Reggae artiste Bugle is spearheading a new initiative to revive live music in Jamaica’s inner-city communities through One Frequency, a fortnightly concert series bringing established stars and emerging talent directly to the people. The movement officially launched on Sunday, July 19, at Bibow Corner in Arnett Gardens, where fellow reggae heavyweights I-Wayne and Turbulence joined Bugle for an evening of powerful performances backed by Ruff Kutt Band that earned widespread praise and set the tone for future stagings across the island.
Beginning at 10:00 p.m., the inaugural staging showcased a blend of rising and established talent, reinforcing the event’s mission of creating meaningful opportunities for artistes while reconnecting communities with authentic live reggae. Singer Xiah Mae opened the featured showcase before reggae crooner Yashua warmed up the audience with a well-received performance. I-Wayne then held the sizeable crowd’s attention for more than an hour, delivering fan favourites from his extensive catalogue. Turbulence followed with one of the night’s standout sets, earning thunderous cheers and a sea of gun-finger salutes while also introducing several promising artistes from his camp.
Bugle closed the showcase shortly before 3:00 a.m., taking patrons on a musical journey through his catalogue with performances of hits including Exercise, Doh and Nuh Compatible. He also welcomed hometown favourite Laa Lee to the stage, whose energetic appearance had the Arnett Gardens crowd dancing and singing along. Throughout the night, DJ Rich Roc of Fame 95 FM kept the programme flowing as host, while producers and selectors CD Master and Alpacino maintained the atmosphere behind the turntables.
The successful debut has already generated positive feedback from residents and reggae fans, highlighting strong support for an initiative that places live music back at the heart of Jamaica’s communities. With the next staging already scheduled for August 2 in Tivoli Gardens, One Frequency appears poised to become more than just another concert series, positioning itself as a platform dedicated to preserving reggae culture, nurturing emerging talent and bringing top-tier live performances directly to communities across Jamaica.
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