For roots reggae artiste Nicky Silk, the call to perform on the Reggae Sumfest stage was like a dream come true.

The St Mary-born, Ocho Rios-based artiste said after years of trying to make it locally, he was shocked when he heard he would be part of the line-up for tonight’s Reggae Night at Reggae Sumfest alongside greats such as Super Cat, Tarrus Riley, Barrington Levy, Sanchez and Christopher Martin.

“Oh My God, it is like heaven when I get that call that I was on Sumfest. For three to four days I was in shock, knowing how much I want to go on that stage. Now, I am getting the opportunity. This will be my biggest performance in Jamaica,” Silk told the Jamaica Observer.

Silk has performed overseas and makes mention of the 1999 Roots Tour of Africa with Eddie Fitzroy, Lady Junie and acts from the Tuff Gong camp, which saw him taking to the stage in The Gambia, but said this performance at Sumfest is one he has always looked forward to.

“I am preparing to give my people nothing but the best. There are about 11 songs in my set, including my new single

Good Woman and the remix of my track, Wondering Sheep. I am just gonna bless MoBay with this performance. Too much reckless livity taking place down there and I just want to touch their lives. I have a great message to deliver and I believe after this, all things will be added unto me. This is a real break for me that I have been dreaming of all my life and now I get this opportunity to do this. Great things are going to happen on that stage,” Silk added.

— Richard Johnson