Nanaimo reggae enthusiasts are excited at the prospect of dancing indoors again, and are putting on a concert to celebrate.
The Nanaimo Reggae Massive is putting on Skankin’ Sweet: A Party to Celebrate the Return of Dance on April 2 at the Queen’s Hotel. Caleb Hart, Jonelle and RebeLstoke will be performing.
“‘Skankin” in the Jamaican sense means dancing to ska or reggae music,” noted a press release promoting the event. “It first emerged in the 1960s in Jamaica as a dance craze that had specific moves that went with ska music, the popular music of Jamaica at the time and a predecessor genre of reggae.”
Hart is originally from Trinidad and Tobago but now lives on Vancouver Island and is “a mainstay of the B.C. reggae scene,” the release noted.
“Caleb is known for high-energy performances and incredible improvisation which make each show unique,” stated the release.
Jonelle is a Jamaican-Canadian singer-songwriter who lives in Vancouver and the upcoming concert will be her first appearance at the Queen’s.
“Her style reflects her love of reggae, afrobeats, hip hop and jazz,” the release noted.
RebeLstoke, also based in Vancouver, is a reggae band fronted by bassist and singer Jonah Ocean. “In addition to their quality musicianship, the band known for often paying homage to reggae legends Bob Marley … and others with their solid repertoire of covers,” the release said.
RebeLstoke will back both Hart and Jonelle during their performances.
WHAT’S ON … Skankin’ Sweet: A Reggae Party for the Return of Dance with RebeLstoke featuring Caleb Hart and Jonelle on April 2 at the Queen’s. Doors at 7:30 p.m. Tickets $20 at http://eventbrite.ca and at the door.
editor@nanaimobulletin.com
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