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July 16-24 2006 by Tony Rankin Winn, Cindy Simeon 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 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. 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. www.reggaesumfest.com
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! I have been attending Reggae Sunsplash, and Reggae Sumfest for many years since the beginning. I must commend Touchstone Entertainment for such a successful production. 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” This to me was the Classic Traditional Reggae Night. The 14th Annual Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest - July 19-22, 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. 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, and 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 smooched the fans with a set of songs The next height of power came with The Colonel Josey 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 risqué 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. The renewed Cool Ruler, Gregory Isaacs 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 many architects of old school reggae dancehall music. 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 artists out of Jamaica. A slate of new talent, Little 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 advice 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 excitable as he brought us goodness and the title 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 position on Babylon’s dirty ways was still red hot. 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 Beenie released a machine-gun round which caused the 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. 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 pullet, bullet, bullet. The shirt he was wearing read Cross, Angry and Miserable. Indicating his intent to give thought prodding hardcore lyrics without apology, it performance was outstanding. 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 cents and the G Unit brought the house down with music 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. Leroy 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. 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. 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, his performance was really special. 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 to us to the delight of the die heart fans who had 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 |
