RCS was in attendance at the 25th anniversary of Rebel Salute 2018 held at Plantation Grove Priory St Ann, a stones throw for Ocho Rios. This 2 day festival was excellent not withstanding torrential downpour, delayed starts, interminable band changes and muddy carpark and venue grounds. I slipped in the mud at the front of the stage, trying to tread too carefully. I have rain boots, they are called Wellies, in London which I left in NY and slipslided in opentoe sandals, who knew? It’s always a little difficult to know where to start in writing my reviews of these shows, but I think will start just by naming the artists who appeared I know you can read this anywhere but the two day line up was par excellence. Friday night January 12, 2018.
Third World, Richie Spice, Cocoa T, Anthony B, Agent Sasco, JC Lodge, Tony ‘Rebel, Jesse Royal, Big Youth, King Sound, Bushman, Bugle, Charly Black, Jah Vinci, Vershon, Zamunda, Lutan Fyah, Mighty Mistic, Davile, Anthony Cruz, Notis Heavyweight Rockaz, Yvad, Wickerman, Kukudoo, Prohgres, Chevaughn, Ras Takura.
Saturday January 13, 2018
Barrington Levy, Freddie McGregor, Capleton, Sanchez, Leroy Sibbles, Leroy Gibbons, Queen Ifrica, I Wayne, I Octane, Ikaya, Elephant Man, Gyptian, Ding Dong, Duane Stephenson, Romain Virgo, Althea and Donna, Admiral Tibet, Bernard Collins of the Abyssinians, Jahmiel, Little Hero, Pablo Moses, Pinchers, Ras, Shiloh, Fantan Mojah, Louie Culture, Nitty Kutchie, Davianah, Meleku, Garnet Silk Jr., Kenyatta Hill, Luciano.
The Prime Minister of Jamaica, the Hon. Andrew Holness was also in attendance, his brother, Mighty Mystic a Boston-based reggae singer performed. I enjoyed his Song Collie Green. The first night was a nice night weather wise, it rained earlier and was a little chilly but nothing like last years really cold weather. I got to the venue 9pm Friday and left at 9 am Saturday morning. The great thing about this music festival is that it covers a wide historical panoramic view of evolutiuon of reggae music. It was fantastic to listen to the old and the new . From Big Youth to Third World and Bernard Collins from the Abyssinians who have over 40 years in the industry to 90s hitmakers Louie Culture Leroy Gibbons, Sanchez to New hitmakers Jamiel , Romaine Virgo Charly Black and Jesse Royal.
I was happy to see Big Youth, because I missed his performance on Welcome to Jamrock Reggae Cruise, but he was very lively, He was one of the earlierst DJs, in my day they called it Toasting. I was a little uncomfortable when he sang Every Nigga is a star (only because I do not like to hear our people or any people using the term).
I can not give a review of every single performance but will mention highlights from the more than 20 hours of Reggae Music. I reminisced with some of the other patrons who have been attending Rebel Salute since it was a 1 day festival held in St Elizabeth and they remembered it taking hours to leave the venue because of the one road in and out.
Marcia Griffith came on as a surprise guest and sang with Daville, they sang their hit All My Life. Daville sounded hoarse I was not thrilled by his performance. The Artist for whom the two-day celebration is named and whose birthday is celebrated Patrick Barrett JP aka Tony Rebelstarted his performance with Bob’s I’m a Rebel. He spoke with the Prime Minister in the audience and told him he is running for office in 2020 and he brought his running mate on stage, Mutabaruka, Dub poet, musician, actor, educator and radio Personality and he said everybody would be barefoot. Muta, famously does not wear shoes. All I could think when I saw him was I hope he doesn’t slip in the mud like I did because the grounds were muddy. I did not capture as many pictures back stage as I would normally because it was so treacherous to walk back and forth.
