ANNUAL REGGAE SUMFEST, KINGSTON JAMAICA
Tony Rankin and Robert Russel, ceo, Sumfest |
As in many years of production and performances, hundreds of artist, multitudes of press, both local and international, thousands of fans, Reggae Sumfest came and left great memories of some of the greatest Reggae artist and performances in Montego Bay.
This year like every year, Secure Hotel Booking will be the cheapest solution to reserve cheap last minute hotel in Montego Bay Jamaica.
More information about room booking in Kingston can be found on SHB as well.
This year Easy Star Records was invited to cover Reggae Sumfest with their international Crew. Consisting of Tony Rankin, Virginia Sharif, and Clyde Williams (MontegoBay),and Cindy Simeon.
The task of Covering Sumfest was made very accommodating.
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Thru the years of covering Sumfest, various Production Companies have had the Challenge of Making it all work.Prievious years this contract was maintained by Headline Entertainment (Based in Kingston).Headliner was very professional in compiling the venue, stage, vendors, artist, scheduling ,stage and back stage access, and great accomo0dations for the press to interview,video,and photograph all the artist. Production plays a great part in making it all work. In the past the venues were very comfortable when meeting artist and utilizing the pressroom. Here, there are computers, Internet, fax, copy machines and huge wide screen plasma TV of the ongoing show.
You never miss anything. The Schedule of Performances can be viewed on their Reggae Sumfest Web site.
The Easy Star Crew arrived Wednesday just in time to obtain the Press Accreditation Passes, and meet the New Production Company. This year it is TOUCHSTONE ENTERTAINMENT from Kingston. This was the first year for them to take on the task of producing REGGAE SUMFEST 2006. Prior Sumfest have all surpassed previous annual performances. All previous Production Companies have made it happen. Touchstone Entertainment in my views has definitely succeeded in making Reggaesumfest 2006, the best Sumfest Yet!
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It is normal for the Press to review every part of Sumfest. But this time, I must commend The Production Company and Staff for a Fantastic job.
Sumfest Owners, Johnny Gurzong and Robert Russell really know how to choose the best Production Company for success of Reggae Sumfest.
As for reviewing the artist, I was more taken over by “TOP RANKIN NIGHT”
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This to me was the Classic Traditional Reggae Night.
start of the world’s best and Jamaica’s greatest
Reggae Sumfest 2006.The 14th Annual Red Stripe Reggae
Sumfest comprised an excitable line-up of artists, to
the delight of the fans, proving that the organization
is back to Reggae business Jamaican style. There was a
shift from explicit lyrics to artistic expression in
the finer form, it was evident in such performances
from Bounty Killa who was outstanding in his
performance.
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July 19 was ignited at Pier 1 in Mobay, where the
international throng had converged on the beautiful
city to enjoy the featured vintage dancehall stars, et
al, the sumptuous foods that was prepared fresh and
delicious everyday as well as the tasty Red Stripe
Beer. Lloyd Parks and We the People were the nights
backing band. They provided a marvelous start and kept
things jumping till the last number. This night of
bliss was lead off by Pam Hall and Courtney Melody who
lit up the place. The baton was passed to Flourgon
who gave way to Peter Metro who delivered an awesome
performance, displaying his talent The stage was
blessed with Professor Nuts who made us nutty with
laughter as he displayed his antics. Then came the
original dance hall stylist General Trees. Jimmy
Riley kept the vibes right as he smouched the fans
with a set of songs
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Wales who stormed the stage and mashed it up, he even
brought a surprise guest Tinga Stewart on stage to
thrill us. Josey later on joined Charlie Chaplin to
close his set with a few combinations. The notorious
Big Belly Boy, Admiral Bailey took the crowd to higher
heights with his risque style and displayed his
versatility. The great original Daddy U Roy cooed as
he interpreted Bob Marley and had the crowd skankin
inna dance hall style.
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The renewed Cool Ruler, Gregory Issacs energized the
stage and audience working the stage to the delight of
the fans who cheered and applauded as he opened his
set. Gregory rocked us on through the night and him
into our hearts. The Studio One fans were well
satisfied by Top Rankin Night as they enjoyed the
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(admin: TONY... U REALLY GOT SOMETHING GOIN' ON WIT DEM LEGS... BUY URSELF A LOLLY, MAN... MAMA KNOWS U'RE DREAMIN' OF RIHANNA'S LEGS WHEN U CRUSHIN' HER?)On July 20, the wild energy of the massive crowd
showed up at Catherine Hall for Storm Front Night
which was jammed backed with the best dancehall
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Hero, Black-es, Spice, Natural Black, Voice Mail gave
a stupendous show and more conscious music came from
artist Gyptian. Continuing on the conscious line was
the fire child Fanton Mojah. Wayne Marshall and the
poor people's defender Chuck Fender were both refined
in their performances. Macka Diamond brought laughter
to the masses with her frequent advise on how to treat
nasty people, by running them with "shoo fly." The
crowd was treated to a fire works display which
promised more excitement to come. Sure nuff, Cham was
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track from his new cd release . Novato and Busy
Signal filled the gap particularly well as the next
group of dancehall artists like Elephant Man swept
onto the stage. Capleton is the great King Shango,
and he took the Rasta livity to the next heights as he
blazed fire on Christopher Columbus and King James.
