Calella, 9 jul – Just over an hour train ride from Barcelona this little coastal town in the Maresme region of Catalonia hosted its „Cultura Viva“ event in its second edition this year with the main act being nobody less than Stranger Cole aka Stranger Cole performing the first time in Spain.
Two weeks after his 80th birthday, Stranger Cole (born 26 June 1942 in Kingston, Jamaica) takes the crowd through the repertoire of his greatest hits such as „Bangarang“, „Uno, dos, tres“, „Run Joe“ or „Artibella“, songs that he lovingly announces and refers to as another one „from way back then“.
During his energetic headline show, the Ska, Rocksteady, Reggae living legend pauses to shout out his emblematic „More life!“ explaining in artistic yet well-reasoned simplicity because „life is the only thing you have“.
The Jamaican star reflects on the night „Feeling great. Feeling very good tonight because it was a few days ago … it was my birthday. And I am in this business for sixty years, and that makes me today, eigh-teen. More life!“
For the duet „When You Call My Name“, Mr. Cole calls a local singer on stage which he introduces as a „Spain“ Patsy, a young female to take over Patsy Todd’s lyrics of the vocal duo.
Throughout his show, Stranger Cole is backed by the Mystic Allstars, Pau Dangla and Irie Souljah. The Calella-born Reggae artist Irie Souljah, takes over the night delivering a powerful performance full of vibes and also presenting his brand new song „Helping Hand“.
The night is closed by Blackup Sound.
What can we say? More life!
Text and video: Ilona „ilo“ Kepic
