Shabba shines as Reggae Weekend ends on a high note

As the curtain fell on the 2025 edition of Barbados Reggae Weekend, the grand finale—Reggae in the Gardens—was a family-friendly close to a high-energy three-day musical celebration.

The event brought together a powerful lineup of talented acts, each seemingly determined to outshine the last in vocal power and stage presence.
Last Sunday’s affair at the National Botanical Gardens attracted a relaxed crowd, ready to enjoy the music and atmosphere. Many of the women came dressed for the warm weather, wearing light, comfortable rompers in a range of colours and fabrics.

Rite Side of Red opened the show with a session of sweet vibes and positive lyrics, setting a strong tone for the night. Their performance featured special appearances from Rhesa Garnes, Tabitha Gerbadian, and Melody Man, who delivered a string of original music. Not to be outdone, band members Daniel Medford and Kweku Jelani showcased their musical range on the keyboard and trumpet, supplemented by their smooth vocals.

Two-time Grammy-nominated Jamaican artiste Etana looked radiant in an all-white ensemble. Her entrance alone drew cheers, and her voice—strong, soulful, and impeccable—brought goosebumps as she delivered favourites like People Talk and I Am Not Afraid, harmonising perfectly with her backup singer. She impressed with renditions of Bob Marley’s Is This Love and Richie Spice’s The Plane Land, proving her versatility across reggae sub-genres.

However, not every act hit the mark. One of the night’s most anticipated performances turned into a notable letdown. Ghanaian singer and songwriter Moliy, known for her viral hit, Shake it to the Max, struggled to connect with the audience. Phones lit up in anticipation to film the moment she emerged, but after opening with lesser-known material, the energy fizzled. By the time she performed her hit song, much of the excitement had already waned.

Then came a performance that could only be described as electric. Shabba Ranks, the legendary dancehall pioneer, romped onto the stage, commanding the attention of everyone in the venue. He paid special attention to the ladies with his iconic voice booming through classics like Mr Loverman, Winey Winey, X Rated, Wicked Inna Bed, Bedroom Bully, and Ting A Ling. Despite the years, Shabba showed he still had the moves—and the knees—as he worked every inch of the stage.

Beenie Man, the King of the Dancehall, followed with an arsenal of hits including Toy Friend, Who Am I, Old Dog, Wickedest Slam, and Blackboard. The ‘Doctor’ had the crowd fully engaged, and the energy skyrocketed when Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley made a surprise appearance on stage. Much to the audience’s delight, she danced on to the stage and even sang a line.

Veteran singer Maxi Priest brought a smoother vibe, delivering his signature reggae fusion style. Opening with Say a Prayer for the World, he moved effortlessly through fan favourites like Wild World, Just a Little Bit Longer and Close to You. While his set was technically polished, some in the crowd felt it lacked spark.

Busy Signal was the night’s final act and met the moment head-on. Pouring full energy into crowd favourites like Wuk Gal, Missing You, Unknown Number, Comfort Zone, and Jail, he had the gardens rocking. As he performed Happy Birthday, fireworks lit up the sky in celebration of the tenth anniversary of Ticketlinkz —the company helmed by Ryan Brathwaite of the Barbados Reggae Weekend.

One patron summed up the show: “From the moment I saw the final artistes line-up, I knew that this show would be the perfect climax to the weekend. I am in support of giving people opportunities to grow in their profession, however artistes such as Moliy need more guided support and with her limited catalogue of music would have been better off being featured during the set of one of the more seasoned performers.”

“All the other performers did nothing less than what was expected with Shabba being the best in my opinion. I would not mind swapping my knees for his; his performance was energetic and entertaining. Maxi Priest, Beenie Man, Busy Signal definitely showed their talented experience and really showed us why that era of reggae and dancehall is still best, I am a bit hoarse from singing all through their sets. I can’t forget the sweet singing voice of Etana. She was a welcome addition to the mix, such an underrated and quality singer. In all, Reggae in the Gardens was fantastic.”

Another attendee, Latoya, shared: “The show overall was good… but was too drawn out given the start time and artistes to perform. The DJs were entertaining…. Shabba was the star of the night and took us back to our young adult and teen years with the music we all love so much.”

She added, “Beenie is always a great entertainer and also took us through a time travel with his music. Busy Signal was hyped and had a good crowd response despite many patrons had left by then. Maxi Priest was a bit underwhelming. But the band was great!”

One thing was certain—any challenges that occurred during the 2025 Barbados Reggae Weekend were forgiven with the finale that ticked all the boxes. (STT)