White musicians had Rasta hair and played Reggae music. Concert stopped.

[Markedforsl]

I'm including a translation of an article in a Berlin newspaper, about a concert which took place (or should have taken place) in Switzerland.
A band of white musicians played, among other things, some reggae music. Some of the band had rasta style hair.
Some concert-goers expressed "discomfort" with the situation to the organisers. The organisers stopped the concert and have made abject apologies.

YANBU: White musicians playing reggae music and even wearing dreadlocks while doing so is okay, and doesn't justify the immediate termination of a concert.
YABU: Only Jamaicans should play reggae music and/or have dreadlocks. If white people do either of those things it is racism and should not be allowed. Innocent concert-goers need to be protected from this.

"As reported by several media in Switzerland, the dialect band Lauwarm performed at the Brasserie Lorraine in Bern on 18 July. The five musicians were standing in for another band that had cancelled. The repertoire of the group Lauwarm includes reggae, indie, world and pop. But their colourful programme was not well received - apparently mainly because of the hairstyles. Concertgoers expressed "discomfort with the situation" to the organisers, report Neue Zürcher Zeitung and 20 Minuten.
The concert was stopped after the complaints. In a statement, the organiser now apologised for "awareness gaps". The audience should have been "better protected" before the performance. As the Brasserie Lorraine cooperative announced on Facebook on Monday, the discomfort of the visitors had been related to the topic of "cultural appropriation". That is: the band Lauwarm is criticised for being white musicians, wearing partly rasta haircuts and playing Jamaican reggae music, although they themselves have never experienced the racial exclusion of Jamaicans.
The organisers apologised "to all the people for whom the concert has caused bad feelings". They said they were responsible because they had invited the band. "We failed to deal with it enough in advance and to protect you." The lengthy apology to all those who suffered ends with the words, "Not a millimetre of room for Racism and other discrimination.."

And I mean I don't know but doesn't the hair go inside the hat? That's what I've seen. I'm not as convinced as others are that the chap on the left is an adherent to Rastafarian beliefs.

Dreadlocked or not, the hair doesn’t have to go inside a Rasta cap. It can be loose. One sect even tucks them in turbans. I’m not convinced he is, but he’s the one that a casual observer would most likely accuse of being “Rasta like”.

I dont need to google, I know my history and I particularly know my music history which is why I asked you

Little Richard was at the time and now hugely recognised for being one of the original rock and rollers, same as Chuck Berry, they set the world alight.

Hound dog by big mama is actually my favourite version, I dont like the Presley version

Its not about whether their versions got famous because the 'music' was taken, it was about the social and political position in America at the time,, it was slightly different in the UK though.

If you dont think that those artists were famous and influential, how do you think those that came after them, were ever influenced by them?

You do realise of course that someone doesnt have to be Rastafarian to what their hair in dreadlocks?

A person can have their hair anyway they want

It's probably tribal, globally. Makes practical sense, if you don't have a reliable supply of combs, hairbrushes, shampoo, conditioner, scissors, hair straightener, smoothing hair oil, hair gel and spray.

Well, it does raise the question why white artists get the fame and money, while the black artists playing the same music don't....

People will give their 'money' and follow artists they like, who they find charismatic and who they can identify with. You can't force people to be a fan of someone just because you find them more 'worthy'.

Thanks for the info. It's not something I've been keeping an eye out for, just seemed to be a thing with the older sound system type blokes. I watched the song that I could find a video for... I think I would probably have been fairly unimpressed as per the Berliners who made their thoughts known!

Being booted in Berlin made more sense to me than Switzerland tbh

Maybe they got binned because they're a bit shit? And saying it was to do with hair felt like the thing to do...

This stuff exhausts me. Can someone ban killjoys please?

Yes hairstyle was part of tribal identity. It also marked status and function within tribes. In its own way, upkeep was just as much effort as modern hairstyles.

