[ENTERTAINMENT]:::Bonafide to open Saturday Night

No. 118 Monday, July 19, 2010
By Joel Lawson
"We are going to give them a very special performance on Saturday night!" declared Junior Roots (Donovan Stevens) the leader of the Las Vegas-based reggae band called Bonafide.

    The band which is originally from Mt. Salem in Montego Bay, is the opening act for Saturday's International Night two of Reggae Sumfest 2010 at the Catherine Hall Entertainment Centre on July 25. It will be the band's second gig on Sumfest having previously performed in 2007.
    It's always a great feeling to be a number one in anything that is progressive, they said. They said that is exactly how they feel as they prepare themselves to take the big stage. They will share the bill with Usher, Tarrus Riley, Beenie Man, Gramps Morgan, Chris Martin, Richie Loop, Protoje, Zamunda, Ras Penco, QQ, Fire Lion and Ferrari.
    Bonafide reputedly the toughest reggae band in Las Vegas - or the West Coast for that matter have four new singles that are enjoying good rotations in the dancehall entertainment landscape.
    They are 'Home', 'Leaving' with Vybz Kartel; 'Bumpa' with Busy Signal and 'I Wanna Be The One' (a collaboration with Etana).
    Interestingly, the entire four-man band originate from out of Montego Bay, Jamaica and all are sons of one man - Adolph 'Gigi' Stephens who taught them how to play musical instruments.
    Apart from Junior Roots, the rest are Kevin, Wayne (a.k.a. Waynie Bass) and Robert (a.k.a. Ricky Dread) who is the splitting image of his father. Junior Roots (i.e. Donovan) plays the drums and does lead vocals.
    He can play every musical instrument in the band as well. Ricky Dread (i.e. Robert) plays keyboard and sings as well. Wayne plays bass. The brothers have invited an outsider in the personality of Omar Bell fondly called Kerry Ranks to do the deejay stuff in the band.
    The band generally basks in the glory of being the first reggae ensemble to play in some important venues in the world such as Australia and New Zealand. Their biggest show to date was in 2005 at the Sydney Sports Arena in Australia where they confronted an audience of well over 10,000 appreciative fans.
    Thursday night (July 22) is the only night with 100 per cent reggae music and is dubbed Guinness Dancehall Night. This will showcase the talents of Vybz Kartel, Mavado, Bounty Killer, Elephant Man, Kiprich, Tifa, Khago, Ding Dong, .l-Octane, Charly Blacks, Assassin, Ce'Cile, Voicemail, Spice, Konshens, Stacious, D-Angel, Chino, Bescenta, Demarco, Taz, King Ujah, Dada, G-Mac, Ikaya and Mr. Chumps.
    The following night (Friday, July 23) is dubbed International Night One and will showcase the likes of Chris Brown, Queen Ifrica, Jah Cure, Gyptian, Etana, Hezron, Steele, Lymie Murray, Tony Rebel, Mackie Conscious and Sophia Squire.