Last Saturday night, patrons were left on a high after basking in the entertainment line up at the annual Essence of Reggae Music Festival at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre. With performances from reggae artistes I Wayne, Tanya Stephens, Munga Honorable, Yaksta, Lutan Fyah, Darrio, and Papiito, the music festival was the ideal addition to kickstart the nation’s celebration of Reggae Month.
The performers did not disappoint. Papiito set the mood with smooth, heartfelt tunes, while Darrio announced that he is single and is open for love which had the ladies screaming in response.
Munga Honorable brought electrifying energy to the stage, Yaksta thrilled the audience with his unique sound, and Singer J showcased his vocal acrobatics. Tanya Stephens, ever the crowd-pleaser, had the audience in the palm of her hand, and I Wayne and Lutan Fyah brought fiery, thought-provoking performances.
Yaksta’s acoustic-led performance was one of the night’s highlights, especially his performance of Hype and Bruk, which struck a deep chord with the crowd.
When Tanya Stephens opened her set with Yuh Nuh Ready Fi Dis Yet, she immediately took over the stage, much to the delight of the crowd, who moved away from their seats to get closer to the stage, phones in hand.
With his stirring performances of CeCe Winans’s Goodness of God and Sam Cooke’s A Change is Gonna Come, Singer J also made a lasting impression, demonstrating how gospel music cuts across genres and profoundly resonates with the Jamaican spirit.
Following his performance, Singer J spoke of Frankie Music’s dedication to the Essence of Reggae Festival despite personal loss.
“I enjoyed my performance tonight – just another one to add to my catalogue. It’s also great to see my brother, Frankie Music, put on an event like this on his birthday. He could have been on a yacht somewhere, but he chose to do Essence of Reggae. He recently lost his older brother, and he’s still mourning, so for him to push through and make this happen despite the pain and with limited promotion, it’s incredible. I see this festival growing into something even bigger.”
When asked about upcoming projects, Singer J revealed exciting plans.
“There’s a gospel album coming up and an EP for the ladies that will be released soon as well. A lot of different things are in the works. I’m staying focused, so stay tuned,” he said.
The event, produced by Frankie Music, had an intimate, acoustic setup, that allowed artistes to deeply connect with the seated audience. Notably, the event also coincided with Frankie Music’s birthday, adding a personal touch to the night’s celebrations.
For patron, Cherice Lewis, she left the grounds of Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre feeling delighted.
“I liked the event. Darrio was very good! It is also Black History Month, so it’s good to be here celebrating our history, and reggae is a big part of that. Having a month set aside just for reggae ensures that the craft gets the recognition and appreciation it deserves,” Lewis told The Gleaner.
When asked if she came for any particular artiste, she didn’t hesitate to say, “Tanya Stephens! She is my girl, so I’m here specifically for her. This is my first time at this event, and I will definitely be coming back.”
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