There’s one thing about dancing and singing to my favourite reggae anthems in a crowd of well-dressed West Indian folks that may all the time make me comfortable. The air horns — the “busting of blanks.” It’s the most effective sort of euphoria. That feeling was on 10 on the Marley household’s ninth annual Welcome to JAMROCK Reggae Cruise, a visit that, by some means, was much more enjoyable than I believed it’d be. Severely: Think about being on the West Indian Day Parade day-after-day for an entire week. Sounds enjoyable sufficient, proper? Then, attempt to image watching Bounty Killa carry out whereas Julian Marley’s busting blanks and dancing with mates a couple of steps away. After which, by some means, it nonetheless will get even higher: Just about no children.
Certainly, that was my expertise at Welcome to JAMROCK which performed out like a tidier model of these particular days on the Parkway in September. Naturally, it begins with the music. The live performance lineup was a constellation of reggae royalty, with artists like Damian & Julian Marley, Bounty Killa, Masicka, Mr. Vegas, Luciano and Marcia Griffiths coloring the style’s wealthy tapestry of sound. Simply as particular was the interactivity of all of it.
Dong & Massicka hit the stage. We received to do the electrical slide WITH MARCIA GRIFFITHS (!). Tony Matterhorn killed the soundclash in one of the simplest ways doable whereas making tremendous progressive utilization of an AI Donald Trump dubplate. Bounty Killa got here out and carried out each track I hoped for. It was lit, to say the very least.
Every day was loaded with programming, beginning as early as 6 a.m. with the Nyahbinghi drumming session, dominos tournaments, soccer video games and kinetic DJ units all through the ship’s public areas from DJ Madout, Seani B, Stone Love and a number of different icons. The performances kicked off round 3 p.m. day-after-day, with a brief intermission, after which the ship would flip up once more from 8 p.m. to five a.m. From the Caribbean dishes served day and evening, to the fixed pulse of infectious reggae and ska being performed, I all the time felt entertained and cozy. It was principally if, “Get together Shot” was a cruise ship. It was additionally utter cultural immersion.
Sure, the cruise was enjoyable for all the explanations you’d count on — the drinks, the music, all that. However on a extra poetic stage, it was, dare I say, healthful AF. It was us coming collectively to share our love for reggae music. The environment was magnetic and relaxed, stuffed with laughter, air horns, good vibes. It was actual neighborhood. The primary 4 days had dressing themes and it was actually cool to see everybody step out every evening dressed down. On the rep your flag evening, I used to be impressed by the various flags and international locations being represented within the crowd. We actually confirmed out.
The Marleys and Royal Caribbean might have half-assed it; drinks and reggae and dancing are just about all the time assured to make anybody comfortable. Whereas gracefully navigating their roles as hosts, it was clear that, for the Marleys, this was private — in one of the simplest ways doable. I noticed their interactions with followers and their real enjoyment of the festivities. It was all simply… particular. And as enjoyable because the exhibits themselves have been, the pageant was made simply as a lot by the massive spectacles because the trivia of the little issues.
Naturally, there was a dominos match; think about waking up from an evening on the membership to see the older heads at a souped-up model of these Sunday morning sidewalk contests. Had some idle time? Effectively, fortunately for me, the cruise was streaming Shottas, Third World Cop and Cool Runnings. Each. Single. Day. No, it didn’t get previous. It was all rejuvenating and galvanizing. I used to be in paradise. Lowkey, I used to be at house.
