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Expats and local music fans celebrated by marching out in hordes for a fun family festival featuring sounds old and new.
The grassy fields of the Bahrain Rugby Football Club in Janabiya were decked out in parasols, ground sheets, picnic blankets and fold-up chairs as thousands turned up to see a multitude of acts perform at the latest edition of Trib Fest.
There was a little something for everyone, as middle-aged mums and dads boogied the day away to classics from James Brown, Cher and Michael Jackson, only stopping to watch as their children cartwheeled and jumped around like mad to current chart-toppers such as Ariana Grande, Pink and Adele.
There were also some bag-throwing-down-a-hole competitions on the side-lines for the competitive navy boys as well as inflatables for the youngsters.
‘My generation’ was also catered for … not just by The Who, but rock giants such as Coldplay, The Beatles and especially Led Zeppelin sound-alikes, who I believe were here for the first time, putting on superb performances.
Of course, the show-stealer was the Freddie Mercury tribute act, the only one who makes every iteration of this wonderful event without fail. No wonder when he sends every single reveller into raptures!
Dreadful wigs, exaggerated makeup, awful accents and attire that would even make Stevie Wonder recoil in horror at the sight were part-and-parcel, and it was a greater event for it.
In fact, the quality of musicianship was absolutely fantastic throughout the day, from nailed-on vocals to the tightness of the backing musicians. It’s easy to see why tribute acts are in huge demand these days when imitators can get this close to the original.
More than anything, this was a chance to enjoy a day of frivolity and laughter with perfect weather and great people, proving once again that music is the one thing that can bind everyone together.
It seems not only humans enjoyed the event either … the island’s army of mosquitos had their equivalent of Christmas dinner. I’m still itching!
