The great headliners of the golden age of rocksteady had already been assembled for the documentary Rocksteady: The Roots of Reggae, A Music Documentary Feature. So the Festival had a brainstorm: let's reunite them... for real! Right in the middle of this 30th edition of the Festival, the last great reggae singers and musical originator (Ken Boothe, Stranger Cole, Hopeton Lewis, Leroy Sibbles and The Tamlins, as well as Marcia Griffith and Judy Mowatt-who sang backup for Bob Marley) will take us on a trip through time with such eternal classics as Rivers of Babylon, The Tide Is High, Stop That Train and others from the songbook. Get ready for the greatest rocksteady event ever! The documentary will be presented in its world premiere at the Musée d'art contemporain from July 4 to 12, featuring two screenings every evening.
This year, the support of Industry Canada and of the ministère des Affaires municipales, des Régions et de l'Occupation du territoire allows the Festival to present more free outdoor events, including this amazing Closing Event, thereby increasing the city's appeal as a tourist attraction-especially during the current economic crisis-and enhancing its international profile.
Stranger Cole • Vocals
Leroy Sibbles • Vocals
Ken Boothe • Vocals
Hopeton Lewis • Vocals
The Tamlins • Vocals
Marcia Griffiths • Vocals
Judy Mowatt • Vocals
Herman "Bongo" Davis • Percussion
Zoots "Scully" Sims • Percussion
Paul Douglas • Drums
Clifton Jackie Jackson • Bass
Robbie Lynn • Keyboard
Dwight Pinkney • Guitar
Hux Brown • Guitar
Glenn DaCosta • Saxophone
David Madden • Trumpet
Calvin Cameron • Trombone
Projection: Rocksteady: The Roots of Reggae features recording sessions in Jamaica's legendary Tuff Gong Studios, archival footage from the era, and interviews with the aforementioned artists, as well as singers Dawn Penn, Derrick Morgan and U-Roy, musicians Ernest Ranglin, Sly Dunbar, Jackie Jackson, Gladstone Anderson, Hux Brown and Scully Simms, and special guest Rita Marley.
Tickets for daily documentary screenings (original English version at 4 p.m. and 9 p.m.; French subtitled version at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.-with occasional exceptions) now on sale on-site at the Musée d'art contemporain or by telephone every day from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.: 514-847-6212. From July 4 to 12, during period of film screenings, tickets may be purchased until 9 p.m. BUY