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Saluting the rebels of reggae music

Published:Thursday | January 21, 2016 | 12:00 AM
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Jamaica’s unofficial ambassador in the United States, Irwine Clare and his daughter, Kayla.
Stephen Marley’s keyboard player, Riff Raff (left), poses with bass guitarist, Lamar ‘Taddy P’ Brown.
Sonia Blake (left) and Carol Brown.
Duane ‘Bones’ Howard (left) of Irie FM and Wayne Cummings of Sandals Resorts International having a great time.
From left: Hannah Grigg of Washington, DC; Sara Bong from Denmark; and Amber Allen of Arizona dancing up a storm at last week’s Rebel Salute.
PingLinks Cellular's Anthony Francis and Lisa Patterson.
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WESTERN BUREAU:

Rebel Salute lived up to its Preservation of Reggae theme, bringing out some of the genres' most prolific and almost-forgotten artistes at its 2016 staging at the Grizzly's Plantation Cove in St Ann last weekend.

Festival great Eric Donaldson forgot the lines to his songs, but had the crowd literally eating out of his hands with his antics; Pablo Moses wore his pyjamas to the event and Macka B could easily have remained in England. However, the likes of I-Octane, Beres Hammond, Queen Ifrica, Half Pint, Pinchers, Sanchez, Richie Spice and Ken Boothe took the event up several notches.

It was uncanny that the year the festival received the go-ahead for marijuana to burn, there was hardly any aroma coming from the venue. What was evident, however, was the presence of far more marijuana vendors careening the venue with long stalks of the herb, peddling it freely.

Again, it was the food that enhanced this one-of-a-kind event, with vendors showcasing the best of fish in every imaginable style, natural juices with some of the most interesting names, raw food of all distinctions and the authenticity that differentiates it as Jamaican.

Today brings you highlights of the event that has improved by leaps and bounds, making it the signature January offering on the entertainment circuit.

janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com