City hosts Caribbean music festival
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 30/07/2022 (1203 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
A festival aimed at bridging cultures and giving the Wheat City a taste of something new is taking over the Riverbank Discovery Centre stage this weekend.
Friday afternoon marked the kickoff of the International Reggae Afro Latin Music and Arts Festival’s (IRAL) Summer Jamfest, the first time Brandon has hosted the event that presents Reggae culture to Manitobans.
“It’s going to showcase the Caribbean, the African and the Latinos. We want to merge every one of the cultures together and kind of have a one love experience,” said organizer and festival founder Neville Hamilton during setup on the warm summer afternoon.
Musician Jah Cutta stands in front of the Fusion Credit Union Stage Friday afternoon. (Photos by Drew May/The Brandon Sun)
The colour fest on Friday afternoon was a soft launch, Hamilton said, and musical acts were scheduled after at the Fusion Credit Union Stage. More music is planned for Saturday afternoon and evening, including Nibsey Dread, Jedimz, Yaadies and Jah Cutta.
“We want to expose it some more, and then have Brandon people start getting a taste of something different, and over time having people grow with it. There’s fusion in music all over.”
While this weekend is the first time IRAL has come to Brandon, there were previous festivals in Winnipeg and Steinbach.
Reggae musician Jah Cutta said he was feeling “lively” to be in Brandon for the second time.
“Once the crowd is here, everybody is going to have a wonderful time. Everybody is breathing the same air — we’re going to be glorious,” said the performer.
While reggae music is not especially prominent in Brandon, Cutta said he wants to see the genre grow in the region.
“In this city now you’re trying to bring everyone together, that’s what music does. With Caribbean music, with that soul and that love and that quietness … that’s what we try to bring across, to bring people together with love and unity,” he said.
Cutta said he hopes people who have never seen reggae before come out to experience and enjoy it.
Andy Castello sets up a drum before the festival kicked off on Friday afternoon. (Drew May/The Brandon Sun)
The festival is scheduled to continue on Saturday with the IRAL colour fest starting at 2 p.m. More music is planned for Saturday as well, including Guinée Best and Cutta, who is scheduled to hit the stage at 10 p.m
Tickets are $20 for an all-day pass for adults and $12.50 for youth.
» dmay@brandonsun.com
» Twitter: @DrewMay_