Rebel says festival is one of world’s leading reggae events
TONY Rebel, promoter of Rebel Salute, says the show he first held in 1993 is one of the leading reggae events in the world, and on par with major European festivals like Rototom Sunsplash and Reggae Geel.
“Rebel Salute is of the highest standard, we give no show any level above us,” said Rebel in an interview with the Jamaica Observer. “Loads of people from those shows come to see what we do, so we set the bar.”
Rototom and Geel are calendar reggae events, both held in the summer. The former lasts for a week in Bennicasim, Spain and is recognised as the biggest, most organised of its kind.
Geel is held in Belgium and in its 36th year is one of Europe’s oldest and most established reggae festivals.
The 23rd Rebel Salute takes place January 15-16 at Grizzly’s Plantation Cove in St Ann. It will be its fourth staging at that venue for as many years over two days.
Organisers have stuck with the powerful roots-strong flavour that has been a feature of the show since it was first held at Fayors Entertainment Centre in Manchester.
Richie Spice, Sanchez, LUST, Mykal Rose, The Abyssinians, Beres Hammond and David Brooks (aka Mavado) are some of the acts on the show.
The inaugural Rebel Salute showcased a number of artistes who were leading figures in a roots-reggae revival that took place during the early 1990s. According to Tony Rebel, unlike other Jamaican shows, he and his team have never considered inviting hip hop acts.
“We are a concert that promotes the indigenous Jamaican music product which is reggae. Even if someone is coming from abroad, they must do our music,” he said.
