Online Reggae Magazine

Articles

Articles about reggae music, reviews, interviews, reports and more...

JaRIA Reggae Wednesdays Week #3 - Reggae Gone Global

Home
Articles
Reports
JaRIA Reggae Wednesdays Week #3 - Reggae Gone Global

JaRIA Reggae Wednesdays Week #3 - Reggae Gone Global

By Steve James on Monday, February 27, 2012 - Photos by Steve James - 3 comments

Reggae Wednesdays' week #3 in Kingston put on by JARIA for Reggae Month.

The ongoing series of events for Reggae Month put on by Jamaica Reggae Industry Association continued to generate huge interest in its second week. Emancipation Park came alive once again with high energy performances by Jah Mason, dub poet Oku Onuro and others on February 15th. Initially appearing on stage with the Messenger Luciano, radio personality and dub poet Mutabaruka delivered one of his usual entertaining performances with some witty poems. French group Broussai, who are currently in the island, also delivered a great performance and received the seal of approval with the audience clapping in appreciation. One of Jamaica’s new emerging live bands Blue Print also showed that they deserved to be billed for the show as they look forward to participating in the world competition which will be held later on this year.

The show was brought to a climax when Roots Radics played several hits that were recorded during the Channel One era. Deh Deh whose real name is Carlton Scarlett started off singing some of Sugar Minott’s classic hits and other songs also made during that time. With his widow June Isaacs looking on, Roots Radics also played a tribute to the Cool Ruler, Gregory Isaacs. Lead by the band leader and bass players, Flabba Holt, the audience could easily relate to every bass line that was played. Popular MC Junior Sinclair read off the names of the original band and those of his current members before slipping into his set honouring the Cool Ruler. With his felt hat leaned to the side, his sideways movement on stage, neatly dressed before unbuttoning his shirt and exposing the trademark merina, he gave the audience a true impression of how the Cool Ruler performed on stage. The show ended at around midnight with the Emancipation Park audience feeling fulfilled knowing that quality reggae music was still alive and kicking.