by Howard Campbell
KINGSTON, Jamaica – It’s approaching that point of yr when Tony Insurgent dons his artist/promoter’s hat, getting ready for his Insurgent Salute competition. Because it celebrates its thirtieth anniversary, this yr is a good greater deal for the lanky Rastafarian.
Insurgent Salute is scheduled for January 19-20 at Grizzly’s Plantation Cove in St. Ann parish, about 15 miles west of the resort city of Ocho Rios. Fittingly, it has 30 acts, 15 for every night time.
“Followers can anticipate extra of what they’ve been getting for the previous 29 years. We’re simply going to enhance it,” stated Insurgent.
As a result of it options primarily vocalists, opening night time is dubbed ‘Singers Paradise’. Marcia Griffiths, Sanchez, Mikey Spice, Benjy Myaz and Richie Stephens, in addition to Third World are the primary acts.
Closing night time is a dancehall showcase led by Capleton, Anthony B, Queen Ifrica and Sean Paul who makes his Insurgent Salute debut.
Tony Insurgent first held the present in 1994 in his native Manchester parish to have a good time his January 15 birthday. The inaugural gig had his good pal Garnet Silk among the many prime acts, and was a roots-reggae bonanza.
Through the years, he has maintained a strict coverage that sees no sale of alcohol or meat. That, Tony Insurgent factors out, is an indicator he’s not in for monetary causes.
“It’s by no means been about simply being profitable, if it was I’d have gone to Pink Stripe Beer and different firms like dat. We need to construct a neighborhood that retains our tradition alive, we don’t need it to die,” he stated.
Together with Garnet Silk and Everton Blender, Tony Insurgent helped revive Rastafarian content material in dancehall music throughout the Nineteen Nineties after practically a decade of slackness and gun lyrics from acts like Yellow Man and Ninjaman. His hit songs then included Recent Vegetable, Candy Jamaica and Reggae Put Jamaica pon High.
Insurgent Salute has served because the world reggae competition pipe-opener for a few years now, attracting vacationers, journalists and reserving brokers, primarily from Europe.
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Originally posted 2023-12-21 14:59:53.