Natty King makes triumphant return to Europe after 12 years
Published:Thursday | August 17, 2023 | 3:28 PMYasmine Peru/Senior Gleaner Writer
With the release of his Rebellution album in 2022, roots reggae singer Natty King said he was anticipating touring the world again “bringing the message of reggae and Rastafari, and old and new songs to fans all over the globe”.
Currently in Europe, Natty King says he is doing just that and more.
“I left Jamaica on July 26 and arrived in Frankfurt the following day ... and it has been hectic, with a few rest days in between. But that's how I like it ... a work we deh yah fi put in work. I got a few more shows since I've been up here and I have some dub sessions line up. So I will be busy right up until I leave from Amsterdam in the middle of September to make my way back to Jamaica,” Natty King said.
With the countries in Europe as his playground, the No Guns to Town singer has been journeying through Germany, Belgium, Spain, France, Austria and Switzerland performing at the huge summer festivals as well as small and medium-sized venues.
The last time Natty King was in Europe was 2011, which coincided with a tour for his 2010 album Born to be Free. A hiatus of sorts followed, during which he was not performing, but was putting structures in place including his own recording studio and label, “while attending to urgent family matters”. By 2018, Natty King was back on the recording scene and released a number of singles, including Why Sacrifice, a collab with Luciano, and more recently the contentious Joe, which was accompanied by a video which depicted the Rastaman as the ultimate player, and which drew much criticism.
Europe, however, is not about Joe or gimmicks tunes, or gimmicks artistes, it's about appreciation for good reggae music and the artistes whose catalogues have endured.
“It's good to be back in the place and seeing your co-workers from Jamaica on the road. House of Riddim is the band I am using ... they produced my Rebellution album ... and they are Anthony B's backing band. I performed at Reggae Jam in Germany and saw so many of the artistes out of Jamaica ... Marcia Griffiths, Tanya Stephens, Tarrus Riley, Kabaka Pyramid, Anthony B ... whole heap a dem,” Natty King shared.
Reggae Jam, one of the oldest reggae festivals in Europe, had its first staging more than 25 years ago and reportedly attracts more than 20,000 music lovers who converge each year to witness performances from international artistes from Jamaica and other countries. This year, it took place during the weekend of August 4-6 in Bersenbrück.
“Reggae music nuh dead bout yah. The white people dem love the reggae music same way. It come in like dem love it more than we in Jamaica. From I come here every day people a tag me inna clips from my performances all across Europe. My first show was Hill Vibes, a show in the mountains in Austria ... and it was live on YouTube. That kick off the tings and from there the momentum just picked up steadily. I am even now booked for the Reggae Jam after party ... and so I now have two shows that night,” a thrilled Natty King explained.
Quite pleased with the response to his performance, which he proved by sharing several video clips, he noted that his “ Rebellution album just a soak in and you woulda frighten fi hear the people dem a sing some of the songs”. He added that contrary to what is expected, Guns Come to Town is not his biggest hit in Europe, instead it's Herbalist, a weed tune which was produced by the Austria-based House of Riddim band, and which entered the charts in 2011.
The songs on Rebellution are produced by Natty King, Hopeton Brown, Backyard Riddims, Julien Pompiere, Carlton Marchall, and House of Riddim.
Natty King, born Kevin Christopher Roberts, tasted success in the early 2000s with the song Mr Greedy, which topped the charts and paved the way for the bombastic hit, No Guns To Town, which was the same name used for his debut album in 2005. In 2009, Natty King released the 15-track album Trodding to the World, and in 2010, he teamed up with House of Riddim for the album that opened the gates for him in Europe, Born To Be Free.
Editor's Note: A previous version of this story incorrectly labelled a photo of Chezidek as Natty King. We regret the error.