The Leeds Playhouse
Reviewed by Dawn Smallwood
4****
To celebrate 60 years of Jamaican independence, Out of Many Festival’s Road to Trojan, presented by Jamaica Society Leeds, is putting on a series of events in Leeds between May 2022 and February 2023. The purpose of the festival is to promote and celebrate the Caribbean Island’s roots, culture, and arts.
Leeds Playhouse is the host to Road to Trojan which takes place on the actual 60th anniversary of the country’s independence, 6th August. This concert style event features Jamaica’s proud and rich music history starting from its ancestral roots to reggae which began its popularisation from the 1960s by the infamous label Trojan Records.
Promoted as A Jamaica 60 Reggae Spectacular and is headed by a series of well-known Jamaican artists. The evening began with a digital performance from the National Dance Theare Company of Jamaica and others are followed including Out of Many Choir (with singers Brinsley Forde, Noel Mckoy, Paulette Morris, and vocalists Dem Three) as well as local acts Homes Harriot, Mento Dem, and Jazz Jamaica All Stars. The first part of the programme concludes with the band and singers playing and singing the ever-popular Bob Marley’s Lively Up Yourself.
The second part of the evening features well known artists such as Dennis Alcapone and Freddie McGregor -he latter singing well known Jamaican musical numbers and engaging with the audience.
The evening is set out to celebrate Jamaica’s exciting music scene from its history to the present times and there were opportunities for everyone to reflect and remember nostalgically and poignantly the challenges and triumphs many in the community faced in the past and face in the present. Such events and experiences no doubt shape the music Jamaica proudly has today. It is fitting way to celebrate the country’s independence and no doubt the country continues to grow and become well known on an international stage particularly in its sporting community. Road to Trojan is an excellent engaging evening of Reggae and celebrating Jamaica’s roots and cultures and well received by the audience