The final staging of the annual Miami Reggae Festival Festival scheduled for Sunday, August 7, at Bayfront Park, Amphetheater has been appropriately tagged “Last Lick” after a manner that Jamaican children in the sixties and seventies would playfully part after playing together.
A “last lick” was a playful tag, an attempt to be the last to touch to the other child as a way of leaving a lasting impression until they next met. Likewise, this year’s festival will definitely leave a lasting impression, as the scheduled performers will represent a little history of Jamaica’s music as well as a little history of the festival over twenty one years.
Alton Ellis, one of the cornerstones of Jamaican popular music, began his career as a child prodigy and is now an elder statesman of the music. He will belt out his hits spanning from the early sixties such as “Breaking up”, “Can I Change My Mind”, “Girl I’ve Got A Date” and many, many more. When Alton Ellis performs, is like a family sing-a-long, as audiences, ever so familiar with the lyrics of his songs, always join him and just sing out loud with shouts of joy and appreciation. Alton’s performance at this year’s final curtain will definitely be memorable.
Mr. Rocksteady, Ken Boothe, a contemporary of Ellis and an equally talented performer, also has a string of favorites, and once he gets going, can whip the crowd into a singing frenzy with hits such as “The Train is Coming”, “Lady with the Starlight”, “Everything I Own”, and the popular “Freedom Street”. Ken’s dancing skills and complete comfort on stage will be a treat for those who love the early years of Jamaican music.
Culture, one of the pioneers of roots reggae will add their special brand of lyrics and showmanship to the event. Preaching world peace, equality and justice for the downtrodden, lead singer Joseph Hill will definitely please with old favorites such as the ever popular “Two Sevens Clash”, “This Train”, “Never Get Weary”, as well as his current string of hits. Always preaching and injecting a little humor, Culture will hold the attention of the audience as well as impart words of wisdom, urging everyone to ‘live good.’
Celebrating Jamaica’s independence means festival songs, and who else but Tinga Stewart to take us back to the early celebrations of independence with his string of festival songs in addition to dancehall hits and current number one singles. A consummate entertainer, Tinga Stewart will have the crowd singing, dancing and flag-waving to his many hits, from “Nuh Weh Nu Betta Dan Yard”, “Play De Music”, and “Cover Me”, to some of his more current tunes such as “Inside of Me” and his latest chart-topper “Mr. Gunman”.
Also performing will be Conrad Crystal & Sugar Roy, who have been recently enjoying a resurgence of their popularity with a number of hits, along with Antigua’s Reggae Ambassador Causion, Eight76 Recording protégé and lone female performer Evette, 2 of a Kind, Aisha Davis, Gyptian and lovers rock crooner Audley Rollen.
Plans are in place to have Jamaica’s Popular Song Contest winner, who will be crowned within the next few days, perform at the festival. This will be a first for the Miami Reggae Festival, and quite a paradox for it to happen at the last Miami Reggae Festival.
Rounding out the festival will be vendors selling the usual fare of Jamaican food such as spicy hot jerk chicken, curry goat and beef patties washed down with cool Red Stripe Beer, D&G Sodas and other culinary delight. There will also be an array of arts and craft items along with reggae memorabilia for sale to patrons.
