Thu | Mar 28, 2024

Minimal band changes for Rebel Salute tonight

Published:Friday | January 17, 2020 | 12:00 AM
Wayne ‘C Sharp’ Clarke
An engineer tunes the drums on stage.
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Stephanie Lyew, Gleaner Writer

This evening, thousands of music lovers will make the pilgrimage to Grizzly’s Plantation Cove in Priory, St Ann, for night one of the 27th staging of Rebel Salute, a showcase of roots reggae and culturally themed dancehall.

Ryan Bailey, production and stage manager for the music festival which offers a range of locally and internationally acclaimed artistes performing from dusk ’til dawn, said an the aim of this year’s show is a minimal number of band changes. The audience will see a more organised and improved flow of the acts, which is always a challenge for any production team on major shows like Rebel Salute.

Bailey was preoccupied when The Gleaner arrived at the venue earlier, but said that sound check has been going as planned and all seemed to be on track for showtime at 7 p.m.

“We just completed sound check with Steel Pulse, and are on to Megha Band – our festival band. They will be supporting several artistes on our line-up,” Bailey said.

“It has been approximately 10 years since Steel Pulse has graced the Rebel Salute stage,” said Wayne ‘C Sharp’ Clarke as he exited the band area.

“There were a few technicalities to sort out but by two o’clock we were on a roll. Sound check was absolutely necessary for us and always the most important of our preparation for a festival like this,” Clarke explained.

“In comparison to a decade ago, I can say looking at the setup, everything looks bigger and better and we believe we are going to have a good time … . We want everybody to come out for a good time,” he added.

Along with Steel Pulse, tonight’s line-up includes Toots & The Maytals , Sanchez, Beenie Man, Bobi Wine, Terry Linen, Chevaughn, Tony Rebel, Notis Heavyweight Rockaz, Torch, Abby Dallas, Mackeehan, Kenyatta Hill, Chi Ching Ching, Treesha, The Wailers Trio, Suga Roy & The Fireball Crew, Papa Michigan, Singing Melody, Queen Omega, Leroy Sibbles, Flourgon, General Trees, Stevie Face, Carl Malcolm, Lone Ranger and Jermaine Edwards.

Also, for the first-time, ‘Saluters’ will be treated to a comedy hour spearheaded by Christopher ‘Johnny’ Daley. The show also welcomes Dr Julius Garvey, a son of Jamaica’s National Hero Marcus Garvey, who will not be there solely to enjoy the music and culture, but is expected to address the audience as well.