Homecoming For Burning Spear: Singer To Perform On Jamaican Soil At Reggae Jam International In Trelawny
Reggae legend Burning Spear is set to make a historic return to the stage at the inaugural Jamaican staging of the Reggae Jam International Festival, set to take place from Friday, June 14 to Saturday, June 15, at the Reggae Park 420 in Friendship district in Wakefield, Trelawny.
The event will mark the Marcus Garvey singer’s first performance on Jamaican soil in more than a decade, following his decision to come out of retirement back in 2022. His last performance in Jamaican territory took place at sea aboard the Welcome To Jamrock Cruise in Montego Bay, in December 2022.
The Negril singer will be joined by a slew of his Jamaican compatriots, including Beenie Man, Busy Signal, Queen Ifrica, Sanchez, Tanya Stephens, and I-Octane, as well as Gramps Morgan, Etana, Turbulence, Leroy Sibbles, Lutan Fyah, Natty King, and Dwayne Stephenson, among others.
Burning Spear’s impending performance comes in the aftermath of his Grammy nomination for his 12-track No Destroyer album on his Burning Music Productions label on August 18, his first since his Grammy Award-winning Jah is Real in 2008.
The organisers of the festival have expressed excitement that Spear, one of the few original singers from the golden era of Reggae, is to return to his homeland to perform, describing it as a spectacle not-to-be-missed.
“After an incredible career and a well-deserved retirement, Burning Spear is making his highly-anticipated return to Jamaican soil after over a decade. 🙌 He’s bringing his iconic reggae vibes, powerful lyrics, and infectious energy back home to where it all began. This is a moment you do not want to miss,” the festival organizers noted on Instagram.
The Reggae Jam Festival, which is traditionally staged in Lower Saxony, Bersenbrück, Germany, has been a staple summer event since its inception in 1994.
Dubbed “Europe’s most authentic Reggae festival”, the event has consistently attracted fans from across Europe and other parts of the world, with a mixture of Jamaican and European Reggae acts performing.
The decision to bring the festival to Jamaica, the birthplace of reggae, has been met with widespread enthusiasm. The German Embassy in Jamaica and Jamaica’s Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport have both endorsed the event, as having the potential to strengthen cultural ties and showcase Jamaica’s rich musical heritage.
Burning Spear has been very booked and busy since he retired from live shows in 2022. His return saw him performing to sold out venues across the United States as part of his Fan Appreciation Tour before heading to Europe.
Last August, the two-time Grammy Award winner performed in the cities of Tel Aviv and Megiddo in Israel for the first time in 30 years. He also headlined the Reggae Jam festival in Bersenbrück, Germany, Belgium’s Reggae Geel and Backstage in Munich, Germany, among others.
The 79-year-old, who took his name from a military award given by Jomo Kenyatta, the first president of independent Kenya, began recording in 1969, penning songs about Marcus Garvey, repatriation, and the oppression of the black race.
Throughout his career, the six-time Grammy nominee has released more than 25 albums and won the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album twice, for Calling Rastafari in 2000 and Jah Is Real in 2009.
In 2007, he received the Order of Distinction from the Jamaican Government for his contributions to the music industry. According to his biography, his music career began after a “fateful encounter” with fellow St. Ann native Bob Marley, who directed him to Studio One, where he recorded his first two albums, Burning Spear and Rocking Time.
Burning Spear achieved breakthrough success with his classic album Marcus Garvey, which was released by Island Records. His other notable albums include Dry and Heavy (1977) and Social Living (1978), along with several live albums resulting from his extensive touring.