It takes a bit over a month to transform the city center into the impressive festival grounds that it becomes for ten straight days. 2023 is an important highlight year marking the festival’s 55th anniversary. People flock from across the province for their chosen combination of days to see their favourite artists. The city is jam-packed with visitors strolling the streets in excitement.

Some terrible weather has taken control a few times and the outdoor events had to be canceled for safety reasons but this year, for the first time in a long time, Plains of Abraham was at complete capacity on the closing Friday weekend. This crowd was there from the opening hours but what brought this wide demographic range together, however, is the one and only Pitbull. Having watched this set through to the end I can say with certainty that Pitbull has found his audience in Québec.

Our team, however, traveled to FEQ to see a selection of primarily electronic artists. Wednesday the 13th was known as the EDM day and EDM we got. Australian twin sister DJ duo Nervo set the mood for the day with their afternoon performance. Having played some of the best clubs in Ibiza, Miami, New York, and London Miriam and Olivia Nervo know how to get that party going. Chopping away at their long list of club’s hottest remixes Nervo brought us vibes on vibes with tracks like Oliver Tree’s “Miss You,” their own take on  4 Non Blondes “What’s Up,” and of course “Squid Game & Do It To It”.

Being the largest stage Bell stage had all the perks and party tricks: fire, smoke, confetti, and even fireworks. Each performer was given an opportunity to choreograph their pyro works but the festival team was always there to pump things up. A set of four screens on each side allowed everyone in this massive park to get a closeup of the touring stars, see them sing, sweat, and dance.

As the EDM night went on we got to see Gryffin and Illenium both of whom turned things up a notch or four. Since his hit debut single “Heading Home” (featuring vocals by Josef Salvat) Gryffin (aka Daniel Griffith) has been releasing banger after banger battling for prime spots on music charts with the world’s best. His FEQ set got pretty heavy setting the perfect stage for GRAMMY® Award nominated Illenium (real name Nicholas Daniel Miller). Illenium’s wild mix of electronic, mellow alternative, dubstep, indie, and pop-tinged bass music was a great fit to close out this day. Fireworks and all.

DJ Bembona (Xiomara Marie Henry), who played the late-night set at the FEQ Extras (basically a club night) was a breath of fresh air with her mix of Afro-Latin-electronic. Born into a musical household with Puerto Rican and Panamanian roots Bembona brought the roof down on this tired yet excited crowd. Set in a large club in the center of the stage Bembona played an engaging and occasionally dramatic set (think piano keys) causing waves of singalongs through the room.

The Latin theme continued with Isabella Lovestory late Friday afternoon. Lovestory is a Honduran pop and reggaeton singer based in Montréal so her fanbase at the festival was thick through the park singing along and shouting in excitement. Isabella has a fun and playful vibe embracing, no, showcasing her femininity for the camera and the crowd.

Jamaica’s Koffee also took the stage on Friday evening. Joined by a full band and two backup dancers Koffee took Québec on a quick little journey to her home and through her life, cinematic visuals playing out in the background. It seemed like Koffee was having issues with her earpiece or her mic, her vocals cutting out occasionally, but she pushed through the set with her usual enthusiasm. Koffee managed to get through an impressive number of tracks, each song, however, was a little short.

Brittney Denise Parks, better known by her stage name Sudan Archives, might have been the biggest surprise for the Québécois. Sudan played an evening set at the Hydro-Québec Stage (by Parliament Hill) to a generous crowd of curious passersby and a pit of dedicated fans. Sudan was dressed like a warrior princess with her violin bows tucked into a leather case strapped to her back. On occasion, as she took her bow out the sounds would cut like a samurai’s sword. Sudan’s shows are always engaging and this was no exception. She chatted up the concertgoers, played games with them, shared her most intimate thoughts through her songs, and a few times straight-up shouted into the void of the universe. Here for it, please continue.

With that, and a Lana Del Rey performance the night after (which we were sad to miss) FEQ’s 55th edition came to an end. Soon enough they will begin planning for 2024 and we cannot wait to see what the FEQ team comes up with.

