1 month ago
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Reggae Sumfest’s Global Fête is setting the stage for an explosive night of music, culture, and lyrical warfare on Thursday at the Catherine Hall stadium grounds. A reimagining of the festival’s Global Sound Clash, the event promises not only dubplate action but also live performances from genre-spanning talent.
Ghanaian-American singer, songwriter, and viral sensation Moliy, Trinbagonian soca entertainer Yung Bredda, and dancehall artiste Marcy Chin are set to bring high-energy performances to the stage, while DJs including DJ Gabby, Mark Coppershot, Richie RAS, and Fyah Man will keep the ‘riddims’ pumping all night long.
But the main event? A sound clash showdown: Tony Matterhorn versus Notorious International Sound.
“Global Fête is something bold and electric, a genre-blending experience that celebrates Caribbean culture in its rawest, most vibrant form,” said Joe Bogdanovich, chief executive officer of DownSound Entertainment and Reggae Sumfest promoter. “The idea was to bring together the pulse of a classic sound clash and fuse it with powerful live performances that span dancehall, Afrobeats, soca, and beyond. This year’s line-up reflects that vision: Moliy, Yung Bredda, and Marcy Chin will light up the stage, but the real fireworks will come from the clash, and trust me, it’s not to be missed.”
The clash is already generating buzz as Notorious International – last year’s underdog champions – return to defend their title. The Maxfield Avenue-based sound system stunned fans in 2024 after eliminating defending champ Dynamq and defeating Bodyguard in a dub-for-dub final. Selectors Rohan ‘Little Shabba’ Henry and Marie ‘Bad Gal Marie’ Sano — who also made headlines as a Jamaican-Japanese husband-wife duo – walked away with $1.1 million in cash and instant notoriety.
Now, with clash legend Tony Matterhorn in the ring, the stakes have never been higher.
“Tony Matterhorn and Notorious Sound are two heavyweights with something to prove,” said Bogdanovich. “Expect lyrical warfare at its finest: dubplate-for-dubplate, big tunes, pure strategy, and full crowd control. Matterhorn is a legend — unpredictable, charismatic, and razor-sharp. Notorious Sound is young, fearless, and the winners of last year’s Sumfest clash. They’re coming to shake things up and make their name known on a global level. This is a clash that will bring the drama, the energy, and the kind of moments fans talk about for years.”
Still, Global Fête isn’t just for the clash crowd. With performers like Moliy, who just graced the stage at London’s Wireless Festival, performing her Shake it to The Max Remix with Vybz Kartel and Stefflon Don, the night is set to hit hard from every angle.
“Moliy just performed in front of a full stadium at Wireless Festival last Saturday alongside Vybz Kartel and Drake. She’s the latest and newest shining star in the dancehall space right now, and her energy is next level,” Bogdanovich shared. “Add that to Yung Bredda and Marcy Chin bringing their own fire, and you’ve got a show that hits from every angle.”
Reggae Sumfest, now in full swing, kicked off on Sunday with its Family Funday, followed by Street Dance on Monday, the All White Party on Tuesday, and Blitz on Wednesday. Global Fête takes over Thursday night, leading into Festival Night One on Friday, where the highly anticipated coronation of Vybz Kartel as the new King of Dancehall by reigning Queen of Dancehall Spice will take place and Festival Night Two on Saturday, with headliner Toni Braxton.
English (US) ·