Seven months ago, Tony Rebel announced the postponement of Rebel Salute in South Florida, citing the threat of unstable weather. The rescheduled show takes place April 19 at Miramar Regional Park with a much more favourable forecast.

Maxi Priest, Mykal Rose, Louie Culture, LUST and Chalice are the main acts for Rebel Salute’s South Florida debut.

“The expectation for Sunday is sunshine and bliss. People will come out to the park and we all have a magical moment,” Tony Rebel told Observer Online.

He added that there is no anxiety as the big day approaches.

“We substitute jitters with hard work, trying to have the I’s dotted and the T’s crossed. This means a lot for Rebel Salute because it shows how much we stayed in Jamaica and catered to the world with good vibes.”

The eight-hour show is scheduled to start at 2 pm. It takes place at an expansive venue that hosts the annual Grace Jamaica Jerk Festival, which attracts a large audience.

Miramar is one of many cities in South Florida with a large Jamaican population. Its mayor, Wayne Messam, was born in Florida to Jamaican parents, while most of its commissioners were born in Jamaica.

Rebel Salute Miramar was initially set for April last year but promoters rescheduled for September.

First held on January 15 (Tony Rebel’s birthday) 1994, Rebel Salute debuted at Fayor’s Entertainment Complex in Mandeville, with Garnet Silk as headliner. It moved to Port Kaiser Sports Club in St Elizabeth six years later before relocating to Plantation Cove, St Ann in 2013.

The 2026 show in St Ann was cancelled. Organisers pointed to the devastating impact of Hurricane Melissa in October last year, as the reason for the cancellation.

Howard Campbell