The post Highlights from FEQ 55th anniversary edition appeared first on Quip Magazine.

The executive producer of Reggae Sumfest, Joe Bogdanovich of DownSound Entertainment, pointed out that this year was the most challenging they’ve ever done in a conversation with Jamaica Observer, “but with the kind of support we got from the Diaspora and everyone, it’s a sell-out show… I mean we sold everything out. That is amazing, considering that we are still in the throes of a pandemic”. Having been there firsthand I can attest to the grand and amazing scale of the event and especially to the energy that the attendees carried throughout the night and all the way into the following morning. On that note, let’s talk about a few standout performances.

Spice getting crowned as the Queen Of Dancehall

Let’s be honest, Spice has been a queen for a while. Her performances are memorable, powerful, political, and entertaining. Each time she steps on stage there is anticipation and conversation because with each performance she will raise an issue needing attention – this year, she touched on politics, power, and poverty. Spice is a woman on a mission to teach other women how to take their power back and today she tackled a photographer for stepping out of line. Dressed in Nasa one-pieces she and the dancers held the stage strong from the start, eventually performing a full costume change in front of the audience. Miss Kitty joined Spice on stage promptly at the end, showering her with compliments: “you are an inspiration, you are a motivation,” Miss Kitty continued, “We are here to crown you tonight, on behalf of Reggae Sumfest as the Queen of Dancehall”. “We love you to the moon and back,” said Miss Kitty as Joe Bogdanovich rested the shining crown on Spice’s head. What a wonderful moment in history.

Shenseea’s gratefulness and greatness

Dressed in an impeccable green bedazzled bodysuit Shenseea came to leave a mark on the Sumfest stage and that she did. Her set was definitely a well-anticipated one and that excitement was evident by the deafening cheers that greeted her upon entry. Shenseea, accompanied by a full band and backup singers, performed songs like “Upset,” “Dolly,” and “ShenYeng Anthem” and also brought out a handful of guests on stage. Her spotlight included the likes of rising Dancehall star 1Biggs Don, a range of dancers, and the three men who supported her career: Romeich her dress-maker, Black Boi her DJ, and producer Slyda, all of whom she gifted Rolex watches earlier this year. For the closeout performance, Shenseea was joined on stage by her son Rajeiro for “Lighter” (originally performed with Tarrus Riley) – a powerful way to end this memorable set.

Koffee, all grown up and maybe in love

Jamaica’s darling Koffee is currently on her North American tour but came home to return to the Sumfest stage for her second festival performance. It’s been two long years since we saw her on this stage and a lot has changed. Over this time Koffee took her well-deserved spot on the global scene, brought home a Grammy, and grew into a confident stage performer. When she stepped out on the Sumfest stage this year Koffee was comfortable, no longer frantically pacing, calmly chatting with the crowd and embracing her support chore. The showcase started with a  mesmerizing chore dance all of whom were adorned in white robes with silk in their hands, gently flowing. From the start, we got to hear Koffee’s most famous songs like “Rapture,” “Raggamuffin,” and “Toast”. But then she took a bit of a turn: “This section of my performance is for all the lovers” she shared and proceeded to perform a handful of ballads for the Sumfest crowd. Songs like “Shine” and “X10” left us wondering if perhaps Koffee is in love.

Christopher Martin performing for the lovers ladies

Cheers erupted as soon as Christopher Martin stepped out on stage, dressed in a tailored green suit over a silky black dress shirt with matching sunglasses (naturally, many of these layers were shed throughout the performance). Supported by a live band Martin’s voice took the front stage, especially during the a capella moments. Speaking mostly to the ladies and occasionally adding in social commentary between tracks Chris Martin danced his way through Sumfest with tracks like “I’m a Big Deal,” “Paper Loving,” and “Under the Influence”. The festival attendees also got the first listen of Martin’s newest single “Guaranteed”. Closer to the end he was joined on stage by a chore which, dressed in a white robe, he stepped up to conduct for “Take My Wings”.

