“When people fly in during January, it’s usually for Rebel Salute, but I was surprised to hear so many saying they were coming for Intimate,” reggae singer Luciano shared, reflecting on the turnout at Rebel Salute on January 18, 2024.
Known as The Messenger, Luciano was one of the performers at the 31st-anniversary staging of Rebel Salute, held at Plantation Cove, St. Ann.
Speaking to Entertainment Report after his nearly hour-long set, Luciano remarked, “The fans were divided, there’s no doubt about that. It must have affected Rebel Salute, and I was a little concerned.”
Intimate, a biennial concert headlined by Buju Banton and Beres Hammond, had its second staging earlier in the month, on January 4, at the same venue. The event saw overwhelming attendance, with traffic jams lasting over five hours and some ticket holders unable to reach the venue despite being just miles away.
In contrast, the 2024 staging of Rebel Salute experienced a notable decline in attendance, with less than half the venue filled. The lineup included 18 acts, such as General Degree, Maxi Priest, Echo Minott, Queen Ifrica, Tony Rebel, dancehall artist Valiant, and more.
Luciano shared that he had voiced his concerns to Rebel Salute’s promoter, Tony Rebel, ahead of the event.
“I told Rebel, ‘I don’t understand this. January is Rebel’s month. It’s not just a concert; it’s a celebration.’ It’s really sad that another major show was scheduled in the same month,” Luciano said passionately. “It’s like putting a stone in the spokes.”
He continued, “I believe we should work together as a family and a team. We need to organize and centralize because this music can give us so much more. But there’s a cutthroat mentality going on that I really don’t like. Selassie I knows.”
Rebel Salute will make its way to Florida on April 20 for the first time in the U.S. and Luciano will be performing at Plantation Cover on February 22 alongside Gramps Morgan and Barrington Levy at One Drop.
