What started as a day of giving back to the children of Mandeville at Brook’s Park, Manchester, concluded in exciting fashion, with performances by a slew of Reggae stalwarts on Saturday, April 26.

Garnet Silk Legacy Fun Day, an initiative launched by the late singer’s Foundation, pulled out all the stops with a surprise lineup which delighted the Mandeville crowd at the close of the celebration. 

Bushman kicked off the main performances with an emotive set. His selections included beloved classics such as Lighthouse and a rendition of Peter Tosh’s Legalise It. Warrior King was next to hit the stage, igniting patrons with a heartfelt performance of hit record, Go Where Pagans Go.

The Clarendon native got up close and personal with fans, as his performance of Virtuous Woman led to him leaping into the crowd as patrons sang along. 

The family of Garnet Silk naturally paid their respects with sets by Anthony Cruz, Aaron Silk, and  Garnet Alkhem, the son of the late singer. Performances included renditions of Silk’s beloved classics, namely Complain which was performed by Garnet Alkhem alongside cousin, Anthony Cruz. 

The event saw spontaneous performances by Bongo Herman, Duane Stephenson, Iba Mahr, and Nature Ellis. 

Luciano was among those to bless the stage. Sweep Over My Soul swept over Brook’s Park, as the MessenJah serenaded Reggae lovers who came out in their numbers to pay tribute to The Silky One.

The MessenJah closed his set with a powerful delivery of Hills and Valley, though not before regaling patrons with a fond memory of Garnet Silk in the days of their youth, winning laughs and cheers from the crowd. 

The Fiyah Man, Capleton, was last to emerge on stage, sending gathered patrons into an uproar and calling for lighters to be held high in the air. Classic tunes rang through Brook’s Park, the likes of Small World, That Day Will Come, Jah Jah City and a brief rendition of Silk’s Bless Me.

Capleton would bring the show to a close, but not before inviting Bugle on stage to dive into his own slew of conscious hits. 

Co-Director of the Garnet Silk Foundation, Fabian Smith, says the Garnet Silk Legacy Day celebration is just the beginning of much more to come. “We appreciate the support of the public and look forward to executing more initiatives in the near future to lend our support to the people of Manchester, while keeping our father’s legacy alive. The people can expect more memorable experiences delivered by the most impactful voices in music.” 

Delroy ‘Callo’ Collins, former producer of Garnet Silk, added: “We had a great time putting on this event for the children and the patrons who turned out for the entertainment package. We’ll return next year doing bigger things, both for the little ones who stand to benefit from the Foundation’s initiatives, and Reggae fans who want to see and hear more of the Silky One.”  Collins was an integral part of organising the Garnet Silk Legacy Fun Day. 

What ended with a string of performances started as a day of giving, with families pouring into Brook’s Park to receive school bags, lunch vouchers, and stationery items on behalf of The Garnet Silk Foundation as part of its initiative to support the local community and beyond. 

The day’s music was provided by Sound Trooper.  

The Garnet Silk Foundation was founded in honour of the late singer’s life and legacy to preserve his impact on the world of Reggae when he emerged on the music scene in the early 90s. Created by his wife and children, the Foundation aims to uphold Garnet’s message and core beliefs while giving back to communities that inspired his mission to improve the world.  

Garnet Silk Legacy Fun Day was sponsored by Major Marketing, Golf View Hotel, ESol, VP Records, Pon Top Seafood Bar & Grill, Rhythm Tracks Records, City Flames, TasJay Productions, Fyah in di Ville, Tads Records and True Colours Events