-Photos by Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
Dining Reggae Sunsplash style.

Tanya Batson-Savage, Freelance Writer

The trouble with reviving something from the dead is that when you bring it back you have to be sure that what you return with still has its soul intact. Otherwise, it is simply a blood-sucking version of its former self. As such, with the return of Reggae Sunsplash, The Sunday Gleaner explored whether what returned was actually Sunsplash or some-thing pretending to be it.

Reggae Sunsplash emerged in 1978 and continued as the premier reggae (and at first the only) reggae festival in the world. However, in 1997 it spasmed, heaved one last gasp of breath and died. Eight years later it has returned with a line-up that seemed intent upon proving that it was back for the long haul.

Enhanced Sunsplash

"What we will be presenting is not a new festival; an enhanced Reggae Sunsplash, a model that will provide a great experience for another few decades," said Charles Campbell, director of Operations, in a news release.

The new venue is a part of that new formula. The festival is now housed at Richmond Estate, a 200 acre property in Priory, St. Ann, and now boasts two stages, one by the sea, dubbed the amphitheatre (the smaller of the two), and a main stage. The two stages are to offset what has been one of the biggest problem areas of the festival in the past, the band changes.

Great effect

The use of the dual stages worked to great effect. Yet, the walk between the two soon proved to be more than some patrons had bargained for, though they dutifully continued the trek between the stages. Some merely stayed by the main stage and yelled their responses at the surrounding screens showing what was happening at the amphitheatre.

The new venue also came with parking that could supposedly comfortably house 20,000 vehicles, though those who desired secured parking would have to top up their $3,000 entry fee by an additional $300.

However, the soul of the festival can only be housed in the venue and, for many, it was the real thing that returned. Some audience members viewed the soul of the festival as the audience and the performers and argue that as long as the festival is able to keep both, then it remains true to itself.

Soul of the festival

Some believe that soul of the festival lies in reggae beds on wet grass. Of course, with numerous patrons arriving with sports/beach chairs and beach mats in tow, the conventional reggae bed was not as visible.

Some patrons argued that as long as Sunsplash stays true to having a reggae format then it remains Sunsplash, while others argued that although they expect to be at the festival until morning, they do not expect to be awaiting four additional performances at 6:00 am.

In his hosting duties of the amphitheatre Mutabaruka noted that it seemed to be a more "sanitised" version of the festival. Much later, Buju Banton would welcome the festival's return but argued against any attempts to "keep knowledge from the people" through censorship. Banton's statement is particularly intriguing as the festival's title sponsor is bMobile.