Steel Pulse set to rock VI on the Bayside
The Grammy award-winning band, which is known for its colourful, energetic and energizing acts, will be supported by performances from local bands Final Faze, The Elmtones, and Al Broderic & Hot Sauce and according to Bayside Rhythms Wasi Philbert, “This will be definitely an epic night on the beach here in Tortola.”
He said that the band is expected to be in the Territory from Friday night but fans would only get to meet, greet and get their ‘selfies’ after they would have performed on stage. The show promises to be one that speaks to the roots and culture of the soul.
“The thing about bands like Steel Pulse that we go for is more than just their music but it has to do with the impact that they have on us as a people, our culture and what they stand for,” said Philbert.
Steel Pulse was formed in 1975 in Handsworth, Birmingham, UK and still retains founding members, David ‘Dread’ Hinds (lead vocals, guitar), and Selwyn ‘Bumbo’ Brown (keyboard, backup vocals). With a history that includes a period of alignment with the Punk era and the Rock against Racism organisation, Steel Pulse is most noted within reggae circles for being one of the first international bands to mix reggae’s African, salsa, and calypso beats with pop and rock music.
Steel Pulse established itself as one of reggae’s major forces throughout the 1980s and—at U.S. President Bill Clinton’s request—was the first reggae band to perform for a presidential inauguration,” notes Gale Musician Profiles.
According to a release from Bayside Rhythms, in describing Steel Pulse as a concept, a way of life, Hinds says, "As we have changed over the past 35 years, we have also stayed the same. Too many times we have been asked to be something else, someone else. But in the end, we are what have always been - a roots reggae band with a message of positivity for anyone who listens with their heart."
Taking advantage of the spectacular seaside sunsets, Saturday’s concert night at Myett’s will kick off with Happy Hour from 4.30pm – 6.00pm and will feature drink specials. A Caribbean ‘kitchen on the beach’ will be serving treats such as jerk chicken, barbecue chicken, and ribs, Johnny cakes, and corn on the cob. Myett’s regular kitchen will also be open.
“Steel Pulse is a band whose ethos is firmly entrenched in bringing people together in friendship, peace and harmony,” said Wasi Philbert, founder of Bayside Rhythms. “We want the weekend events to reflect this message and we can think of no better way to achieve this than by hanging out on a beach with great music, exceptional reggae and everyone enjoying life on the bayside with their feet in the sand.”
With its location right in the heart of one of Tortola’s popular anchorages, the Independence Day holiday weekend concert is an easy and attractive option for the many boaters who come to the Virgin Islands from the USA, USVI, and Puerto Rico to celebrate with friends and family.
Cane Garden Bay also has a large number of small hotels and inns within easy walking distance of the beach making the venue well suited for land-based visitors.
Bayside Rhythms has coordinated with Speedy’s Ferry to offer a direct service from Virgin Gorda to Cane Garden Bay departing at 5.30pm and returning after the concert. The BVI Taxi Association is also providing transportation from its central location at Wickham’s Cay I at a flat rate of $10 per passenger each way and $6 per passenger each way for groups of 5 or more. Vehicle parking is available on the western end of Cane Garden Bay near the gas service station and off the road across from the beach.
Advance purchase tickets at $45 each are available online at www.baysiderhythms.com and also at Myett’s, Oasis Salon & Spa, and UMI in Tortola, at Speedy’s, and Oasis Salon & Spa in Virgin Gorda, Love City Barbers in St John, and Urban Threadz in St Thomas. Tickets on the day are $60 each at the gate.
The inaugural Bayside Rhythms summer concert series in 2013 featured reggae ambassadors, Third World and one of the last live performances by lead vocalist, William "Bunny Rugs" Clarke (6 February 1948 – 2 February 2014).
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