Reggae Sumfest 2024
It is amazing to think how long we have been gifted access to this annual event. It is almost twenty years now since our first coverage of the event highlighted
All photos by Gladstone Taylor
It is amazing to think how long we have been gifted access to this annual event. It is almost twenty years now since our first coverage of the event highlighted by an interview with Akon (https://backayard.com/editorial/sumfest-by-jik-reuben/, https://backayard.com/editorial/sumfest-by-warren-mckane/ and https://backayard.com/editorial/sumfest-by-caos/) and this year’s edition. Within that stretch, Reggae Sumfest has undergone many structural and organizational changes including even changes in ownership however what hasn’t changed is the level of excitement the entire country experiences once announcements on who were selected to perform are made.
Sumfest 2024 was no different, because as the word got out that legendary producer, songwriter and singer Babyface was scheduled to make an appearance on the familiar Catherine Hall grounds, the excitement for this particular staging seemingly doubled. Normally, on our part, there would be weeks and weeks of logistics to sort out accommodations, whether it be with family, friends or paid arrangements, and travel itineraries. Luckily, Knutsford Express was once again the official transportation provider for Reggae Sumfest 2024 and thus the decision was made to utilize this shuttle service option to and from Knutsford Kingston depot directly to the venue and back. The ease of this service for both nights made the festival simply a breeze to cover for our team.
As performances go, Reggae Sumfest 2024 will be remembered for an almost spiritual performance by Lauryn Hill. Known and especially lauded for her award winning work with hip hop super group The Fugees and solo exploits, Lauryn is now taking the role of supporting act for her son YG Marley – who was invited to perform his smash hit “Praise Jah In The Moonlight” among his other releases. Lauryn Hill took over the set and began throwing back to her more famous tracks from Fugees ‘The Score’ and ‘The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill’ and by the end had the thousands in attendance singing word for word. Other performers like Dexta Daps, Munga Honourable, Teejay, Aidonia, Govana, 450 and Ding Dong controlled the first night.
As for the second night, unfortunately policy changes on the night dictated the level of coverage we were allowed to gather. Despite that we got fantastic stills of Nigy Boy, Sevana, Ras I and Beres Hammond – a few of which we share with you below.
As for Babyface, he put on a nostalgia filled trip down memory lane. From the mid to late ’80s when he got his start with the group The Deele co-writing and providing the lead vocals on the hit song “Two Occasions” to the ’90s when he was writing and producing for the likes of Whitney Houston “I’m Your Baby Tonight” and “Miracle”, Toni Braxton “Love Shoulda Brought You Home” and ‘Another Sad Love Song”, TLC “Baby-Baby-Baby” and “Digging On You”, Boys II Men “End of The Road”, “Water Run Dry” and many more. Babyface was running a masterclass in crowd call and response. Unfortunately, we were not allowed to show any bit of Babyface’s performance but believe me when I say lovers of R & B should make the special effort to see the man, and his movement live.
Reggae Sumfest is on a roll right now and in terms of Jamaican concert productions it is the some of the best on offer. All fans of Jamaican music should always make plans to attend this particular late July concert series.
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