Masicka performing in the morning sun

Hailing from the “Sin City” neighborhood in Portmore (St Catherine) Jamaican dancehall artist Masicka was new to this headlining stage but held his head high, shoulder to shoulder with the veterans and masters. Dressed in a denim suit dotted with stars Masicka took the stage confidently and even declared himself “Dancehall’s baddest” halfway through the set.  While his many collaborations, like “Infrared” with Vybz Kartel and “Pain” with Popcaan did really well with the fans Masicka’s top track this morning was his solo single “Update”. For this showcase, the guest appearances continued with Stefflon Don who joined Masicka for “Moments”.

Laa Lee and his amazing dance kicks moves

Dancehall artist (and dancer) Laa Lee sprinted out on stage like a man on a mission to the sounds of “Jackie Chan” – a song that naturally lends itself well to karate moves which became an ongoing theme for this showcase. On the second track, Laa Lee frantically took off his shoes and continued to dance (and kick) around the stage in white socks. This performance also included a handful of guests, from a young boy dancer to a whole crew of performers and even his mother who delivered the choreography for the “Dirt Bounce” and “Do the Bird”.

Shaneil Muir is here for the people

This was “Top Gyal” Shaneil Muir’s first time performing at Sumfest, MoBay is also her hometown so this was a dream come true. Shaneil introduced each song to the audience and maintained a classy demander throughout out her entire performance. Muir opened with “Top Gyal” followed by “Blessings” and then peppered in the audience favourites like “3D” and “Hype And Boasy”. With her was a small group of backup dancers with whom she conversed throughout the show setting up songs like “Justice” for which the ladies held up “Justice for women” signs. It was a powerful and anthemic performance that reassured the reggae world that Shaneil Muir is here to stay.

Ding Dong’s theatre of guests and dancers

Ding Dong strolled out on stage with an entire team, both dancers and singers alike. It was an elaborate showcase with choreographed dances and even props. Ding Dong set out to “utilize and showcase dancers in the right way,” he told Reggaeville. In that same interview, he also shared that the dancers were mostly discovered through social media which felt like a really nice way to give talent a boost, something most artists try to do when the Sumfest opportunity is given. Between performing songs like “Happiness,” “Bad Man Forward,” and “BOUNCE” Ding Dong would occasionally join the people in the pit and even pulled up a few fans on stage for a quick spotlight (induing a local “uptown billionaire” Gary).

The post Spotlight performances from Jamaica’s Reggae Sumfest appeared first on Quip Magazine.

One of the biggest Reggae music festivals in the world, Reggae Sumfest, takes place over a week full of events in Montego Bay, Jamaica.  The first evening for most of us arriving mid-week was Bunji Garlin’s Birthday Celebration, Bunji was in attendance, cake and all. The following evening Global Sound Clash came through fast and furious with bangs and horns. But the main celebrations for the week are two nights of full festival showcases featuring the world’s best established and up-and-coming reggae and dancehall talent.

At this time of year, all roads lead to Catherine Hall, the traffic is ridiculous and people spend on average over an hour inching into the festival grounds. But once you enter, the love that vibrates throughout the park is unmatched. After all, this is the land of one love and the home of reggae.

The festival grounds have a pocket kind of set up: stage at the top, trimmed by a VIP area, party crowd in the middle, various vendors, and sponsor booths wrapping it around the edges. Getting from one side to the other is a mission so most people find a comfortable spot and post up there for a few hours. From the back of the park, sitting on the Island Strains balcony the view is astonishing: thousands of people, tightly packed, spread out as far as the eye can see.

The lineup was a treat in many ways. Many performers bring out up-and-coming talent to give them a chance at the stardom. This year the biggest surprise was from Romain Virgo, but more on that later.

The first standout set on Saturday night was Agent Sasco, a.k.a. Assassin. Over his 18-odd years of music making Sasco has built a loyal following of fans in Jamaica. Here, people truly know him for who he is and not just as a collaborator of Kanye West and Kendrick Lamar. As one of the most recognizable and respected voices in dancehall today, with two strong albums released within the last 3 years (Hope River and Theory of Reggaetivity) Assassin gathered quite a crowd. Throughout his set, Sasco was dancing, covering his face to match the dramatic notes of the lyrics, telling stories, and inviting the audience to participate. Backed up by two singers and a five-piece band, picking out tracks from across his repertoire, Sasko illustrated his full musical diversity. As a true gentleman, he naturally sang “Slow Down” as that one special track for the ladies.