Tony Rebel brought out Suede and they sang their hit Just friends. It was good to see them both. Tony Rebel Brought Sister Marcia Griffiths back on stage and they sang a duet Love is Real. He said he has been performing with her for over 20 years and she is afraid of flying and he said he she holds onto your arms until the skin is gone!. His son Abatau also sang with him and is following in his footsteps.
Everyone knows by now that the Dutchess, yours truly is London born and bred and I was really happy to see and hear UK born singer JC Lodge, I have not seen her in about 15 years, her biggest hit was Telephone Love, She sang Love Me Baby a duet she sang with Tyga (he was not there). A friend said she was being put to sleep, but I like her Soprano voice and she sounded pretty good for being out of the spotlight for years, she sang a duet with her daughter and back up Singer Tia. I enjoyed her set. Before I forget, I have to mention that most of the back up singers were fantastic, Bushman , Luciano, Tony Rebel and Ifrica, and more. The backing bands and the DJ sets between band changes were really good.
Bushman with his soundalike Luciano Baritone voice gave an excellent set ending with my favourite. Wrapped up in the arms of a woman.
Every artist mentioned the killings in Jamaica. 12 days into 2018 and there had been more than 100 killed. New artist Charlie Black of Party animal introduced Tony Curtis on stage and they sang a duet Allelujah.
Cocoa T gave his usual great performance but he introduced a 17 year old young woman Koffee who was amazing. She was a speed rapper like Papa Levy . Watch out for her. Burning Fire!
Grammy-award winning reggae band Third World still touring after more than 40 years together. I recall waching them in Madison Square Garden and was blown away when Cat Coore played the cello, first classical then reggae. Well Saturday Morning I was blown away again When Lead singer AJ Brown sang Opera in Italian. as good as Andrea Boccelli. Agent Sasco gave a great performance and had the audience singing along to his latest Winning.
Saturday night saw torrential rain. I rested all day because I had been up all night. I got up at 7pm to go to the venue which was walking distance my hotel, rain, waited till 8 more rain 9, more rain, eventually got to the venue at midnight I’m not sure who appeared before I got there but was delighted to catch Ikaya with her strong voice singing Ugly girl. Rondell a gospel singer gave a really good performance. I was also delighted to see and hear Leroy Gibbons sing, This magic moment, Missing, and Four Season Lover , and Me would a deh wid you. He was shot in Jamaica last October. The concertgoers gave him a big cheer and an encore.
Bernard Collins of the Abyssinians sang Get up and Fight for your right, Forward to Zion and Satta Amassagana which he wrote more than 40 years ago and which has been covered by Third World. It was also good to see Louie Culture Old Gangalee, he’s from Portland, my mum’s parish. Althea and Donna uptown Ranking duo could have used more rehearsal. Dancemaster Ding Dong said when he told people he was going to appear on Rebel Salute, they told him pure Rastas were going to be there. He told them Rastas love to dance too. He and 9 of his dancers performed very energetic dance moves. He went onto the crowd and into the mud and did the latest dance Shoulder haffi Move.
Queen Ifrica introduced her backup singer daughter Tanzaniaw who did a duet with the other backup singer Luciano’s niece. Her set had a great finale dancers came on stage dancing to the African beat of Ruption,the drummer from Third World while Malik from DC, Ifrica’s drummer did a solo percussion . Excellent set. My friends and family know who my two all time living favourite reggae singers are. Luciano the Messenjah who was scheduled to perform and did perform brought The Boss Beres Hammond on the stage to sing for a few minutes. What a fantastic surprise. The crowd went wild. Barrington Levy deserves a mention for a vey good set. I Wayne as usual burn a fire on everything. Elephant Man gave me heart palpitations when he climbed on top of the speakers. I enjoyed the show tremendously but left weary and muddy and could not wait any longer to see Sanchez, I heard him as I was leaving the venue but did not actually seem. I was able to get some cornmeal porridge as I left but did not really get to visit any of the other vendors. But God’s willing I will be back in Priory for Rebel Salute 2019.
See you on the inside
The Dutchess
