As a seasoned correspondent covering music concerts in the United States and internationally for many years, occasionally there are glitches pertaining to media press passes. That being said, I must vent for a moment and ask what’s the point of being given a press pass and then being refused entry to take photographs of the performers on stage, especially when we were given written instructions that the media would be allowed to photo and video for the first three songs!!!
Its embarrassing to beg the security to let you in front of the stage as if you were a groupie especially while clearly wearing the appropriate media wrist band. I was told that we were given the wrong color wristband. I was finally let through but only because I happened to see one of the organizers who allowed me entry.
Having said that, the Grace Jerk Festival was a fun family day (LOL!). There was much to enjoy including the jerk cook-offs, face painting and, of course, eating of some good jerk, (I did not get to taste the jerk ice cream, maybe next year). I ate jerk chicken, roast bread fruit and half price sorrel as they were closing.
I have been going to the Fort Lauderdale Jerk Festival promoted by the same sponsors for many years. In Queens, New York at Roy Wilkins Park on Sunday July 20, 2014 the stage was graced by Etana, the Strong one, Mr. Vegas and Maxi Priest.
Etana’s performance was outstanding, as one of a few cultural empresses of Reggae, it was great to hear great lyrics, conscious lyrics and nice love songs such as “When a man loves a woman its Jah jah blessing”. Etana also paid homage to Dawn Penn by singing “No No No” Which we all know as a song of heart break “you don’t love me any more now” That has to be one of the best known songs outside of the Bob’s songs and Dawn Penn still sings in 35 years later. (Did you see Dawn Penn on the BET awards last year?) Unfortunately, due to the media access mishap, we have NO pictures of Etana to share with you.
Mr. Vegas is always lively and entertaining and gave the audience the songs they wanted to hear such as ‘Bruk it down’. He gave a tribute to Buju and to Alton Ellis. In my opinion Mr. Vegas is very talented because he can sing Alton Ellis songs such as ‘Breaking up is hard to do’ as well as Ragga or dancehall. Check out his ‘Sweet Jamaica’ cd.
Maxi Priest (my breddren from another sistren) South London has been performing for over 30 years. I absolutely love his new CD Easy to Love. He is on tour now and his voice although still sweet was a little hoarse and he did not sing my favorite song of the moment track 1 from the new album, ‘Loving you is Easy’. The audience received songs they know such as ‘Some guys have all the luck’; Just a little bit longer’; ‘Crazy love’; and ‘Wild world’ Maxi Priest and Shabba’ to name a few. He also did a tribute to the fallen Prince of Reggae Dennis Brown.
The show ended at 7:30pm so it was relatively short compared to some reggae shows that go on all night. But all in all an enjoyable birthday weekend treat for me.
