By Vinette K. Pryce
Jamaica will be jamming in August when reggae fans representing the baby-booming generation join with generation X genre lovers to welcome back the island’s premiere music festival, Reggae Sunsplash. Absent from the music calendar since 1997 when Rita Marley booked Lauryn Hill and her I-Threes collaborators to a White River location in the parish of St. Mary, the premiere Jamaican, marathon festival returns to neighboring St. Ann’s, the birthplace of Bob Marley, Burning Spear and Marcus Garvey.
Remarkably revived by three titans whose vision has always been the resurrection of the first festival to truly unite reggae fans with a theme of oneness and a sense of purpose, the festival that featured the image of a dreadlocked guitarist blazing the colors red, gold and green still registers as one of Jamaica’s biggest summer attraction. Already Jamaica's largest telecommunications provider, Cable and Wireless Jamaica Limited (CWJ) has welcomed with open arms, the return of the Festival by becoming a partner. Rodney Davis, President and CEO of CWJ, signaled the company's support by saying, "The love of Reggae music unites people; not just our own people here, but it's a common bond we share with so many people around the world. It's a natural fit for CWJ to support the Festival, as we continually strive to bring people together as a business, and Reggae Sunsplash will bring so many people together in such a positive way.”
“The truth is that we needed to take a break, take a long look at the Festival and ensure that the product we had to offer would be in keeping with the Reggae Sunsplash tradition“, revealed Charles Campbell, Director of Operations (1984-1994), and current Director of Operations and Production in the new management structure. “We think that we have now found a formula that will work- a new venue, new investors with innovative ideas and a number of members from the original Sunsplash team, to ensure that the characteristic features of the Festival which made it a production success are retained. What we will be presenting is not a new Festival; it’s an enhanced Reggae Sunsplash, a model that will provide a great experience for another few decades.”
According to the 10-year veteran of the former synergy of pioneering organizers, “Kenny (Benjamin) owned the license and felt it was only a matter of time before the festival would return.” Prominent as the principal of one of the island’s most credible security agencies, Benjamin is synonymous with the Guardsman agency, a Kingston-based outfit.
Dancehall, World beat, International and Singer’s nights are the newly-designated billings booked to encompass an eclectic representation of superstars of the genre. From Europe, UK-based Steel Pulse, UB40 and Maxi Priest will retain the original reputation of the marathon festival by joining Jamaica-based dancehall stylists Beenie Man, Elephant Man, and Buju Banton. Cultural icons Culture, legends Toots & The Maytals, Freddie McGregor,
and ‘90’shit-makers Diana King, family group Morgan Heritage and others have also
been invited for the unprecedented 21st century staging of Reggae Sunsplash.
The organizers have also added a few extras this year. Some of these are designated areas for dominoes, family activities, arts, crafts and souvenir villages, skyboxes and spiral seating.
A major enticement is that in 2006 the implementing of two stages is an added attraction established to cut down on time wasted to band changes. Campbell is fully dedicated to providing the best sound-efficient, and comfortable setting for the returning and new fans of the reputed gathering. An amphitheatre which will abolish production pauses for set changes, integrated by numerous screens and surround sound. The organizers have guaranteed a strong emphasis on security, crowd control and health safety.
Another highlight of the Festival is its new home at Richmond Estate, a sprawling 200 acre property on the edge of the sparkling, turquoise Caribbean Sea, with the majesty of Jamaica’s Blue Mountains as its backdrop. Located in Priory, in the garden state of St. Ann, home of the world famous Dunn’s River Falls, visitors can find scenic daytime sights to wait for the music.
The Festival Park has the capacity to accommodate over 150,000 persons in the main area and 20,000 vehicles in the car park comfortably
Here is a listing of confirmed:
DANCEHALL NIGHT
(Thursday, August 3, 2006)
Backing Band - Ruff Kut Band
1. Bascom X
2. Natty King
3. Tanto Metro & Devonte
4. Ce' Cile
5. I-Wayne
6. Hero
7. Chezidek
8. Perfect
9. Twin of Twins
10. Macka Diamond
11. Mr. Vegas
12. Wayne Marshall
13. Richie Spice
14. Turbulence
15. Assassin
16. Busy Signal
17. Lady Saw
18. Elephant Man
19. Vybz Kartel
20. Bounty Killer
21. Capleton
22. Ninja Man
M.C.s DJ Sunshine and Jerry D
WORLD BEAT NIGHT
(Friday, August 4, 2006)
1. Lions of Israel (Brazilian Reggae Band)
2. Alerta (Columbian Reggae Band)
Backing Band - Gumption Band
3. Sharon Tucker
4. Nadine Sutherland
5. Mey Vidal
6. Capital D
7. Bushman
8. Chaka Demus & Pliers
9. Junior Kelly
10. SudSoundSystem
11. Alpha Blondy
12. Wyclef Jean
13. Machel Montana
14. Morgan Heritage
15. Luciano
M.C.s Jennifer Small and Mutabaruka
INTERNATIONAL NIGHT
(Saturday, August 5, 2006)
Backing Band - Glen Browne Band
1. Natesha Stream
2. Kamau
3. Alaine
4. Tanya Stephens
5. Steel Pulse
6. Buju Banton
7. UB40
8. Damian 'Junior Gong' Marley
9. Beenie Man