One of the most anticipated sets for the weekend was a collaboration between Beenie Man and Bounty Killer. The two dancehall legends have been on competing paths since their first clash in 1993. Over the years this rivalry in “some cases saw a polarization of the dancehall,” pointed out Urban Islandz. But with a few social media announcements pre-Sumfest the excitement for this reunion caused quite a stir. The two artists came together on the Sumfest Stage for a joint performance and it was one for the books. Beenie Man and Bounty Killer went back and forth, riffing off of each other, giving one another room to highlight their own songs, and even bringing out Aisha Davis on stage to do a few pop covers together. The two legends, in applause-worthy stage attire, accompanied by Aisha in her bright pink catsuit, made people sing, laugh, and take a trip down memory lane. After a bit of No Doubt and a few lines of “I’m drinking Rum & Red Bull” Beenie Man mischievously, and quite literally, ran Bounty Killer off stage.

Mikayla Simpson, better known as Koffee, was a late but welcome addition to the festival lineup. Born in Spanish Town, just outside of Kingston, Jamaica, Koffee is a product of a single-parent household on a mission to “genuinely make the world a better place.” Over the last couple of years, since a school talent show, Mikayla caught a lot of attention from the likes of Coco Tea, Protoje, and Chronixx, who all brought her out on stage on various occasions. Her first original tracks “Burning,” “Raggamuffin”, and “Toast” skyrocketed Koffee to the high tops of the music industry and even to Jimmy Kimmel Live! stage. Miss Kitty, a local celebrity radio talk show host and emcee, introduced Koffee as a “young woman no one thought would gain such heights”. Small but mighty, packed with rhythm and vocal power Koffee stormed the Sumfest stage like a tornado. Mikayla quickly paced from left to right as she worked her way through Rapture EP, backed by two singers in matching outfits. As she ran out of songs Koffee promptly left the stage while we were all left wishing for more.

But the show must go on. The stage crew was hard at work swapping equipment while Miss Kitty laboriously worked on entertaining the crowd during the delay. The sun was starting to show and the anticipation was beginning to heat up the crowd who were anxiously waiting for Chronixx. The band entered the stage beginning to play the first notes of “Jah is There”. Chronixx, nowhere to be seen began to sing the song. A group of people with video cameras were gathered on the side of the stage as Chronixx continued to sing a good third of the song in the shadow of the backstage. As he slowly entered the stage the crowd went wild.

“This is rasta music,” Chronixx declared. Born Jamar McNaughton in Spanish Town Chronixx is an ambassador for the reggae genre, and rasta culture, and had a big influence on the reggae revival over the few recent years. During “Spanish Town rockin’ ” – which everyone was singing along to – the video in the background showed the simple life in the neighbourhood, innocent and welcoming, a great segue into the rest of his set. In the meanwhile, the crowd in the photo/VIP pit redirected their attention to Koffee who made her way out to the front of the stage to watch her idol perform. Over the next hour Jamar, subtly and in a relaxed attitude, played a variety of songs from Dread & Terrible and the newer album Chronology. A few of the tracks naturally involved special guests: his father Chronicle for “Big Bad Sound” and his “brother from Nigeria” Mr Eazi for “She Loves Me”.

Surveying the crowd it was obvious Chronixx has changed a bit over the years. His performance was a little bit more controlled and subdued but the passion and emotion were all there, so much so, there was enough of it to go around for everyone in the park. And this was just night one! The following night, into another sunrise, we saw performances by Beres Hammond, Jah9, Christoper Martin, Proteje, Romain Virgo, and of course, Buju Banton. Check out our Saturday night post for more.

The post Reggae Sumfest Friday: from Beenie Man and Bounty Killer to Chronixx with a splash of Koffee appeared first on Quip Magazine.