What a pleasant pleasure to expertise the 2026 version of the Wickie Wackie Music Pageant, held on the beautiful shores of Wickie Wackie Seashore in Bull Bay, Jamaica! The pageant spun off from the Wickie Wackie Dwell occasions that started in 2011, which gave a platform to the rising stars of the ‘Reggae Revival’ motion, and its newest incarnation as a fully-fledged three-day pageant has retained the grassroots of the unique happenings staged by singer Kumar ‘Fyah’ Bent, ‘Uncle’ Ronnie Jarrett of 8 Mile Sound and audio engineer Mahlon ‘Debo” Shifting.
The dedicated crew who proceed to run the occasion really feel like household they usually’ve approached all the things with the sort of love that solely true music heads can muster, specializing in the integrity of the programme and neighborhood groundings, relatively than business sponsorship and revenue margins. The strategy helps make Wickie Wackie one of many island’s most genuine stay music experiences, and this yr’s occasion had the added bonus of elevating funds for Hurricane Melissa reduction.
The venue is about forty minutes from Kingston by automobile down a potholed highway that stretches east previous the airport turnoff, and reaching the venue, one is immediately struck by the village-like really feel behind the gates, with loads of ital meals, steamed fish and jerk rooster distributors, complemented by natural potions, lotions, and concoctions, all aimed toward boosting wellbeing. With the principle stage simply in entrance of the seaside and a sound system station reverse, there’s loads of breeze. Again steps permit guests to dip their toes within the sea, although riptides render swimming inadvisable.
Thursday’s opening evening, dubbed “Future Night time” by the organisers, proved a deal with for these desperate to verify the subsequent era of reggae voices. Arriving early, World A Reggae head honcho Danny Creatah caught Carlton Livingston alongside Satta Sound revisiting his 1984 herb anthem 100 Weight of Collie Weed and the 90s favorite Rumors, a becoming warm-up for the night.
The showcase, after a brief break with DJ Steamaz, backed by The Affirmation Band, started with a strong set from Cungo1, adopted by Sashoné, whose hanging pink floral costume added welcome color to the stage, one thing Danny appreciated from a photographer’s standpoint. Then Spechinal delivered the primary carry in vitality, drawing a energetic response along with his tackle Ini Kamoze’s Sizzling Stepper, whereas Jônelle stored issues transferring along with her current single Uber. Trenchtown-born Karbon D Hardone then confidently grabbed the gang’s consideration, particularly throughout his newest launch Jamaica.
Because the Wickie Wackie grounds crammed, Spanish City’s Inezi, broadly tipped as one to observe, left a robust impression with African Proverbs and Thoughts Examine, his charismatic supply rewarded by loud cheers. Fellow Trenchtown native Dahvid Sluhr adopted with a heartfelt model of Dennis Brown’s Black Liberation, later calling Anue Nahki onstage in fantastic reggae custom, a pairing that would simply discover appreciative audiences overseas.
Portmore’s Jahvezl later stepped up with tracks like All We Want Is Love, after which Indonesian-German singer Toké shifted the temper with an intimate acoustic phase that includes his newest track Humble Me. The worldwide really feel continued because the four-piece outfit Rhaatid, led by Jamaican-born Junior Keith Powell, aka Roughhouse, fused deep roots reggae with a robust rock edge, a efficiency that left patrons between WOW and WTF, although for a lot of, myself included, the daring strategy labored properly.
With the ocean breeze rolling throughout the beachfront stage, the evening approached its closing. Grammy-winning songwriter and composer Medisun delivered a sophisticated set, adopted by the militant T’Jean, whose energetic supply matched the urgency of his uncooked lyrical messages.
Yaadcore, as ever carrying his Superman-like Rasta Cape, then introduced the opening evening to a becoming conclusion, performing his tackle John Holt’s Police in Helicopter, alongside Ghetto Youths and The Calling. A closing vinyl session from the Vinyl Thursdays crew, alongside Soundquake Sound, Exile Di Courageous, Likkle Briggie, Infinite and King Harar Sound rounded issues off in basis type, sending the gang house in correct roots trend.
