It was a landmark for Jamaican culture and Toronto’s reggae scene last Saturday night as a packed Sound Academy celebrated 50 years of JA independence at the first ever CanJam festival. The night consisted of live performances of some of the biggest names in conscious reggae such as Freddie McGregor, Anthony B, Etana and Khago, a fashion show, drinks, laughs and a delicious Caribbean meal provided by The Art Of Catering.
G98.7 FM’s Jemeni, who helped sponsor the event, kicked off the night by introducing the Canadian beauty Belinda Brady, who shimmered in a coloured sequin top, belting her vocals to the venue, which began to fill up quickly.
Hosts Terri Salmon and Jay Martin won over the crowd’s hearts with their comedic personalities. Salmon sported a silk dress in Jamaican colours and told jokes in her booming voice, and Martin came onstage sporting a dread wig, which had the guests roaring with laughter, before he led the crowd in singing the Jamaican national anthem.
In between sets, DJ DOC spun the hottest reggae tunes as the crowd danced and sang along. It was a liberating and peaceful vibe, which was comforting to the crowd given the recent wave of violence that has taken place in the city this summer.
Iley Dread and Leroy Gibbons, who were both dressed in all white, hit the stage to perform their tracks, as the crowd continued to celebrate and dance non-stop. Etana sang a soulful set, performing her tracks like “People Talk” and “I Am Not Afraid”, which the Sound Academy crowd sang along with. Khago, came out with a contagious energy, jumping up and down to his hit “Nah Sell Out” in a denim outfit, and a red bandana around his locks. The guests did not want his set to end as they screamed, “more Khago,” as he left the stage.
The energy of the night was at a full-time high by the point Anthony B, the reggae revolutionary, began to sing “Redemption Song”, before entering the stage, dancing around to songs such as “Raid The Barn”, “Free Up The General” and “Police”.
The headlining legend, Freddie McGregor suavely sang his reggae hits such as “I Was Born A Winner” and “Sweet Lady” to the crowd and who danced into the early morning. He brought it back to the old school drum and bass reggae.
Puggysimeon, from CHRY 105.5 FM says that the celebration of Jamaican culture in Canada is a positive thing and should continue to be celebrated throughout the world. He said that the conscious reggae and artists such as Anthony B, Etana and Freddie McGregor could spread positive vibes and directly impact communities. “When the music is conscious, it’s a different thing within the society. We’re talking in Bob Marley’s time, there was more of a balance in the society. There wasn’t so much violence,” he says. “Music affects what happens in society.”
Before the night wrapped up, hosts Salmon and Martin thanked the audience for a peaceful, celebratory night, and announced that the CanJam Festival will be an annual event.
