Barbados Reggae Weekend's Reggae in the Gardens Event Recap: Highlights, Performances, and Impact

Thousands descended on the National Botanical Gardens on the spot dubbed ‘The Reggae Village’ on Sunday, for the third event of the four-day Barbados Reggae Weekend.

After two other successful events, Legends of Reggae on Friday and Reggae Showdown on Saturday, Reggae in the Gardens followed suit with a stellar line-up of top entertainment.

The inaugural weekend, which ended with Reggae Wavez Cruise, delivered another first by offering free entry for patrons under 16 years old to enjoy a reggae show in Barbados, making it truly a family event.

It started strong at around the advertised 6 p.m. time with local band Rite Side of Red, led by Daniel Medford and Melody Man whose smooth tones never disappoint. They delighted the crowd.

While live bands add a distinct energy to a show, the necessary changes between acts resulted in lengthy transitions. Despite engaging sets by the deejay lineup, maintaining the vibe during these breaks was challenging. Additionally, the delays caused the production to run behind time. The last two acts, Masicka and Jashii, were cut short because their allotted time was reduced, and the show ended abruptly just before 3:30 a.m.

It was no secret that many came to see Jamaican dancehall hitmaker Masicka. With the promoters adding the popular Jashii to the cards a day before, the two became highlyanticipated acts for the younger audience.

Masicka’s entrance elicited a thunderous response, as his fans surged closer to the stage. He performed hits like Top Form and Infrared which were well received, and the crowd, particularly the ladies, erupted with excitement when he sang Blessings.

Jashii joined him on stage, adding to the energy. But the enthusiasm was dampened when they announced they had run out of time. By that time, he had not yet performed the massive track Hit and Run, his collaboration with Shenseea.

Earlier in the night, Jamaican performer Ghost stole the show with his remarkable vocals and magnetic stage presence. His style combined elements of James Brown and Michael Jackson, creating a unique persona that held the audience spellbound.

His segment included covers of Making Love Out of Nothing All by Air Supply and You’re Beautiful by James Blunt.

He kept the crowd entertained with his antics. Before making his exit, he serenaded some women in the VIP section and even climbed the fence to connect with patrons in the general area.

Queen Ifrica brought a more laidback energy, engaging the audience with a girl-next-door charm. She performed fan favourites like Lioness on the Rise, Far Away, Below the Waist, and Daddy Don’t Touch Me There, endearing herself to the crowd with her relatability.

Tessanne Chin returned to Barbados after a decade-long hiatus, showcasing the vocal prowess that made her a standout on The Voice.

She sang Try, which garnered her a fourchair turn during the show’s blind auditions, along with other hits like Broken Melody and Hideaway. She also paid homage to reggae icon Bob Marley with Redemption Song.

UB40’s frontman Ali Campbell also delivered a fantastic presentation, encouraging audience participation with well-known tracks like Cherry Oh Baby, Red Red Wine, Can’t Help Falling, Many Rivers to Cross, and Kingston Town. His added dance moves on The Way You Do the Things You Do were met with the audience’s approval.

Morgan Heritage, in their first show since the passing of lead singer Peter Morgan, paid tribute to their late brother with images of him flashing on the screen while they sang hits including What We Need is Love, Down by the River, Bring Back Love, and Your Best Friend. Although they delivered many of their top songs, some fans were disappointed that they did not include the hugely popular Woman Like You.

Despite the delays and abrupt ending, Reggae in the Gardens hosted by Peter Coppin and Vayne provided a night complete with brilliant performances and memorable moments.

The VIP section had a great flow of food and drinks, while the general audience was treated to an Island Smiles booth to capture memories. Along with free entry, children were given coupons for free popcorn and ice cream. The truly lucky paying patrons went home with door prizes ranging from a trip to St Maarten to airline tickets from interCaribbean Airlines.

The sound quality and ambience were all on point. If greater attention was paid to tightening the production, the event would have been top-notch on all accounts. That said, the producers should be commended for staging a weekend of four near-flawless reggae events. (STT)