Friday, dubbed “Fyah Night time,” featured an array of esteemed selectors on the resident Sound Wave sound system, and Jah Observer’s vinyl set was an early night spotlight. Austin ‘Spiderman’ Palmer was born in Jamaica however raised within the UK; a favorite of the Notting Hill Carnival throughout the Nineteen Eighties, 90s and 2000s, since 2012 he has been based mostly about sixty miles east of Wickie Wackie, making him a pure alternative for a visitor selector on the pageant. Letting the music do the speaking, Austin stored between-song patter to a minimal, hitting us with deep roots reggae and a few unknown steppers tunes, plus Johnny Osbourne’s Studio One gem ‘Forgive Them’ and a bass-heavy deconstructed mixture of Burning Spear’s ‘The Invasion’ on dub plate, with chilling a cappella interludes.
Uncle Ronnie then downshifted the gears, steering the sound to different locations. He started with a chief piece of classic rhythm and blues however quickly drifted to the R&B of the Nineteen Nineties throughout a set that was 100% vinyl and completely American. It was clear that overseas guests have been largely perplexed, however many locals have been singing alongside and transferring their toes to songs which might be clearly cherished in Jamaica. The long-time sound man, speaker field designer and Wickie Wackie co-founder started his profession with a soul sound within the Seventies, so the choice adopted a sure logic, regardless of flummoxing half the attendant revellers.
Then Gabre Selassie of the Kingston Dub Membership stepped as much as the plate, taking part in a prolonged set of roots music from a laptop computer, drifting between classic favourites and new unknowns, along with his custom-built results unit holding the sound system component intact all through. Veteran singer I Kong confirmed his appreciation for what Gabre was throwing down by skanking and singing on the sound station, including to the vibes with flailing limbs and adlibbed lyrics. Upcoming stars Quan Nelson and Jelliss later took to the mic on the Africa Motion Riddim, earlier than Daweh Congo delivered a number of spirited numbers, using the rhythms to the top of Gabre’s set.
Then it was time for Caveman Worldwide to conflict with Sound Wave, starting with a phase from DJ Storm, representing Caveman. Protecting issues upbeat, she threw down a variety of roots rock dance classics, together with loads of greats by the likes of Dennis Brown and Sugar Minott. Aiming for the gang pleasers, relatively than the obscure, Storm stored us all gentle on our toes, and the return Sound Wave spherical was equally uplifting; by the point Frankie Paul’s Worries In The Dance wafted over the audio system, we have been firmly in conflict mode after which DJ Cave ratcheted issues up by drawing for a dub plate of Raging Fyah’s Judgement Day, a one-off Loving Pauper re-cut and unknown specials on the Stalag rhythm by Cocoa Tea and others, plus a Luciano particular on a roots take of Please Be True – a tricky prolonged flex of musical muscle! Then Ras Shiloh took to the mic to thrill the gang with renditions of Complain, Journey Mild, Unto Zion, Dry These Tears and an a cappella Are You Glad, earlier than a policewoman introduced issues to a considerably untimely shut.
On the very packed Saturday evening, dubbed the “Basis Night time,” with a music-loving crowd in full impact, Derajah’s set confirmed how a lot he’s grown since his early days with Inna Di Yard. Fronting a blended band with gamers from all around the map (together with a full horn part, an acoustic guitarist and a feminine lead guitarist), Derajah was a calmly commanding presence on stage, intoning phrases of peace, love and concord.
JC Lodge benefitted from a top-class band and the guiding hand of Gussie Clarke behind the proceedings; she obtained the singalong crowd going with renditions of career-defining cowl tune Somebody Loves You Honey and the catchy dancehall unique, Phone Love.
The charismatic surfer, actor and singer Billy Mystic is a Bull Bay native and his non-standard set was one of many standouts of the evening, providing a mixture of solo outings and classic Mystic Revealers tracks, with unique bassist Leroy ‘Lion’ Edwards nonetheless intact. Highlights included an excellent take of Blue Nile from the Jah Jah Individuals album, a killer lower of Rastaman from the Younger Revolutionaries debut, and the censorious roots/dancehall hybrid, Faith. Good one, Billy!
