The venue, Farley Hill National park is a heritage site which houses historical ruins and provided the perfect backdrop to showcase the popular festival.

Theo Chambers, Publisher, Sharon Parris-Chambers, Editor-in-Chief and Mechele Forde, Correspondent arrived at Farley Hill as part of  a pilgrimage of music lovers to mingle with the who’s who in the reggae music industry. 

Top international artists including Capleton, Sizzla, Coco Tea, Tanya Stephens, Jah Cure and Pressure performed for adoring fans.

Pressure, a USVI St. Thomas native performed hits from his new album (Love & Affection; Don Corleon Records, 2007), Remaining consistent in making hit tunes for his core culture reggae fans, Pressure also brings a sweet romantic flavor to the genre, with the international breakout track "Love and Affection," which has taken the airwaves by storm and continues to garner regular radio play even a year since its release. Fans can look forward to upcoming tours of Europe and Japan in the next months.

Capelton – Reign of Fire

Capelton blazed across the stage like a comet with lightening speed to thrill fans whose voice was heard minutes before he came on stage and trailed him after his dynamic performance. This musical ambassador performing for crowds of up to 60,000 persons the world over,  knew from a tender age that he wanted to be a musician.

He was born Clifton George Bailey III on April 13, 1967 in the rural parish of St. Mary, Jamaica. The veteran DJ’s words and works has earned him the title of “The Prophet;” the respect and honour that he believes should be rightfully his.  Performing on his Rein of Fire label, Capelton offers lyrics which are deep, precise, and thoughtful.  His shows are nothing less than dynamic and explosive. His message to Barbados was clear “ hold on to your heritage, philosophy, culture, live remembering the values of Marcus Garvey.  Calling for equal rights and justice, he said that for 20 years he no burn fire, yet he never ceased to defend his people...he chanted “salvation for the people. “

In “Stand Tall,” he hopped across the stage and back to the rhythm of the music, ‘the Prophet’ said “in life there will be stumbling blocks, but be of good courage, maintain self-esteem, self-reliance and self-thought.”

He performed for close to an hour interacting with the audience frequently bellowing “Barbados”. During his performance there was a sea of red gold and green flags being waved at his request by the estimated 20,000 patrons.  From the album More Fire, he sang ‘Good in Her Clothes’, ‘Stand Tall’, ‘Jah Jah City’ ‘Love is coming at you’ and ‘The More they Try’.  He also performed ‘That Day Will Come’ ‘She is so Fine’ ‘Slew Dem’ among countless other well received hits.

Late in his musical set, Capelton dedicated a new song to his mother, which was passionately delivered:  “Mama you strong...thru great tribulation...where there is a will there is a way; mama you is strong...

This entertainer delivers more than meets the eye, music is a means to an end. He told Positive Tourism News that he believes literacy is the key to reducing crime and violence in our communities. In this he plays a key role through his music to empower the people of St. Mary through the benefit concert “A St. Mary Me Come From.”  This concert which began as a dance with Stone Love, transitioned into a Fun day for kids in 2001 and is now a nationally acclaimed event that feeds one thousand ( 1000) children. The annual concert now attracting up to 10,000 people held August 5, the day before Jamaica’s Independence Day, is a major charity event.  In 2006, St. Mary’s border-line was shifted to include Mothers in Crisis, and in 2007 Heile Selassie High School and Oberlin High School were recipients of the annual awards.

Capelton is a 2002 Grammy Nominee; Nominated Most Outstanding Stage Personality  - IWRA Apollo Theatre, 2008 and a two-time recipient of the IRIE FM RADIO Humanitarian Award.

Coco Tea:

Cocoa Tea, born Calvin George Scott in Kingston, Jamaica on September 3,1959, began his career as a teenager from the exposure gained by singing in church and school choirs, recording his first song, "Searching In The Hills" in 1974. Cocoa Tea started his label called Roaring Lion in 1998, releasing a number of singles by him and various artists, and his first album release, "Holy Mount Zion" on a major label (Motown /Tamla) of his late 90's hits.

This singer, over his career, has established himself a one's reggae's most loved artists for his smooth melodic approach, and his "take no prisoners" style of conscious lyric as well as sugary love songs. "Sweet Sweet Cocoa Tea" is indeed a well earned name.

Positive Tourism News asked Coco Tea how he earned his cognomen. He said that when he was about 7 or 8 years old, his mother prepared some cocoa tea and asked him if he wanted to have some, he replied “yes mother.” Since then he has been stuck with the name, which is his calling card to fame.

This effervescent entertainer says that music is his life and after 30 years, he proves it be continuing to captivate audiences around the world.

During his approximately half an hour performance he thrilled the audience with such hits as ‘She love Me Now’, ‘Tune In’, ‘Too Young’ and ‘Good Life’ from the hugely successful album of the same name. He also performed hits ‘Israel’s King’ ‘Riker’s Island’ and ‘Stand up Straight’.  His latest CD is the Anthology produced by VP Records, is available in stores near you. Look out for his latest single entitled “Barak Obama.”

Taurus Riley

Taurus Riley, son of reggae veteran Jimmy Riley was a welcome presence at “Reggae on the Hill” delivering hits from the re-release of his first album Challenges and cuts from his new singles: Who’s Gonna Save Us” and “’Low Me”.

She’s Royal, a’ hot’ single from the Parables CD is now a mantra chanted everywhere around the world.

“She’s royal, yeah so royal
And, I want her in my life.
I never knew anyone so one-of-a-kind, no
The way she move to her own beat
She has the qualities of a queen, She’s a queen so supreme…
Ooo Ooo what a natural beauty
Nuh need no make-up to be a cutie
She’s a queen, she’s a queen...”

Riley acknowledged to Positive Tourism News that it is his respect and honour of the ‘queens’ and ‘empresses’ of the world that led him to write ‘She’s royal’.

Tanya Stephens

Vivienne Stephenson, better known by her stage name Tanya Stephens was born July 2, 1973 in Kingston, Jamaica.  It is said that Tanya Stephens is one of the most influential Reggae artists that emerged in the late 1990s. Stephens is most known for her hits "Yuh Nuh Ready Fi Dis Yet" — the single was later featured on the Reggae Gold 1997 compilation album — and "It's a Pity", which achieved Tanya international recognition as a one of a kind artist.

Her album Rebelution was released in August 2006 and the first single "These Streets" was a number one hit in the Caribbean staying on Tempo's Chart at number 1 for more than 4 weeks. The album was totally sold out in Jamaica and other parts of the Caribbean.

She is versatile. Many of her songs talk about partying and dancing, but her biggest hits have all been about relationships. She also includes social commentary, which includes speaking on women’s issues.

Tanya told Positive Tourism News that entertainment tourism could be improved by remembering and promoting the contribution and impact of local artistes and rastafari around the world.

Barbados Music Festival at Farley Hill was indeed a mega successful musical extravaganza that took our breath away.