By Coretta Joe
The Legends of Reggae show, held last night at the National Botanical Gardens, kicked off the annual Barbados Reggae Weekend in fine style. However, mere hours before showtime, fans and promoters were left disappointed by the announcement that dancehall veteran Super Cat would not attend due to illness. Despite the setback, the show went on, and the remaining acts delivered solid performances that set a lively tone for the weekend of festivities.
While there was a slow buildup early in the night, by mid-show, both the general admission area and the VIP lounge were filled to capacity. Attendees, young and young at heart, showed up in classy, elegant ensembles that perfectly complemented the vintage theme.
The evening began promptly at 9:30 p.m. with a set from Wendy Alleyne and Friends. Local legends Desmond Weekes and Mike Grovesnor had the honour of opening the show, treating the growing crowd to beloved favourites like Get Up and Drink Milk, respectively.
Clad elegantly in blue, Barbados’ Queen of Song, demonstrated that her vocal prowess remains exceptional belting out classics such as Midnight Blue, Have a Thing About You, and Stand By Love. The latter was a particular hit with the crowd, as Alleyne cheekily remixed some lyrics to “I’m not going to be your ESC” — later explaining to the audience that ESC stood for “executive side chick” — much to their amusement.
She closed her set with the CeCe Winans gospel ballad Goodness of God, visibly moved to tears as she thanked the crowd for their love and support.
Just after 11 p.m., renowned reggae and gospel artist Carlene Davis graced the Legends stage, taking the audience on a musical journey that seamlessly wove her reggae roots with her gospel anthems. Hits like Dial My Number and Stealing Love blended effortlessly with gospel selections such as It Must Be Love.
At 11:41 p.m., the atmosphere shifted noticeably when host Daddy Fabian announced the arrival of Glen Washington. A hush fell over the venue, the lights dimmed, and a wave of anticipation swept the crowd as they moved closer to the stage.
Washington, dapper in a black suit adorned with shimmering sequins, delivered a performance that can only be described as magical. His silky vocals carried the audience through hit after hit — Rise and Shine, Strangers in the Night, I Love You Too Much, If Loving You Is Wrong, Number One Girl, and One of These Days — with the crowd hanging onto every word.
Just when it seemed Glen Washington would be impossible to top, Courtney Melody burst onto the stage, bringing pure “skanking” energy. His electrifying footwork and 80s and 90s dance moves sent the crowd into a frenzy. With classics like Ninja Mi Ninja, Dangerous, Key to Your Heart, and the fan-favourite Modern Girl, his set was a sweet nod to dancehall’s golden era.
Of all the DJ interludes, Jerry Dan stole the spotlight. Starting with conscious reggae tunes, he later “flattened” the venue with a slew of Super Cat selections. Though Super Cat’s absence was keenly felt — with patrons bawling for “more Super Cat” — Jerry Dan’s selections, including Don Dada, Ghetto Red Hot, and Old Veteran, served as a balm for disappointed fans.
Closing out the live performances, Wayne Wonder had big shoes to fill. Despite a few technical sound issues, he rose to the occasion. Looking and sounding as fresh as he did 30 years ago, Wonder showcased his vocal range and versatility.
The first half of his set leaned into his reggae catalogue, with crowd favourites like Saddest Day and Bonafide Love. But Wayne Wonder was far from a solo act — his hype man, female guitarist, and backup singer added flair and energy to the stage.
He later announced it was “bruk out” time, getting into dancehall hits like Dem Searching, Joy Ride, and Live and Learn, before closing out his set with his platinum-certified anthem No Letting Go — a fitting end to the night of Legends.
Lil Rick wrapped up the event with an entertaining DJ set, setting an “after-party” vibe for patrons who still wanted more vintage vibes.
Feedback from patrons was mixed, largely due to Super Cat’s absence. Sharon, an attendee, shared with Barbados TODAY: “For me, it had its moments. I actually came for Super Cat, and hearing he wasn’t here, I was a bit disappointed, but I thought Jerry Dan played very well, so I did enjoy that segment. I’d give it a six out of ten.”
Meanwhile, a couple who preferred to remain anonymous said they attended just to see Wayne Wonder: “He was fantastic,” they declared, adding that Super Cat’s absence didn’t dampen their experience.
Another patron, Maria, summed up her experience by saying, “It started slow, then you got into the more exciting parts,” giving the show a solid eight out of ten.
The action continues tonight with the dancehall-themed Showdown, and the Barbados Reggae Weekend will climax on Sunday with Reggae in the Gardens, a family-friendly event featuring big-name acts such as Beenie Man, Shabba Ranks, Maxi Priest and viral sensation Moliy.