The set of strong roots by the most recent version of the Abyssinians was method higher than anticipated. Throughout a present on the Brixton Electrical some months in the past, co-founder Donald Manning had two unknown People within the group and the concord wasn’t at all times because it ought to have been; at Wickie Wackie the group appeared as a quartet, which made the sound extra rounded, the fourth member filling the gaps the place crucial. It was clear that there had been sufficient rehearsal this time to get issues as much as normal, giving favourites like Declaration Of Rights, Good Lord, Ahead To Zion and all-time anthem Satta Amasa Gana loads of attraction.
Rory Stone Love dealt with the between-act choices and as one would anticipate there have been loads of distinctive and attractive musical nuggets, together with a one-off particular of Samory I’s Rasta No Gangster and one other by Jah9, plus a model of Dennis Brown’s Promised Land that fed right into a Black Dub mutation, however as the gang expectantly awaited Third World’s look, Rory modified tack, surprisingly veering into hardcore dancehall from the 90s and early noughties. Why he felt the necessity to attract for Buju Banton’s Increase Bye Bye and TOK’s Chi Chi Man is unclear, particularly since Buju was wise sufficient to drop the previous from his playlist a few years in the past. The retrograde transfer dragged the viewers again to a section that many reggae followers would relatively overlook, and the tunes weren’t getting any ‘forwards’ both, making the diversion appear doubly inappropriate.
Then Third World took the stage with a combination of feelings to ship their first stay efficiency following the loss of life of Cat Coore. Starting with a cool take of Reggae Ambassador and a cut-to-the-chase singalong for the OJays’ Now That We Discovered Love, there was a spongy take of Forbidden Love earlier than the band dropped issues all the way down to a gripping 96 Levels In The Shade. At all times Round was delivered as a duet with a sure Tamara B, and Tony ‘Ruption’ Williams’ sensible command of percussion was demonstrated on an prolonged Kumina. Given the circumstances, You’re Not The Solely One felt particularly touching (with a subsequent era visitor second in direction of the top too), and Attempt Jah Love was a joyful closing blast.
It was a tricky act to comply with, and Wickie Wackie co-founder Kumar Fyah did an admirable job. He’s one other artist whose development is obvious and though the set he delivered at Rototom Sunsplash final summer season was wonderful, the Wickie Wackie efficiency was on one other degree, and a part of that’s all the way down to the competent backing of his Authentic Fyah Band. Opening with a beautiful rendition of the Raging Fyah favorite Irie Vibe, there adopted a spot-on take of World Broad Love from his current collaboration with the 18th Parallel, right here with a fiery horn part. He took a lick of the Milk And Honey rhythm and after an prolonged instrumental part and a short reference to a Star Path remake, Kumar handed the baton to up-and-coming feminine vocalist Kaedi Philo, who tackled Judy Mowatt’s Black Girl. Naturally the nearer was Raging Fyah’s Judgement Day, sounding each bit nearly as good because it did when first launched method again in 2011. Nice stuff Kumar!
As if the night hadn’t already reached a excessive level, Kumar’s efficiency was adopted by none aside from the ever-graceful Etana, stepping out in a fascinating blue costume that underscored her queenly presence, holding lots of the girls among the many patrons singing alongside to each quantity.
Although already properly into the late hours, the pageant’s ultimate act, Turbulence, stepped on stage with the additional burst of vitality wanted at the moment of evening. Operating by choices together with We’ve Acquired Love (with Sasha) and the hard-hitting Infamous, which drew a number of pull-ups, he ensured the pageant ended on a suitably charged be aware.
Wickie Wackie has a lot going for it and that was demonstrated by the truth that music lovers got here far and extensive to absorb the sounds, to not mope and pose as is commonly the case. It’s the sort of place the place previous mates flip up unexpectedly and the presence of Marcia Griffiths, Sizzla, Copeland Forbes, Addis Pablo and different reggae royalty in the home is a testomony to its genuine attraction. Thanks, Wickie Wackie crew for a superb pageant expertise. This one comes extremely really useful, so be certain that to catch the subsequent version!
By David Katz & Danny Creatah
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