By: Sandra “The Dutchess” Edwards
Red Carpet Shelley was happy to be back at the 29th anniversary of Patrick Barrett’s better known as Tony Rebel’s “Rebel Salute”. It is held at the Plantation Cove beach front property in Priory St. Ann’s Jamaica. After a two-year hiatus due to Covid, Rebel Salute came back.
Rebel Salute was streamed online in 2022. In 2023, the audience returned in the thousands. Jamaica has definitely reopened. Reggae Sumfest, Frenchmen, Dream Weekend, Best Weekend Ever and Sting were some of the festivals in 2022. RCS attended Buju and Beres’ Intimate on January 1, 2023 and we are back at Rebel Salute. This is a 2-day festival of the best in vintage and new reggae with foundation performers as well as upcoming and new artists. About 60 artists perform for about 24 hours. This festival includes the Herb Curb, vendors of crafts and food. This festival is famous for its no alcohol and no meat policy.
Night 1
Friday January 20, 2023.
This festival has so many artists that I will not review every single one, but I will provide a summary of some of the highlights.
One of the bands I was impressed with was an all-female reggae band from my hometown of London. They were staying at the same hotel as me and was I was really impressed when I saw them at rehearsal. I loved their cover of Queen Majesty, called King Majesty. They introduced a young man by the name of LA Gray, I happened to have his song “Who Knows” in my phone. I predicted that Koffee would be huge and I predict big things for this young man.
Some of the vintage artists include Ernie Smith, Horace Andy, and the great harmonies of the Abyssinians. I love We want forward a Zion. Papa Michigan and Richie performed really well. One Love Jamdown. I was right in front of the stage the bass was hitting my soulcase. Michigan introduced his son Romeich on stage. Next was Lady Gee. Duane Stephenson sang his which included From a little cottage in Negril. There was a young man by the name of Jahshii. I was very impressed with his performance as was the audience who came from Jamaica and abroad. He was preaching peace and talking about determination and belief in oneself. He actually brought tears to my eyes. he was so good Mutabaruka, one of the MCs brought him back to the stage and told him he gave an influential performance especially for the young people.
The man of the moment Tony Rebel gave a short, polished set. He sang his usual hits like Sweet Jamdown, Fresh Vegetable. He introduced his son.
Glen Washington also gave a smooth performance with his backup singers which includes his wife. He sang “In my house there’s a picture on the wall”, “Rasta fari sits upon his throne” originally sung by Natural Ites. He sang Junior Murvin’s “Fade away”. He also sang a duet with his wife “Let it be.”
Several of the artists extended condolences to Stephen Marley and the Marley family on the loss of his son Jo Mersa Marley.
Kabaka Pyramid offered his condolences and sang a song he released with Jo Mersa called “We Made it” I think the whole house was in tears.
It was now in the early hours of the morning and people were feeling tired, speaking for myself. I think I nodded off. l heard a commotion people beside me were jumping up and down, the one and only Rodney Price aka Bounty Killer bounded on the stage, the audience was going wild jumping up and down. He gave his usual high energy performance.
Night 2.
Saturday January 21
Excellent lineup of veteran artists. Leroy Gibbons, Echo Minott, Josey Wales of Undercover Lover fame, Errol Dunckley and Johnny Clarke, sang crowd favorite “We’re having a party tonight:. He played a bass guitar and explained that he wrote several baselines that we were familiar with such as Time is so serious cantankerous and dangerous, Down by the River, Tony Rebel’s own Fresh Vegetable, Pass de Kutchie, Sattamassagana and many more.
I got a chance to interview Kumar, former lead singer of Ragin Fyah. I asked how he was doing as a solo. He said fine. I did not delve too much into the reason he left the band, but he said you have to do what you have to do. He has such a great voice. He said his latest song is called “Grateful”. I hope he does really well.
One of the newest items in the lineup was a clash introduced as a Dubplate showcase. Dynamiq from Sudan and female DJ Naz. I have heard Dynamiq several times on the clash at sea on cruises. He won the clash. The audience really enjoyed the dub for dub.
Queen of the Night Queen Ifrica came on stage looking regal as usual. She sang a new song Proud of Yourself . She brought up a young man called Kalunga. He was very good
Stone Bwoy from Ghana was really good he gave a lengthy performance, He wasn onstage for about 30 minutes and Tony Rebel was on for only 10 minutes.
Sanchez came on stage at about 2:45 am. I was so happy he came on early ish becuse in 2019 he came on after 7 am and by that time I was exhausted and had to leave the venue and did not see his entire set. Sanchez, the best dressed performer, was smooth as always, singing hits like “Lonely won’t leave me alone”, :Girl from Kintyre,” “Missing you now” and “Living up Living up”. He sang a tribute to Freddie McGregor who is recovering from a stroke. He brought on a surprise guest Richie Stevens. They sang a duet Get up Standup, fight back.
My two disappointments of the night. I was a little disappointed in Terry Linen’s performance. i have seen him several times. He has a great voice, but he did not sound 100 percent. Waited to see Luciano who did not show.
Capleton the fireman did his usual energetic performance jumping up on stage the way he did 20 years ago,
Beenie Man the King of Dancehall gave a very energetic performance despite having a bad leg. He informed us that the Doctor told stay off his leg, but he said he came to work. His daughter Desha danced with him. He danced and pranced as much as he could, and he sat in a a king chair when he needed to rest. He gave an excellent performance.
Catch you on the inside.
The Dutchess.
