Skatta happy with Reggae Sumfest’s 30th staging

Looking back on the 30th staging of Reggae Sumfest, director Skatta Burrell said that although he and his team missed several nights of sleep, their investment seems to have paid off.

Speaking to THE STAR on Festival Night Two He said, "You see where the sacrifice pays off. I stood at the end of the stage yesterday morning, that's at the ending of Night One, dancehall night as some people would say, and at 6 a.m. when the sun is coming up ... no one left. And you understand that okay, these young artistes that were showcased, they did it."

Night One boasted acts like Valiant, Teejay, Vanessa Bling, Masicka, and Tommy Lee Sparta, making his grand return to close the show.

"They held the audience," Burrell explained. "And even though we're in the time where phones are waving instead of the hands ... for people to stand eight hours, nine hours to watch someone perform and they're still there, it speaks volumes."

Night Two largely boasted a more mature line-up, with legends like Richie Spice, Tanya Stephens, Morgan Heritage and Minister Marion Hall. But Burrell said the tribute to King Jammy and Freddie McGregor's performance alongside his sons stood out for him.

"The King Jammy's segment, it really shows that these stalwarts can never be counted out. You see bad boy Chaka Demus, Lieutenant Stitchie and King Jammy himself, the stalwart on stage. We affi really respect and love the culture and that was just scratching the surface in terms of King Jammy's catalogue, we nuh hear nothing yet," he said.

He admitted that there were times he questioned how the crowd would receive McGregor but lauded how the veteran "got it under control and he delivered".

"After this crazy illness, I'm telling you, we have to be respectful to these stalwarts especially when they are here with us. I'm just happy that Sumfest took the initiative to give him this platform to show people that he's down but he's not out," he said.

There were some concerns, however, about the show's logistics, including the addition of a timer. Burrell said it not only allows everyone inside the venue to keep each other accountable, but is also is a learning mechanism for performers to better their time management.

"Well if you're an artiste, anything that makes you nervous, you have to face it, and that's how you get better and that's how you be concise in your delivery and don't talk too much and don't sing too long and be punctual on the beat," he said.

"We have to ensure that you stick within your time limit and deliver and leave room for others to flourish and grow. We hate ending late and we hate not giving an artiste who spend time putting a wardrobe together, bringing 10 bus load a people weh dem wah Sumfest let in, and doing the most, fi only hear seh him only have five minutes from him 20 minutes fi showcase him talent," he added.