Reggae seizes the spotlight in int’l music festival

JOAQUIN McWhinney of Big Mountain

The breezy, jovial rhythms of reggae are set to fill the air at The First International Reggae Music Festival in Manila, which will gather some of the genre’s most well-loved acts, both foreign and local, on April 16 at the Mall of Asia Concert Grounds in Pasay (call 470-2222 or 891-9999).

The event will be topbilled by Inner Circle, the Grammy-winning Jamaican group behind the songs, “Bad Boys” and “Sweat (A La La La La Song),” as well as Big Mountain, best-known for its hit version of Peter Frampton’s “Baby I Love Your Way.”

“We are grateful for the love from Filipinos,” vocalist Joaquin McWhinney said in a video posted on the official Facebook page of Big Mountain, which played shows in Cebu and Boracay last year.

The group has also recorded a Taglish cover of “Kapayapaan” by local reggae luminary Tropical Depression.

Aside from Tropical Depression, other local acts joining the musical event are Cocojam, Indio-I, Coffeebreak Island, Skarlet, Brownman Revival, Reggae Mistress, Bahaghari, Chocolate Factory, Collie Herb,  The Blanc and I-Dren Artstrong. Allan Policarpio