I wouldn't say that black artists don't make money - james brown was buried in a solid gold coffin.
There are heaps and heaps of black artists who were/are doing very well.

Apin in 1950s USA?

The record companies had a tad to do with it surely? Exposure on TV film. And... All that sort of thing. Racism? Repackage with a white face and boom it's a hit.. you don't think so?

It is. I was shocked to read that even in childrens fiction activists are forcing authors to only use characters that match their own sex, ethnicity and sexual orientation. So a white woman can’t write a childrens book with a Chinese girl as a character in it at all. And then these same activists complain there isn’t enough diversity in childrens books!

On hair, I knew a white girl with dreadlocks and it took her a lot of effort. She was forever fiddling with them to mat the roots.

My son has longish hair and has never used shampoo. His hair is really easy to keep non-dreadlocked if you know what I mean - upkeep is easy, just plain water rinse.

It's mad to have indicated that the organisers failed to keep the audience safe. That being sad the lad in the rasta style hat looks like he's playing dress up (prob ably unintended) and he does look a bit silly billy imo. Sorry that sounds a bit mean. They band will be so confused, will they have to give up their fashion identities? Comlte a programme on unconscious bias? They looks like they'd frequent anti racism protest and will feel misunderstood.

Cancel culture.

The record companies had a tad to do with it surely? Exposure on TV film. And... All that sort of thing. Racism? Repackage with a white face and boom it's a hit.. you don't think so?

Record companies may prop up someone all they like. But the public will decide, always.

Braids yes, but I've never seen evidence that vikings had actual dreadlocks.

It is. I was shocked to read that even in childrens fiction activists are forcing authors to only use characters that match their own sex, ethnicity and sexual orientation

I struggle to find children's books to buy for a family member nowadays. Most of them do not include characters who look like her (blonde, blue eyes - we are in the UK).
I have to resort to oldish second hand editions from charity shops or give her hand made presents crafted by myself. It's ridiculous.

They were playing in Berlin where I think there's a fair bit of sensitivity around culture/ identity and so on which is surely understandable.

The video I mean they are very UB40. I couldn't find lyrics but the one singing was not the guy who may/may not (I'd put money on not) be an adherent to Rastafarian beliefs.

I mean it's more than possible they were just all in all a bit grim. Has anyone else watched them performing/ vids? Compare notes?

IT was a necessary process. In the early 50s white Americans weren't interested in listening to black music by black musicians. So you get a white musician singing black music to make it acceptable to white America. Then you get a white singer with black backing musicians. Then you get black musicians. I don't see what the alternative would have been. Telling people they were racist and stopping Elvis etc from singing "black music" wouldn't have done anyone any good.

Hmm, do you think the people who complained that they felt uncomfortable actually felt uncomfortable, or just thought they ‘ought to’ feel uncomfortable?
Hairstyles are not racists, music is not racist. If people can’t use inspiration from other people, regardless of race, then we will stagnate as a race of humans. Seeing racism where there is none, is the worst form of racism!

This is an outright and outrageous lie.

@apintortwo
I struggle to find children's books to buy for a family member nowadays. Most of them do not include characters who look like her (blonde, blue eyes - we are in the UK). I have to resort to oldish second hand editions from charity shops or give her hand made presents crafted by myself. It's ridiculous.

I hear you, it's bonkers. In reception, some mums in my dd's class complained to the school when dd was chosen to be Mary for the nativity The reason dd was Mary was that she didn't have to say anything. She was painfully shy and her teacher wanted dd to gain confidence in a special role without having to deliver lines. These over invested -jealous mums told the teacher dd had been chosen because of her blonde hair and blue eyes 😂

Yup

I feel sorry for the band
once this type of mob have come for them, I don’t see them lasting
no one will want to book them

they'll carry on booking the family sex show types.

This is an outright and outrageous lie

Why are you outraged? It's not a lie unfortunately. I'm not buying a book for a child with an obvious political message or bias. Hence I have to resort to gifting other things.