Due to technical issues beyond our control, here’s the LONG awaited review of Rebel Salute 2016. In celebration of Founder Tony Rebel’s birthday, on January 14-15, RCS was once again in attendance at the Rebel Salute 2016 Preservation of Reggae at the Grizzly Plantation cove in St. Ann, Jamaica. This show encompasses the best of the best in foundation, cultural and conscious reggae music. The 2-day line up was stellar including the likes of the mighty Beres Hammond, a young up and coming vocalist by the name of Kellisa, Half Pint and David Brooks (aka Mavado) amongst many others.
My editor states that she likes my reviews because she can imagine being right there. So come with me, I shall take you on a two day journey to the Rebel Salute 2016! I flew in from chilly New York and landed in Montego Bay at about 2 pm, I had just a few minutes to check into the hotel and then rush down to meet the bus that would take us to the event in St Ann and bring us back. We were reminded that the bus would leave 45 minutes after the end of the last performance. After a 90 minute ride we arrived in St Ann at about 8pm. I had been to Rebel Salute two years before and it was good to be greeted by friends I met in 2014.
I didn’t remember that it was an all night affair. I thought I would leave at 5 or 6 am, not so but more on that later. On a beautiful balmy Friday evening which was still broad daylight, we listened to MC Dub poet radio broadcaster introduce new and seasoned artists. Yvad, always a soulful reggae singer came on early followed by Mr. Smooth Hopeton James, his hits include ‘I’m in the Mood for Love’ . In fact, some young performers of today should take a leaf out of the style book of Hopeton James, Sanchez and Ken Boothe.
Tony Rebel and company are to be commended for bringing out young, fresh, new up and coming artists and giving them a showcase for their talent. One of the most talented singers was Kellisa, she had a great rootsy voice with a lovers rock side. So impressed am I with her, I have mentioned her twice. That is what the preservation of reggae music is all about, showcasing the new but not forgetting and in fact honoring the old.
If I have not already said that I had a fantastic time at Rebel Salute 2016, let me state it now, in my estimation, it is one of the best music festivals in the world. It is a different kind of music festival, it is meat and alcohol free, but not herb free. In fact, the herbsman was walking around freely selling “de herbs” along with the peanut man and the Wriggly’s chewing gum man. The festival had a section called the Herb Curb, described by Tony Rebel as a “venue within the venue”. It was a dedicated exposition on marijuana, including its use by Rastafari as a sacrament, as well as medicinal properties and economic potential. There was also a herb symposium on the Saturday before the show, where information was imparted.
Naturally, where there is music, there is food. I have been to many jerk festivals in North America and carnivals in many cities in North America, but nothing compares to eating fresh ackee and saltfish, roasted yam and breadfruit, and fish tea under the stars with the sea breeze and trade winds blowing in your back. I digress…back to the show and the artists.
Foundation Singers such as Pluto Shervington and Ernie Smith were crowd pleasers, people sang along to their songs. Gem Myers is known for her hit “I Am a One Man Woman”, but when she sang Jennifer Holliday’s “And I Am Telling you’, The audience gave her a standing ovation. Excellent. Jah Mahli sang El Shadai. Rebel Salute was definitely a singer’s paradise. My one complaint would be that the lesser known singers are given a lot of time early on and by 2-3AM in the morning when the show is running late. The group LUST Lukie D, Thriller U, Singing Melody and Tony Curtis were upset when their set was cut short. Luckie D voiced his displeasure and Singing Melody pointed out that he was there for 9 hours.. Tanto Metro and Devante sang their hits including “Everyone falls in love sometime’.
The man of the hour Tony Rebel celebrating his birthday sang ‘Fresh vegetable’, ‘ Just friends’ and the iconic ‘If Jah’. Next came Chezidek famous for leave the trees, crowd favourite. Hero Peashead and Nezbeth came next. Nezbeth was a crowd pleaser, he sang a song called ‘My dream” and brought his children on stage to sing ‘My dream’.
Tony Gregory is one of the greatest Jamaican Reggae and R n B vintage singers out of Jamaica, he is a classic, a great vocalist. I do not hear enough of him at live concerts Most of the artist gave great sets. Music, on point, backing band on point, pitch, on point, engineer on point, lighting on point.
One of the acts that stands out in my mind apart from uncle Beres is the great Sanchez. In my notes Sanchez has 5 stars*****. That Singer tore the Jamaican sky down. He sang his reggae classics, then he sang the R n B version of the Reggae version that he covered. Like ‘Lonely wont leave me alone’. Kabaka Pyramid is another artist I first saw at Rebel Salute several years ago (also Tony Gregory) and his star has risen. Other acts on Friday night and early hours Saturday included the Messenjah Luciano, spiritual performance as always, another personal favorite of mine; Nature Jahdor, Heptones, LUST, Richie Spice and Bugle came on at 7:30am. Mutabaruka introduced the Heptones as Leroy Sibbles and the Heptones, however the former lead singer is no longer with the band. Muta apologized and said he had a Steve Harvey moment. The Heptones harmonies were wonderful, they sang Bitty McClean’s ‘Walk away from Love’ Loved it. I love Richie Spice. I saw him in New York in November and he stayed at one spot the whole time. but on his home turf, he ran up and down he stage so much, I could hardly get a good shot of him. He also had a strong set. Bugle came on stage at 7 30 am. I have been to some long stage shows before but I arrived at 8.30pm and left at 8:30am. the next morning. I was exhausted and missed Everton Blender, Louie Culture. At least I got a picture of Everton Blender back stage, looking regal as ever.