Capleton and the Prophecy Band were the Keepers of the
Fire and they let it blaze on into the night.His reign
of fire was illuminated, showing the Fireman’s
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The cheers from the crows brought Capleton back on
stage. All the women in the crowd loved him as he
sang for them. As Capleton sang, the crows sang along
with him his educational a cappella session eradicated
all evil vibes and he sang without censorship. As
the sun began to rise the King of the Dancehall,
Beenie Man was greeted with a thunderous round of
applause, cheers and ear-bursting horns from the
crowd. The Ruff Kutt Band was hot on the trot as
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audience to go wild. Beenie performance went well
even though he seemingly had gripes with Bounty Killa
whom he mentioned repeatedly. The rift between the
two may be more of a promotional gimmick as Bounty
explained at the press conference the next day, that
he and Beenie Man have no grudge between them and the
music is what is more important to him.
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The Ruff Kutt Band remained blazing hot throughout the
bumps and grinds of The Doctor. Joining him on stage
was the object of the dispute between he and Bounty,
Beenie’ s ‘w ifie’ who was obviously pregnant, was
eager to declare why Beenie is the girl them suga, and
her choice. The crows agreed as they cheered him on
to the break of dawn. Bounty has delivered a mind
blowing session earlier. He bounced back and forth on
the stage chanting ullet, bullet, bullet. The shirt
he was wearing read ross, Angry and Miserable.
Indicating his intent to give thought prodding
hardcore lyrics without apology, it performance was
outstanding.
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July 21 ignited with the Hard Drive Band who opened
the show backing the Rasta group I Senegal, Asha and
Kingston and one of my favorite, Mickie Conscious,
who performed a mini set of his original songs.
Natasha also lent her talent to the line up as one of
Irie FM Big Break Winners. Mr.Vegas took center stage
performing with
Jolie Rockewell, as they gave a standard for the music
to come. Lady Saw was free spirited as ever, as the
crowd begged her to sing their favorite songs. 50
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from his cd, Massacre. The Unit kept the pressure on
thru a seductive performance . The thunderous
applause showed the people of Jamaica were receptive
to Get Rich or Die Trying. Sizzla Kalonji, now
blazed hot on the hardcore style. The crowd showed
him love as he performed some of his most loved songs.
Leeroy Sibblins and John Holt were excellent and Mr.
Holt was later honored with the Sumfest Lifetime
Achievement Award. Closing the show on Ignition night
was Richie Spice, obviously one of the favorites from
the reception he go as he sang almost all of his hit
songs.
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The highest peak came on July 22, the last night of
the Sumfest. The powerful Sane Band gave skillful
backing to many of the nights performances including
the opener Chopper Joe and Alaine. Appearing also was
Cherine Anderson from the film Dance Hall Queen and
Tarrus Riley (son of Jimmy Riley). Working hard for
the money was German born Gentleman; and as expected
Barbados born song bird Rihanne thrilled the fans and
she was joined on stage by the outlandish Elephant
Man.
Just when you thought ‘this can’t get any better’ the
stage exploded as hip-hop songstress Missy Elliott and
crew took over Catherine Hal, and when she jumped off
stage into the crown to perform and get closed to her
aesthetic fans her Jamaican connected was grounded,
the only problem was security trying to keep the fans
under control.
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The anthem of the night was offered by Damian “Jr.
Gong” Marley. His high energy showcase was so
invigorating that one excited fan almost knocked down
reporter Diana ‘Livonn’ Adam in her attempt to get
closed to the star as he sang beautifully. Jr. Gong
also performed the earth shaking interpretation of his
father Bob Marley. Tremendous cheers brought Jr. Gong
back on stage for an encore, and atom bomb dropped as
the great Bounty Killer joined Jr. Gong on stage.
Stephen Marley joined his brother to claim his share
of the limelight as he lent his relaxed roots style.
Jr. Gong displayed that the Rasta culture is alive and
well. He ended his performance giving love and
respect to his homeland . Beres Hammond took us from
the summit and grooved us to our touchdown. He could
hardly begin singing over the cheers from the crowd.
We ate of the royal dainties as Beres took us a
musical medley of instrumental songs including “Satta
Amassagna” (Abyssinians.) He began his set and it was
a continuous joy ride jamming till the break of dawn,
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It was like an excitement wave washed us with bubbles
that came with Buju Banton as the new surge
revitalized our spent bodies, those who had left
missed the thrill. As Buju worked his lanky body,
becoming one with the stage, he went over the top as
the exchange of simultaneous energy generated from him
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stuck it out to the perfect touch down as Buju Banton
and the Shiloh Band brought it home with fantastic
renditions, closing out the 14th annual Red Stripe
Reggae Sumfest, which certainly lived up to the top
rankin title of the maddest, biggest and the best
Reggae festival in the world and we can give thanks on
that.
Sista Cindy Simeon