Wickie Wackie Music Festival 2025
For the second year in a row, there was palatable excitement both within Jamaica and outside the country’s borders about
<All photos by Jik Reuben>
For the second year in a row, there was palatable excitement both within Jamaica and outside the country’s borders about a gathering that has steadily been capturing the hearts and minds of all lovers of the prospect of good soundsystems, stage shows and moonlit beaches all wrapped up in one neat weekend package.
Wickie Wackie Beach, maybe 20 to 25 minutes away from the heart of Kingston, has become the easily accessed, currently undisturbed, beach front property that most local promoters select if they are looking for a location that has the size, the ambiance and of course the acoustics to host events that will live long in the memory of all attendees. The location is extra special as a venue as it is on the same stretch of beach further down from Jamnesia – the beach side surf club/entertainment space that help to launch the career of many acts such as Protoje, Jessse Royal, Chronixx and Raging Fire. Such was the impact of the space, Raging Fire’s former lead singer Kumar took it upon himself to initiate the formation of Wickie Wackie Festival to help promote that transient, but under-served, stretch from Bull Bay, St Andrew leading into the parish of St. Thomas among other pressing initiatives for that community.
This year’s iteration was held on the 14th and 15th of February, right smack dab in the middle of Reggae Month in Jamaica. And had special themed nights “For the Love of Sound” on the 14th and “Spotlight Sessions” on the 15th. “For the Love of Sound” had resident disc jockey and sound system operator Uncle Ronnie from the 8 Miles Sound playing alongside an assortment of guests from Kingston Dub Club’s very own Gabre Selassie and Satta Sound from the United States of America to Germany’s very own Silly Walks Disco, Supersonic Sound and Soundquake Sound. As for the “Spotlight Sessions”, the draws of the night were the venerable Max Romeo (featuring his children Azizzi and daughter Xana) and the legendary Third World. Kumar himself took to the stage with Khalia, Ras-I, Kelly Shane, Protoje and Jesse Royal coming with the requisite support on the night. One can see the vision of this event building a local and international fanbase that will always turn out en masse once the soothing sounds from the waves of Wickie Wackie beach calls.
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