Story and photos by Samuel Peters
From belting tunes that have transcended generations, to flipping between a variety of genres at will, Reggae in the Park was an absolute vibe.
The well-attended, much-looked-forward-to annual event lived up to the hype on Tuesday night – a night that saw reggae and music lovers rockin’ and groovin’ to the sounds of sweet reggae music.
Kudos must be given to DJ Illist, Exorcist and the Hells Gate Steel Orchestra for laying the foundation for the events to come.
They kept the initial small crowd warmed up with some legendary songs from Bob Marley and the Wailers and Gregory Isaac.
To add to that, you had Ibis the Livest as host, alongside his ‘Big Brother’, who kept the crowd ‘jivin’ with some ‘ole time’ dance moves.
Antiguan band 1761 did not disappoint, performing a variety of classics that engaged the folks from the older generation.
With the foundation laid, and the audience steadily increasing, local acts Drastic and Kenny Blessings were premium, showcasing the talents that have come out of our little island paradise.
Drastic, the ‘Sugary Waistline’ star, toggled between up-tempo reggae, slow tempo, conscious and some groovy tracks, while Blessings toyed with some ragga and lovers’ rock.
The frenzied crowd looked well set for the main act after the performances of those two renowned artistes.
By that time, both the regular and VIP lounge areas were filled to capacity with complaints that the food had all been consumed, but it didn’t stop attendees from making the most of the selection of drinks on offer.
The main act, Sanchez, provided the finishing job to the project started by those who preceded him, and he was able to skilfully connect generations with some of his classic hits. Indeed, he even took the crowd to church with some gospel music.
He was vibrant, not missing a beat, much to the delight of his fans and supporters.
All in all, the event was well received by the public, with most attendees giving it a big thumbs-up.