Ebuzz News
Archived: Alkaline Rides Into Trinidad But Reviews Of TAO, Unimpressive
Two days after dancehall’s most valuable player these days took the stage in Trinidad, the streets are abuzz with reviews. TAO the acronym for Together As One, is an annual summer concert hosted at the Queen’s Park Savannah. In this, its second year, the concert lured a pretty large crowd, having advertised featured acts, Jamaica’s Alkaline and rap artiste out of the United States, OT Genasis, for months. This year, the event in itself has however left some angry, police having been forced to shut things down for some 45 minutes or so, mid way through as a result of violations at the event’s bars.
Alkaline is kept at bay from adoring female fans at TAO on Saturday night in Trinidad. PHOTO CREDIT: BadAss Photography.
Jamaica’s Alkaline had been anticipated by young dancehall lovers in T&T for months, but on show night, while many had rushed forward when the 23- year- old was introduced, the post- concert reviews have been mixed. Some referred to his performance as a bore but on the flip side, others appreciated it, calling him the best artiste out of the lot of dancehall newbies. For the most part however, the event’s promoter, Wasomi Promotions has been under attack since the event, many arguing that much of what had been promised and paid for, was not delivered.
One patron angrily expressed her experience on the TAO event page saying:
Imagine they advertised you will meet with the artist up close and personal. That was a lie…we were actually behind the stage and as stated BACK STAGE, I guess that this was the only thing they got right..
It started really late with no explanation.
There were also petitions to enter the venue with no signs saying who is going where..so people had to be jumping around to find the correct line of entrance based on their tickets..
Did you notice the back stage bands was from 2015 and stated vip..shame.
Not enough seating accommodations, as soon as you get up to sneeze yuh,seat gone..
The bake and shark stall really stall….no table provided for them to feed hungry patrons..
Party done…. Or was stopped for a while because the bar sold drinks in glass bottles.. So all glass bottles had to be removed in order for the show to proceed..
Some spoke more than they sang.. And yes we all are from Trinidad😕and some from Arima and South and so on.. Dam it..or and yes we had independent ladies also..same shit,Different toilet paper.
They cut meh boy song.. He pull them up.. He said how could you cut it… Lol.. Start over.. Nice going.. Best performance for the night… We really need to cut it.. No more TAO unless….huh well.. We will observe..
Very disappointing..
The price was just not worth it..cut it..paw..cut it.. Cut it..”
Trinidad and Tobago’s Orlando Octave threw sharp remarks at local DJs.
Separately, we heard the plea on show night of Trinidad and Tobago entertainer, Orlando Octave. He seemed bent on addressing the issue of respect for Trinidad and Tobago’s entertainers. He targeted DJs, saying they continued to be disrespectful to the locals and further arguing that Jamaican dancehall artistes continued to be given the upper hand in his native country.
St. Vincent’s Skinny Fabulous was deemed one of the enjoyments of TAO, however Barbados’ Peter Ram wasn’t as lucky to receive such rave reviews. The reigning CropOver Road March King performed only his 2015 hit, ‘All Ah We’ , failing to get the crowd’s love and opting not to perform his Cropover 2016 single, ‘Goodmorning.’
Can TAO recover for a subsequent show? We think so. Mistakes are there to be made. Errors can be corrected and just maybe, the cast will prove truly entertaining in an all round kind of way, the next time around.
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Reggae
New ‘Jamrock’ Documentary Celebrates Unforgettable Moments. Cruise Returns to Jamaica After Hurricane Melissa, This Year.
Ahead of its 11th annual voyage in November, Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley’s Welcome to Jamrock Reggae Cruise shares its story through a new film. VIBE premiered All in the Same Boat, a documentary directed by acclaimed filmmaker, Reshma B and produced by Boomshots TV that traces Marley and his manager Dan Dalton’s brainchild from a bold, outsider idea into one of the most culturally significant movements in reggae and dancehall today.
With over a decade’s worth of unforgettable moments pulled from the last 10 voyages, this 30+ minute documentary captures the spirit of a global reggae community built on shared identity, resilience, and reverence for Jamaican culture. It features iconic performances, real conversations with the artistes and DJs, and the heartbeat of it all: the “Jamrockers.” These are die-hard reggae lovers from over 40 countries who pull up every year for one reason – to feel that irreplaceable connection to Jamaican culture and keep the Marley message of “One Love” alive.
Having successfully navigated challenges including extreme weather and a global pandemic, the Welcome to Jamrock Reggae Cruise continues to thrive. Its 11th staging will return for its annual voyage from November 11th to the 16th, sailing from Miami aboard Norwegian Joy.
Stacked from foundation to future, this year’s lineup brings together reggae and dancehall’s most influential voices: Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley and Stephen Marley (Traffic Jam Set), Burning Spear, Sizzla, Capleton, Beenie Man, Protoje, Barrington Levy, Elephant Man, Junior Reid, Lila Iké, Ding Dong & the Ravers Clavers, Tony Matterhorn “Man on the Moon”, Gyptian, 450, Richie Spice, Ghost, Mr. Lexx, Professor Nuts, L.U.S.T., Sister Carol, Sevana, Flourgon, Johnny P, and Jemere Morgan are confirmed.
The cruise’s famed Sound Clash at Sea will return alongside powerhouse sound systems including Stone Love (Geefus), King Jammy, Silverhawk Sound, Rory Stone Love, Renaissance Sound, Federation Sound, Warrior Sound, Rampage Sound, Kingston12 HiFi and Souljah1 Muzik, preserving a cornerstone of Jamaican music culture in its most authentic form.
Jamrock is a Premiere Reggae Event
The Jamrock experience has evolved into the premier reggae event at sea—one that continues to redefine how the culture is celebrated on a global stage. The five-day experience continues to immerse guests in the full spectrum of Jamaican life—from Nyabinghi sunrise sessions and sound bath meditations to dancehall workshops, fitness programming, and curated culinary offerings led by acclaimed Chef Lumley. A new addition this year includes a live theatrical production by legendary playwright Oliver Samuels, adding yet another layer to the cruise’s ever-expanding cultural canvas.
Following the impact of Hurricane Melissa in 2025, the cruise will return to Jamaica with renewed purpose, maintaining its distinction as the only chartered cruise with two Jamaican port stops. That commitment translates into tangible impact, generating millions annually for the island’s tourism and cultural economy while reinforcing a direct connection between the music, the people, and the place that birthed it.
As All in the Same Boat makes clear, Welcome to Jamrock Reggae Cruise is a movement with its own rhythm, one that continues to bring the diaspora home, while inviting the world in. Since its inception in 2014, the mission remains the same: to create a space where reggae lives, breathes, and connects us all.
The documentary made its debut during the 10th annual cruise and later screened at Art Basel in support of hurricane relief efforts led by the Marley family’s Ghetto Youths Foundation. Damian Marley and Dan Dalton were executive producers of the film.
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