favorite Femi songs, which was banned in Nigeria…