Mon | Mar 18, 2024

Rebel Salute 2020 | Church comes to stage, along with showers of blessings on night two

Published:Saturday | January 18, 2020 | 11:11 PM
'Dancehall Pastor' Stephen Blake, with Bible and pulpit in tow, ministered to the Rebel Salute crowd. Photo by Stephanie Lyew
Benjy Myaz Photo by Kenyon Hemans
Jack Radics Photo by Kenyon Hemans
1
2
3

Stephanie Lyew/Gleaner Writer

Umbrellas, rain boots and hooded jackets are all part of the dress code for the second night of Rebel Salute. 

The event kicked off with grey skies hinting at the possibility of rain, and so it was - showers of blessings hit the stage as Jahbar I, Pastor Stephen Blake, Rhoda Isabella, Mortimer and Imeru Tafari distracted the audience from running for cover, with their creative melodies and musical magic. 

Pastor Stephen Blake went the extra mile, taking the church to the stage. Setting up a wooden pulpit bearing a cross and his Bible, the self-proclaimed Pastor of the Dancehall introduced his remix of Stylo G’s Touchdown.

It even had Rastafarians waving flags giving him the red, gold and green light to show everyone inside the damp Grizzly’s Plantation Cove venue that God is everywhere. 

Speaking or The Gleaner, Blake said, “Well, the whole idea of the pulpit was to bring the church to the people; me know nuff people nah go church, so I turned the whole performance into service.”

As he belted out “just touch down inna di pulpit, Rebel Salute catch inna spirit”, the sound of the percussions could hardly be heard over the roaring cheers of the crowd. 

 

“The reaction of the people made me feel like they really got the message and I came here with little expectation after being told not to [expect] much, especially of reggae music lovers who were seated awaiting their favourite acts,” he said.  

A group of persons who were comfortably seated prior to Blake’s set rose to their feet with hands in the air showing approval and calling on the Holy Spirit. They remained standing for Rhoda Isabella’s strong shouts of her ministerial verses of Still Breathing, Ole Time Chorus and My Philosophy

Veteran performers Tony Tuff, Jack Radics and Benjy Myaz continued on the same high ... but with their roots reggae and lovers rock catalogues. Benjy Myaz at 10:30 p.m. stimulated a sing-along session with Love You Higher

The acts who are to follow until the curtain closes on the 27th staging of Rebel Salute have big shoes to fill. The remaining entertainers on tonight’s lineup include Richie Spice, Chronic Law as Akeem Campbell, Hopeton James, George Nooks, Anthony B, The Meditations,  Queen Ifrica, I-Octane, Jesse Royal, I Wayne, Louie Culture, Lady G, Mikey Spice and Errol Dunkley. Also on the bill is a Dubplate Display featuring Dynamq Sound and Jack Scorpio.

stephanie.lyew@gleanerjm.com