Love, unity and social justice are elements of the human experience that are central to the Christmas holiday season.
ItB次元官网网址檚 a time, not only of celebration, but of personal reflection and a renewal of the belief that, together, we can make the world a better, kinder place, full of hope and generosity toward one another.
Perhaps thatB次元官网网址檚 why the Christmas season is ideally suited for the coming concert by reggae legend, Clinton Fearon as he takes the stage with Caleb Hart.
Reggae music is, after all, about social justice, love and the hope for the best that the human soul can muster.
B次元官网网址淭he music is great because it shows reality, but it also shows how things should be between people,B次元官网网址� Fearon says.
Currently on tour in Brazil, Fearon says he loves coming back to Victoria for a Christmas show, because he loves the community and its people.
B次元官网网址淚 live in Seattle right now, but I try to get up to Victoria whenever I can. The people are wonderful there,B次元官网网址� he says.
Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Fearon has been performing his music for more than 50 years, finding his inspiration at his local Seventh-day Adventist church.
He performed with The Gladiators and later reorganized his musical vision by forming The Boogie Brown Band. That groupB次元官网网址檚 debut album, Disturb the Devil, marked the beginning of FearonB次元官网网址檚 successful solo career.
He has toured throughout Europe, the United States, Africa, and, well, just about anywhere you can imagine.
But what is it about reggae that endures and brings out the best in the human spirit?
B次元官网网址淏eyond the sense of hope, the music has a heartbeat. The rhythms touch the soul and, at Christmas, that connection is more important than ever.B次元官网网址�
That sentiment is shared by Caleb Hart, who will appear alongside Fearon at their coming Christmas show.
B次元官网网址淔irst off, I grew up listening to Clinton Fearon. I was born in Tobago and the musicB次元官网网址 call it Island soulB次元官网网址� was a huge part of who I am. I always dreamed of performing with Clinton, and I finally have the chance this Christmas. ItB次元官网网址檚 my own special Christmas gift,B次元官网网址� Hart says.
Hart has managed to make his own mark on the reggae scene, having toured Australia, the U.S., New Zealand, Europe, Africa and the Caribbean for just over a decade. In that time, heB次元官网网址檚 played an astounding 1,150 shows and says that he loves the music a bit more with every performance.
B次元官网网址淚 released my latest album, Emancipation recently. It was all written and performed here in Victoria and itB次元官网网址檚 a brief journey through the Caribbean. Island Soul is epitomized in the release and IB次元官网网址檓 looking forward to performing some of it at the concert,B次元官网网址� he says.
B次元官网网址淭he Christmas concert and reggae are, to me, a perfect blend. The spirit of Christmas is, at its heart, the same spirit that Christmas is meant to embody,B次元官网网址� Hart says. B次元官网网址淚 know that weB次元官网网址檒l be able to touch people with the music.B次元官网网址�
The Acoustic Reggae Holiday Celebration happens Friday, Dec. 13 at the White Eagle Polish Hall (90 Dock St.). Tickets are available at ticketweb.ca/event/acoustic-reggae-holiday-celebration-ft-white-eagle-polish-hall-tickets.
