Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer
Maxi Priest will be a part of bmobile Regge Sunsplash's 'British Invasion'. - WINSTON SILL/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
BOUNTY KILLER will be on 'Di Real Rock', bmobile Reggae Sunsplash's dancehall night on Thursday, August 3, 2006, but Beenie Man won't. Alpha Blondy will be the 'African Renaissance' of Friday's 'World Beat' night, where Brazil's Lions of Israel, Colombia's Alerta, Trinidad's Machel Montano, Cuba's Mey Vidal and Hispanic deejay Capital D will bring the world outside to join Luciano, Morgan Heritage, Sharon Tucker and Nadine Sutherland.
And Steel Pulse, UB40 and Maxi Priest will lead the 'British Invasion' of 'International Night' on Saturday, August 5, where they will be welcomed by Tanya Stephens, Diana King, Buju Banton, Beenie Man, Kamau and Alaine and Shinehead will bring his own invasion from the U.S.
MEDIA BREAKFAST
The official line-up was delivered at a media breakfast at the Hilton Kingston hotel in New Kingston, on Wednesday morning, Sunsplash's organisers reeling out the present of its expansive Priory, St. Ann, venue, as well as the past of its storied history on screen as details of the festival's renewal were discussed. "All of us have memories of Reggae Sunsplash," Howard McIntosh of the organising team said. "When you see Spragga without locks, the Don Gorgon when he was just coming, Nadine Sutherland when she was a little younger, it brings back memories," he said.
Freddie McGreggor, who was announced as Sunsplash's artiste ambassador, spoke to his personal memories of the festival, saying "Reggae Sunsplash is not just about the festival, the atmosphere, St. Ann ... it is about a part of Jamaica's heritage that Sunsplash has fought to maintain over the years. We bring tourist here and certainly the return of Sunsplash will bring tourists from all over the world again," he said.
DENNIS BROWN AN ICON
"We must always remember Dennis Brown was an important part of Reggae Sunsplash. We could look forward to him coming on when the sun was coming up. We call it the morning ride," McGreggor said, and there were hints of a special tribute to the Crown Prince of Reggae at the festival's 2006 staging.
'Di Real Rock' is the least costly of the three nights, at $1,500, Busy Signal, Lady Saw, Vybz Kartel, Ninja Man, Vegas, Wayne Marshall, I-Wayne, Chezideck, Hero, Twin of Twins Cobra, Movado, Ifrica and Tarrus Riley among those who will hit the stage. 'World Beat Night' costs $2,000 for entry and 'International Night' $2,500.
Poetry, dance and drumming will be a part of each night, Payne and Steppa providing the verse and Professional Moves the movement on the opening night. Dingo and I-Nubia are Friday night's poets, where Akwaaba will do the drumming and Professional Moves again to the dancing, as they will on the closing night. That Saturday, L'Acadco and Inn Motion will also do the moves, with Steppa stepping up again along with fellow poet Payne.
