The 2024 staging of Wickie Wackie Music Festival on February 17 will function a homecoming for Grammy-nominated reggae band Raging Fyah, who will reunite on stage in Jamaica for the primary time in six years. Be sure to grab your tickets before they are sold out!
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The final time the band carried out collectively in Jamaica was on the 2017 staging of Wickie Wackie Music Pageant, the identical yr that the band was nominated for a Grammy award for their third album Everlasting.
In 2018, lead singer Kumar Bent left the band to focus on a solo profession. He stated the “transient separation” was because of “stress on the mind.
“We had been a unit that was damaged by enterprise, I believe. We had been underneath plenty of stress after that Grammy nomination … we weren’t seeing eye-to-eye on plenty of issues. So I left. I wanted that point for myself,” Bent informed Caribbean Nationwide Weekly.
However when Courtland “Gizmo” White, the band’s guitarist, died in January final yr, it motivated the unique members of the band to return collectively as a unit as soon as once more, as per their followers’ many requests.
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“Love is what introduced us again collectively. … All of us have our variations and folks can complain all they need, however can you’re keen on your brother? Should you can’t love your brother then it doesn’t make sense,” he stated.
The unique members: Bent, Anthony “ToniDrumz” Watson on drums, Demar Gayle on keyboards, and backing vocalist/engineer Mahlon “Debo Ras” Shifting, alongside Damion “Star D” Benjamin on the bass united underneath the title Kumar & The Original Fyah for a collection of performances in america following Gizmo’s demise. The group has additionally recorded new music, Bent stated, which they plan to place out this yr.
Lacking in motion is the unique bass participant Delroy “Pele” Hamilton, who now has his personal band. Bent stated the explanation for Hamilton’s absence is unknown. “The door has all the time been open,” Bent stated of a earlier try to reunite all authentic members.
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Preserving roots reggae in these occasions
Since its inception, the Wickie Wackie Music Festival has been a celebration of genuine roots reggae tradition and has served as a platform for reggae revival musicians, notably these up-and-coming.
Raging Fyah obtained its begin at Wickie Wackie, Bull Bay, within the yard of legendary Jamaican sound system builder Ronald ‘Uncle Ronnie’ Jarrett.
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Different reggae stars akin to Chronixx, Koffee, Jah9, and extra had their first main efficiency on the music competition. It’s a rewarding feeling, Bent stated, to observe lots of the competition’s previous acts go on to dominate on the world stage.
One other purpose of the competition is to protect roots reggae and to additionally be certain that Rastafarian tradition stays on the heart of the style.
“At my occasion, I’ve drummers from Bobo Hill coming to do a chant, and we’ll have a bonfire on the seashore. These issues are necessary to create the vitality that we should be pushing. You possibly can’t serve two masters so when you’re dashing constructive vitality and roots reggae, you possibly can’t dilute the music simply since you need extra folks to return,” Bent stated.
Bent considers it his goal to protect roots reggae and finds pleasure in doing so. “Most individuals say how reggae is lifeless and this and that. It’s not for everyone. I’m blissful when even one individual says that recognize what we’re doing,” Bent stated.
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Wickie Wackie Music Fest: A spot for therapeutic
Togetherness and household are the important thing traits of the Wickie Wackie Music Festival. In contrast to different occasions, lots of which Bent thinks are “all in regards to the cash,” Wickie Wackie promotes unity and oneness.
“If you would like therapeutic, if you would like that constructive vibe, that is the place that you must be … A number of these occasions with VIP and all this stuff, I can’t stand it. Why separate the folks?”
With a vinyl session, a double bonfire on the seashore, and a compact present, Bent needs to unfold spirituality and positivity by the music and ambiance.
“We received’t have this lengthy, drawn-out occasion. We received’t have 10 band adjustments and all these different issues that patrons complain about. We’re not making an attempt to push on what’s scorching, we’re making an attempt to place folks on {that a} spirit, those that have a soul,” Bent stated.
Third World’s Cat Coore, Jah Mason, and Jah Izhrel are billed to carry out, together with sound techniques 8 Mile Sound, Kingston Dub Membership, and Sound Quake. Shock reggae acts are additionally anticipated to hit the stage throughout Raging Fyah’s set.
