Sun sets and hundreds of people from all corners of the island and beyond fly, bike, hike, walk and ride to Montego Bay. All toting portable fold-up chairs, blankets, and pillows for their overnight camp out. The bustling streets of Mo Bay surrounding the park are filled with sidewalk vendors hustling everything from portable stools, to flags, to parking spaces. However, the crowds march on into the coming night as excitement rises in the air. Some have the look going, the shoes, the dress, the jeans the hair, sporting the bad man or bad gal flava, but what’s most important is the ticket they hold in their hand, the ticket to the greatest reggae show on earth.
Reggae Media International arrived in Jamaica on Thursday, just in time for Dancehall night. Featured on stages were some of my favorite acts such as Voicemail (Eh), Vbyz Kartel, D’Angel, Lady Saw, and of course hitting the stage into the wee hours the next morning was Beenie Man, who is now no longer the “self-proclaimed” King of Dancehall, but just is. This year’s show was dedicated to the memory and honor of the music, the magic, and the man that is Michael Jackson, so each artiste had their own special treat of a tribute. One of the most notable performances of the evening was that of Lady Saw.
