BY: The Dutchess
Greetings RCS Family it has been 2 years since I last posted about a music festival. Who knew that the 2020 Rebel Salute in St Ann, Jamaica would be the last live music concert for a while, before the whole world shut- down.
COVID-19 took a terrible toll on most of us, who lost family, friends, and acquaintances. In June 2019 I went to Rototom Sunsplash in Spain and I saw Power of Reggae promoter Father German. We greeted each other. I saw him again backstage at Rebel Salute 2020. I recall saying to him “Are you following me or am I following you” he replied “you are following me” Father German was the first person I knew personally that succumbed to COVID-19 in April 2020 — A promoter of reggae events in NY may he Rise in Power.
The pandemic taught us many things. Life is short and precious. Live and love, music is life. I know I was not the only one who stayed up late to watch Versuz. Beenie and Bounty anyone? So, after a 2-year hiatus the St Kitts Music Festival is back at the Kim Collins Athletic Stadium It’s great to be back outdoors under the stars listening to great soca, reggae and RnB music, in the tropics specifically the Federation of St Christopher and Nevis. The CEO of Redcarpetshelley.com is a Caribbean woman to the bone and a proud Nevisian.
DAY 1
I arrived on Thursday June 23. The first night is Soca night which always presents local bands and artists from other islands. St Kitts’ own, Small Axe and Grand Masters had the crowd jumping and gave very enthusiastic performances. Trini performers who always represent to the max brought their A game. Lyrikal who has a special place in RCS’ heart told the audience he was in a “Happy Place” and that we should be also after what we just endured. People traveled from near and far to enjoy the stellar lineup. This is a major music festival. The music, the food, the vendors, the people, the stage, the lighting, the fire blazing from the stage, the confetti raining down on the crowd who are jumping up to Lyro’s Cloud 9, or Voice soca monarch ‘Winner’ or Nadia Batson’s “Long time Mi Nuh See You.” Nadia asked the crowd to say her nick name Nady. They obliged her. Nady did an island roll call Jamaica, Barbados Trinidad, Dominica etc. St Kitts, the host nation, went wild when she called its name. Nady sang “Catching Feelings”. She dominated the stage, gave an energetic performance, and had the audience in the palm of her hand. Nadia Batson ended her set with Sugar Sugar Daddy.
Voice, Trinidad Soca Monarch sang many of his hits, Niceness, Winner. Voice paid tribute to another great soca breathren, Blaxx, who passed earlier this year. He and the audience sang “Spread your Hands and Leggo”. He also sang Far from finished.
Dancehall artist Masicka represented Jamaica. The audience roared their approval when he walked on stage and they sang all his songs.
Destra, Queen of Bacchanal, always gives an fiery performance. She sang several of her hits including Lucy and had the crowd palancing.
The Viking and Viking Queen Bunji Garlin and Fay-Ann Lyons were meant to close the show but thanked Nu Vybes for the switch. They sang that great collab Famalay. Fay-Ann had the audience do the Jerusalema and said how it helped us all through the pandemic. Bunji is a renowned freestylist. He and Fay-Ann did a breathtaking fast talking duet. Bunji gave props to his wife in that she didn’t stop to breathe. Very impressive. They also did a Blaxx tribute of “Spread your hands and leggo”. They ended their set with Famalay. St Kitts band, Nu Vybes, ended the night’s festivities.
I was exhausted I had been there 8pm to 4am. I will rest up for Friday.
Day 2
RCS was back in the Kim Collins Athletic Stadium for night 2 of the 26th St Kitts Musicfest. The first night’s offering was excellent if exhausting. Having been on the grounds from 8pm to 4am that’s a full nights work, but listening to good music refreshes the body soul and spirit. I arrived a little later so I didn’t see some of the local artists, but I heard them at the Press conference in the morning and Dejour, Hi Light and I Mark gave a small sampling of what they would bring to the festival in the evening.
Shaneil Muir who has a large following in St. Kitts gave a great performance. “Top Gyal”, as she calls herself, is a powerful vocalist from Jamaica. I first heard of her through TikTok. Her song “Same Guy” garnered 80,000 followers on social media. Everyone sang along with her and I loved her set.
My fellow South Londoner Maxi Priest graced the stage with Dennis Brown’s “Should I”. His voice reminds me of Dennis. He was looking good and sounding good. Priest’s manager said he has been in Jamaica for the last two months rehearsing. I will see him again in July in Connecticut.
He sang several hits Wild World with the audience singing along. He sang “Crazy Love” and “Easy to Love”. One of my favourites is his version with Teddyson John of “Leave the Door Open”… smooth, sensual reggae. He gave us some more Dennis Brown selections. I’ve seen him several times. He always does a Crown Prince tribute, “Have You Ever Been in Love”, “Sitting and Watching”. He brought out his singjay who has a gruff voice similar to Shabba. They sang the big hit, “Housecall”. I mentioned the stage sound and lights last night and I will make mention again, it was really phenomenal.
Ashanti appeared on stage and sang ooh baby she sounded incredible. I was all the way in the back and her voice was crystal clear. She said she was happy to be in St Kitts and thanked the audience. Her first album was released 20 years ago. She’s in the Guinness book of records for 17 weeks on the Billboard. She writes all her own music and had a company called Written Records. She received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She asked the audience to put their lights on and sent prayers up for the families who lost lives in Buffalo and Texas. She said it was amazing we are living in a Pandemic. Ashanti surprised us with a reggae set. She sang Dawn Penn’s No No No. The black, green and gold flags of Jamaica lit up the screens. She also sang What’s Love Got to Do With It with the video of Jah Rule. Wale and Ashanti sang Rain on Me, then the rain came down on his set. It rained heavily he kept singing in the rain and many of the fans stayed with him. The final act of the night was internationally known recording artist Sean Paul. He sang several of his hits.
DAY 3
Catch you on the inside, outside under the stars.
