There are certain sounds in reggae that never seem to age, and for me, Lovers Rock is definitely one of them.
As someone who has spent nearly three decades behind the microphone, I’ve watched music change, formats evolve and audiences move from one sound to another. But Lovers Rock has always had a special place in my heart. There is something about those smooth vocals, romantic lyrics, beautiful melodies and deep basslines that can take you right back to a particular time, a particular person or a particular feeling.
That’s one of the reasons I’m excited about Lovers Rock: A Night of British Reggae, happening October 16 at Ocean’s 11 Bar and Restaurant in Ocho Rios during Heroes Weekend.
I’m a lover of Lovers Rock, but I also understand just how important this music remains to listeners in the United Kingdom. Through The Wake Up & Live Show, I’ve been fortunate to build a strong and loyal UK listenership, and I hear firsthand how deeply Caribbean music—particularly reggae—continues to connect with audiences there.
The relationship between Jamaica and the UK when it comes to reggae is unique. Lovers Rock may have developed its distinctive identity in Britain during the 1970s, but the music has always had strong Jamaican roots. Artists such as Dennis Brown, Gregory Isaacs, John Holt, Sugar Minott, Errol Dunkley and Boris Gardiner produced songs that became hugely important to British reggae audiences.
And that’s something I think many people sometimes overlook. There are Jamaican songs that became massive in the UK even when they weren’t receiving the same level of attention back home.
That cross-Atlantic connection is part of what makes a night like this so special.
For me, Lovers Rock isn’t simply about nostalgia. It’s about musicianship, storytelling and emotion. It’s about music that allows you to slow down and actually listen. Songs from Janet Kay, Carroll Thompson, Sandra Cross, Peter Hunnigale, Vivian Jones, Maxi Priest and Bitty McLean—and so many others—have created a soundtrack that continues to resonate across generations.
What I love about A Night of British Reggae is that it isn’t trying to force Lovers Rock into a contemporary box. It’s about celebrating the music as it was meant to be heard.
As a broadcaster, DJ and lifelong lover of reggae, I’m looking forward to being part of that experience. And knowing the connection I’ve built with listeners in the UK through The Wake Up & Live Show, I already know there will be plenty of people listening and saying, “Yes! That’s the music I’m talking about!”
Lovers Rock has a way of bringing people together. It brings back memories, starts conversations and, before you know it, has everybody singing along.
And honestly, that’s what great reggae is supposed to do.
