Sumfest brings it!Toni Braxton, Tarrus Riley close Festival Night 2 with greatness

From dancehall royalty on Friday night to reggae supremacy on Saturday, Reggae Sumfest 2025 delivered on its promise of making history with quality music and a world-class showcase that would reaffirm its place as the Greatest Reggae Show on Earth.

Like they did on Friday, local acts stamped their class on what is arguably the biggest live event platform in the region.

Fantan Mojah, Bugle, Pressure Buss Pipe, I Wayne, Tarrus Riley, Lila Iké, and Protoje all turned in powerful performances to prove yet again that Jamaica’s talent pool runs deep.

International R&B star Toni Braxton may have been the biggest crowd-puller as patrons jumped at the opportunity to see the Breathe Again singer live, but it was our home-grown stars that shone brightest.

The night started with reggae veteran Fantan Mojah serving up a slew of hits. The singer indicated difficulty fitting as many as tracks as he would have hope into his allotted 20 minutes. But before he was given the signal to cut his set short he used his time to introduce an up-and-coming singer to the world. In what was undoubtedly one of the highlights on Festival Night Two, 12-year-old Emma ignited the crowd with her original song, God Is Real. Her maturity and stage presence wowed the audience, who rewarded her efforts with a resounding round of applause.

The night only got better from there with Pressure Busspipe serving up a delightful musical treat of his own. Performing songs such as Love and Affection, Be Free, Bless My Soul, and Jah Love, the singer packed a powerful punch to usher in another reggae dynamo, I Wayne.

Delivering what was perhaps the best set at this year’s festival, I Wayne unleashed a fire on Catherine Hall that would only be quenched by cheers of approval from the audience. In true I Wayne fashion, the singer used smooth vocals to serve up valuable lessons. Voicing his disappointment with Jamaicans’ continued indulgence in acts such as skin-bleaching, domestic abuse and oral sex, I Wayne encouraged the crowd to maintain morals as the country’s future depends on the lessons passed down through time.

Performing hits such as Seeds I Sow, Living In Love, Book Of Life, and Bleacher, the entertainer served up one timeless classic after another. Turning his attention to the ladies, he drew on more hits from his arsenal of songs to turn in soulful renditions of Touch Her Softly, I Need Her in My Arms, and Empress Divine. But as organisers scrambled to stay the course with time management, his set was cut short before he could deliver crowd-favourite Can’t Satisfy Her.

Time became an issue for the rest of the evening, prompting several other artistes to cut their sets short. Bugle, Lila Iké and Protégé all had to turn in abbreviated sets to ensure the festival remained on course for its allotted end time.

Still, that did not take away from any of the sets, as each act thrilled the endearing crowd. Bugle turned in a militant performance with hits such as Nuh Compatible, What I’m Gonna Do, Journeys, and Pearly Gate. The entertainer dedicated the final track to his mother, who passed away in 2022.

Lila Iké, in her first solo set at Reggae Sumfest, was another festival highlight. Decked out in an iridescent ensemble, the Where I’m Coming From singer showed off her immense vocal ability, delivering songs such as Solitude, Thy Will Be Done, Anything and Everything, Second Chance, and I Spy.

The singer also used the opportunity to address her arrest a day before her Sumfest set. Declaring, “Dem couldn’t stop this,” she counted herself blessed to be able to perform her own set after being introduced to the Sumfest stage some six years ago by mentor, Protoje. The artiste encouraged dreamers to stay the course, maintaining that with hard work and dedication dreams become reality. She made way for Protoje, who kept the momentum going with hits such as Like Royalty, Blood Money, Kingston Be Wise, and more.

“Singy Singy” Tarrus Riley brought the curtains down on Reggae Sumfest 2025 with an energetic set to liven up the crowd, who had been left somewhat underwhelmed by R&B singer Toni Braxton.

Having entered the stage about 3:00 am, Braxton served up songs such as He Wasn’t Man Enough, Breathe Again, Long As I Live, Another Sad Love Song, and How Could An Angel Break My Heart. She was visibly trying her best to connect with the local crowd, but audio issues only managed the opposite. After sorting the sound to a level, patrons were finally satisfied, and the R&B singer was able to settle with the crowd. Unfortunately, that happened near the end of her set. Still, she was able to show off her vocal supremacy with a touching rendition of Unbreak My Heart.

But the night belonged to our local acts as Tarrus Riley delivered tons of hits, including S he’s Royal, Good Girl Gone Bad, Superman, Gimme Likkle One Drop, Just The Way You Are, and more. Another festival highlight came when the singer brought his son and daughter centre stage to showcase their musical skills, proving the Riley gene for music runs deep. With daughter, Tsehai “Pepsi” Riley, providing vocals and son, Mekiem, on guitar, it was a family affair as the trio delivered a sweet rendition of Human Nature. His set ended as he invited Chester Miller and Terrence Wallen to deliver tributes to the late Gregory Isaacs and Dennis Brown. He also paid respects to his late father, Jimmy Riley, and Cocoa Tea.