GuilFest 2005. The Guildford Music Festival on 15th, 16th and 17th July 2005

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Artist: Ozomatli
Genre: Worldbeat
Performing: 5th July 2003 / Stage 2
Website Address: http://www.ozomatli.com
Author: Anna Rooke

Rivalling Alice Cooper on the main stage may not have been the easiest task for Ozomatli, particularly considering most people have never even heard of them, let alone seen them before. But the 10-strong carnival-style band proved they were more than up to the job. With their high-energy brand of latin, salsa, samba and worldbeat and a veritable plethora of instruments, from electric guitars to African percussion and brass, they've warmed the crowd up in no time.

It's music for everyone, old and young alike, from the ageing hippies in the front row to the seven-year-old girl who's lifted on stage to hit a tambourine and sway along in time to the music.

Ozomatli are entirely loveable, their cheesy grins and sense of humour is infectious and in no time everyone has their hands in the air, clapping, chanting and dancing along. At the end of their performance they lead their customary conga line down into the crowd to continue the party off-stage, with renditions of Sesame Street and the hokey-cokey proving that anything goes as long as it means having fun. Despite their initial joke that Alice Cooper has stolen their crowds, by the end of their set they've undeniably returned the favour and claimed a glory all of their own. Ozomatli name themselves after the Aztec god of dance and by the end of their performance, Guilfest is truly worshipping them.