Fringe 2024 Bob Marley How Reggae Changed the World Zoo Playground 6th August Review
Bob Marley: How Reggae Changed the World at ZOO Playground – Playground 1 (Venue 186) is a laid- back introduction to the man and the music by Canadian born, Jamaican heritage singer/songwriter Duane Forrest.
In this show lasting an hour, Duane explores how the small island of Jamaica became globally known through its reggae music, and how one man, Bob Marley, was at the forefront of all of this. Of course the other original members of the Wailers have their part in this story too, Peter Tosh (Winston Hubert McIntosh), and Bunny Wailer (Neville Livingston).
I will not be giving anything away in the set list when I tell you that “No Woman No Cry”, “Buffalo Soldiers” and “One Love” are in this show - most people would expect them to be here. There are some surprises here though and I suspect that as this show progresses during the Fringe that Duane will be adding a few more surprises to that set list.
This show is more than just a story about music. It is also about how, through Reggae music and the music of Bob Marley in particular, that Duane was able to start to re-connect with his own Jamaican heritage. Here in Scotland (and in many other countries) we all too often listen to Reggae at a superficial level, responding first of all to its infectious dance rhythms. Listen a little closer though, go deeper into the layers of many of these songs, and particularly the words of Bob Marley and you will find so much more to explore.
Bob Marley was many things to many people – a musician, a political activist, even a spiritual figure to many people, but he was also a poet and his words hold real truths and powers. Here in his music are stories of slavery, oppression and poverty, but also stories of real hope and a belief in the good of people and their ability to rise above the limitations placed on them by others. Bob Marley was also a deeply religious man and so many of these songs reflect his faith in his God.
It is through music that Duane Forrest is also telling his story, his exploration of his own heritage and what so many of these songs are really about. Duane asks us to see with him through his eyes truths that so many of us may have overlooked that have always been in plain view in the words of these songs.
Perhaps as important as any of these words or the music is Duane’s ability to engage with his audience and tell his story and the truths of these songs in such a friendly way. There is no preaching, no political agenda from him, simply music, words and some truths than might surprise more than a few people in the audience.
Review by Tom King © 2024
www.artsreviewsedinburgh.com
In this show lasting an hour, Duane explores how the small island of Jamaica became globally known through its reggae music, and how one man, Bob Marley, was at the forefront of all of this. Of course the other original members of the Wailers have their part in this story too, Peter Tosh (Winston Hubert McIntosh), and Bunny Wailer (Neville Livingston).
I will not be giving anything away in the set list when I tell you that “No Woman No Cry”, “Buffalo Soldiers” and “One Love” are in this show - most people would expect them to be here. There are some surprises here though and I suspect that as this show progresses during the Fringe that Duane will be adding a few more surprises to that set list.
This show is more than just a story about music. It is also about how, through Reggae music and the music of Bob Marley in particular, that Duane was able to start to re-connect with his own Jamaican heritage. Here in Scotland (and in many other countries) we all too often listen to Reggae at a superficial level, responding first of all to its infectious dance rhythms. Listen a little closer though, go deeper into the layers of many of these songs, and particularly the words of Bob Marley and you will find so much more to explore.
Bob Marley was many things to many people – a musician, a political activist, even a spiritual figure to many people, but he was also a poet and his words hold real truths and powers. Here in his music are stories of slavery, oppression and poverty, but also stories of real hope and a belief in the good of people and their ability to rise above the limitations placed on them by others. Bob Marley was also a deeply religious man and so many of these songs reflect his faith in his God.
It is through music that Duane Forrest is also telling his story, his exploration of his own heritage and what so many of these songs are really about. Duane asks us to see with him through his eyes truths that so many of us may have overlooked that have always been in plain view in the words of these songs.
Perhaps as important as any of these words or the music is Duane’s ability to engage with his audience and tell his story and the truths of these songs in such a friendly way. There is no preaching, no political agenda from him, simply music, words and some truths than might surprise more than a few people in the audience.
Review by Tom King © 2024
www.artsreviewsedinburgh.com