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The streets of St Andrew came to life on Saturday night as reggae music fans from across the world flooded into the historic Bob Marley Museum on Hope Road for the third annual celebration of the birthday anniversary of Jo Mersa Marley.
While the size of the venue may have raised a few eyebrows, it proved to be just what was needed, providing artistes and patrons with an intimate and almost mystical setup.
It’s hard to say the night was slow at any point. When The Gleaner team arrived, the line at the main entrance had enough eager patrons to fill the venue – not to mention the large crowd already on the grounds of the museum.
On the inside, you could hear the thump of the bass guitar as the band played and smell the sinsemilla wafting through the air.
Mixed among the crowd were a handful of performers who were in a jubilant mood as they interacted with their fans. Jah9, Jaz Elise, and Ras-I were just a few of the slated performers seen enjoying themselves alongside other reggae music lovers.
The omission of a separate holding area for entertainers and performers created a unique space, which one entertainer, Jaz Elise, boldly stated is “the best way to do it!”.
With the audience in a receiving mood, it was time for the show to get started. First on the list was fast-rising reggae star Karbon, whose performance and lyrical display were reminiscent of a young Anthony B.
The Hesitate singer laid a solid foundation for the start of the night and prepared the way for the other top-tier acts that followed, including Taurus Riley, Agent Sasco, and Bounty Killer.
Yohan Marley, son of Stephen Marley and brother of Jo Mersa, took the stage and delivered a slew of his brother’s hit songs mixed in with his own. He also shared memories of his brother on stage. “This is the part he would call me up and me run go do my verse,” he shared, filled with emotions.
Sprinkled in between Yohan’s set were reminders of how talented the Marley family truly was as he called his siblings Hymn and Mystic Marley, as well as his cousin Skip Marley – all of whom wore the Marley crown with pride as they delivered passionate performances.
Yohan also brought on stage Jo Mersa’s daughter, Sunshine, for a special performance. The two performed the song fittingly titled Sunshine, which was released in 2014 on Jo Mersa’s Comfortable EP.
And just when you thought the audience was all out of energy, a surprise visit from reggae singers Jesse Royal and Chronixx sent shockwaves across the Bob Marley Museum as they performed fan-favourite hits like Skankin’ Sweet and Modern Day Judas.
Yohan Marley’s set lasted over an hour and provided fans with the foundation they needed while paying tribute to his brother. But the night was far from over, and fans were still in for a real treat for the rest of the night, especially as The Marley Brothers hit the stage.
English (US) ·