Legends of Reggae take over Kensington Oval

By Coretta Joe

As one of the most highly anticipated fixtures on the Barbados Reggae Weekend calendar, the Mount Gay Legends of Reggae Show and Dance took centre stage Friday night at the Kensington Oval.

While the event drew a massive crowd eager to see a roster of icons, persistent technical issues left parts of the night’s entertainment feeling somewhat flat. However, the night’s deejays, Jerry Dan and Lil Rick, provided a much-needed bright spark, offering a seamless musical segue that kept the energy moving between sets. Despite the night’s hiccups, the vibes remained high among the audience, with some attendees seen “skanking” to the old dub riddims. Several officials were also spotted taking in the showcase, including Attorney General of Barbados Wilfred Abrahams and his wife Natalie Abrahams, and Andrew Pilgrim Q.C.

The night’s live performances began with local legend Biggie Irie, the first to grace the stage. Delivering a set of sweet, soulful hits from the Splash Band era like Problems, the veteran crooner was warmly embraced by the early-bird crowd.

The energy shifted gear with the arrival of the first regional act, Sister Nancy. Widely recognised as the first female dancehall deejay, she commanded the stage for a 30-minute set that was nothing short of amazing. Her performance was pure grit and vocal fire; she eventually kicked off her shoes to better chant on the riddim, delivering powerhouse renditions of One Two, Solid, and her timeless anthem, Bam Bam.

Norris Man followed, maintaining the momentum with his infectious stage presence. Thrilling the crowd with his signature jumps, his performances of Brighter Days and Persistence is to Try successfully livened up the audience, many of whom were still filing into the Oval during his set.

J.C. Lodge faced the challenge of warming up attendees who seemed initially unfamiliar with some of her songs. However, the seasoned performer eventually won them over, sparking a mass sing-along with her classic hits Telephone Love and Someone Loves You, Honey.

By the time “Reggae’s Mellow Canary,” Barrington Levy, strode onto the stage, the technical issues had become glaring. Yet, Levy proved that true vocal prowess can transcend a faulty sound system. He delivered a top-tier performance that reminded everyone why he remains relevant in the industry. From Too Experienced and Under Mi Sensi to Living Dangerously and Here I Come, the legend did not disappoint.

The night’s closing act was dancehall royalty Super Cat. Having been unable to perform last year, he was undoubtedly the man the crowd had stayed up to see. However, his set, which didn’t begin until well after 2 a.m., garnered mixed reviews. Nevertheless, the “Original Don Dada” powered through well-known hits like Ghetto Red Hot, Mud Up, and Dem No Worry We, officially bringing the Legends show to a close.

The Barbados Reggae Weekend continues Saturday with The Showdown before reaching its climax on Sunday with Reggae in the Gardens, featuring headliner Fantasia.