Kumar Bent and The Original Fyah play Sierra Fest
Kumar Bent and The Original Fyah continue their live show trek of the US this weekend by appearing at the Sierra Nevada World Music Festival in Booneville, California.
The band is scheduled to perform June 16, the opening day of the June 16-18 event.
It will be their second time on the show which returns after a five-year absence.
“It’s just a great feeling to be back on this festival. We did it in 2014 and had a blast; nine years later, we are just happy to be in the line-up,” said Bent, the quintet’s lead singer.
Since the start of 2023, Kumar Bent and The Original Fyah have performed at Oz Fest in Sarasota, Florida, in February, the Austin Reggae Festival in April and Red Rocks, Colorado, also in April.
In July, they are scheduled to play the Nice Festival in Norwalk, Connecticut.
“It’s very important for us to play outside of Jamaica because it shows us how far and wide our vibrations can be felt and appreciated,” said Bent.
Original members, Delroy Hamilton (bass), Demar Gayle (keyboards), and drummer Anthony Watson formed as Inside Out over 20 years ago at Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts in St Andrew. In 2006, Bent joined the band, now known as Raging Fyah, which has released four albums to date.
Their album, Everlasting, was nominated for the 2017 Best Reggae Album Grammy Award.
Founded by American Warren Smith, the Sierra Nevada World Music Festival was first held in 1994 and became one of reggae’s calendar events in the US.
This year’s show also features Burning Spear, Beres Hammond, Tarrus Riley, Kabaka Pyramid, Derrick Morgan, Luciano, and the Soul Syndicate Band.