Stay with me, I know this is long review but it was more than 30 hours of reggae music. I slept all the way back to MoBay, took a puss nap and a shower and headed back down to the bus depot for a 630pm departure to St Ann.
Saturday Night January 15
Forgive me if I have not named every artist on the show. I did not see every artist, but please visit the Rebel Salute website for a complete list of all performing artists. Saturday dinner at the venue was steamed snapper with okra, vegetables and festival with coconut water. A young lady by the name of Daviannah performed, she did not have a strong voice but she did have positive lyrics. Again, kudos to Tony Rebel ad team for showcasing young talent. I missed Khalilah Rose’s performance but I like her voice and lyrics and have listened to her on the radio in Brooklyn, New York.
Veterans Eric Donaldson and Ken Boothe gave smooth performances. Ken Boothe has to be one of the best dancers who can throw legs, besides Luciano and Fadda Barney (formerly of Stone Love).
Andrew Tosh, son of the late, great Peter Tosh, had the second most unusual entrance on to the stage second to Queen Ifrica (more on that later). He entered on a unicycle! For those of you who have read my other reviews, every now and again the hairs will stand up on the back of my neck. In 2014, I saw Marcia Griffiths and Judy Mowatt perform together (I felt as if Bob Marley was right there). Well on Saturday night, Andrew Tosh brought his son One Tosh out on stage to sing Peter Tosh’s song ‘Legalize it’. The reason my hair stood on end is because here we were at a concert where the herb was freely sold and used. In fact, it has recently been decriminalized in Jamaica (in small amounts) and legalized in a few states in America. I was blown away (no pun intended) when I saw herb shops on the beach in Venice Beach California. I felt that Peter Tosh was looking down and listening to his son and grandson sing ‘Legalize it ‘ Wow.
Michigan of Michigan and Smiley fame gave an excellent performance. He sang several songs that we all know and love ‘Barriers come down’, ‘ “Mary, Mary Quite Contrary‘ and ‘Dangerous diseases’.
I love the Abbysinnians, foundation reggae, the song ‘Satta Massagana’ was written by Satta, the lead singer in 1968, he informed us. I-Octane was a favorite of the younger patrons…he gave a fiery energetic performance.
I was born in Britain of Jamaican parentage and so when Macka B, the fyahman from Wolverhampton, UK took the stage I was so excited. The Jamaican crowd was not really familiar with him, but they loved his lyrics. He had the crowd laughing hysterically when he told them that before he came to Jamaica for the show he called his family and asked about current affairs, he said what are the politician doing, he said, all they would respond was Bop and Chin, he said what about the teacher and the nurses, are they being paid, they responded Bop and Chin, he asked what about the educational system and the infrastructure, Bop and Chin and padlock and head buss. For those who do not know what I am referring to check youtube. Macka B said when he arrived at the airport he had a big bag on his shoulder, the customs officer asked him what was in the bag, he told them his 45. They said “What” he said “yes my 45”. They started to get nervous until he pulled out a 45 rpm record. For those who don’t know what a record is , Google it!
I mentioned Queen Ifrica’s arrival on stage earlier. Well she arrived in a crane which delivered her majestically to the stage. She arrived much like Pink in her concerts. The crowd loved her hits, ‘In times like these’ Lioness on the Rise‘. A colleague of mine did not care for he version of Adele’s ‘Hello’. At 4:45am, Golden voiced Beres ran on the stage. Most people had been sleeping in their chairs, including yours truly, but when he came on stage I woke up and ran to the front of the stage to take pictures. I have been to a few concerts where he was not in top form, but on this night he was in rare form. He sang audience favorites including I Feel Good Rockaway, She Loves Me Now, Double Trouble, Putting up a Resistance. Beres had a 60 minute set, one of the highlights was when Tony Rebel joined him on stage to sing Fresh Vegetable and the other was surprise guest, the Queen of Reggae music Marcia Grifftiths.
The last act I saw was David Brooks, aka Mavado, he sang more of his conscious lyrics in keeping with the preservation of Reggae music, he steered clear of his slack songs. Mavado could do no wrong. I have not seen Mavado perform in while, he informed the crowd that he had been living in Miami for two years because he had visa problems, but now it was all good. The last time Mavado performed I was not that thrilled because he sang one line and wanted the audience to sing the rest. I don’t mind singing along, but if I have paid my money I want to hear you sing the songs, I’ll sing the chorus.
With over 30 hours of music I did not catch every artist. I missed Turbulence, Half Pint and Pinchers. I wanted to sleep for a week when I got back to the states, but I was so happy to have experienced another round of mega musical reggae renditions. See you next year Rebel Salute!
