Jazz Jamaica presents
Lively Up!
Celebrate 60 years of Jamaican independence
This event has passed.
Get your skank on in STYLE!
Lively Up! A night of positivity and one love to celebrate 60 years of Jamaican independence with the big vibes and rhythms that have shaped the island’s unique musical and cultural identity.
Main stage and festival favourites Jazz Jamaica will be delving into the vaults for some classic reggae from Bob Marley, Ken Boothe, Bob & Marcia and the Studio One catalogue, as well as serving up the boss tunes and ska classics that bring the trademark bounce to every Jazz Jamaica performance.
Widely regarded as one of the best UK soul voices around, Noel McKoy joins the All Stars for this big independence party. Noel has performed with Nu Colours, the Pasadenas, James Taylor Quartet, Snowboy, Sounds of Blackness, Omar, Linton ‘Kwesi’ Johnson and currently appears across the UK with the British Soul Collective. However, reggae has always been a huge part of his musical heritage, citing Dennis Brown as a major influence and Noel’s first band, The Albians, released four singles on the Studio 16 reggae label.
Formed in 1991 by Gary Crosby OBE – bassist, band leader and nephew of Jamaica’s legendary guitarist Ernest Ranglin – the mighty Jazz Jamaica have rightly earned their reputation as “one of the UK’s leading good-time bands”’ (The Independent) from their many exuberant live performances and dynamic album releases over the past three decades.
Crosby’s concept was to create a quintessential fusion of mento, ska, reggae and jazz, playing classic and modern jazz standards alongside Jamaican folksongs, and it is his leadership and drive that continues to ensure the evolution of Jazz Jamaica. The band has grown in members and repertoire, filling concert halls and delighting audiences across the country with tours of Catch A Fire, a celebration of the music of Bob Marley, and The Trojan Story that featured many of the best-loved tunes from the seminal Trojan Records label.
“Jazz Jamaica…Well known for blowing the roof off live shows. A joyful, cosmopolitan tribute.” Jazzwise
“Jazz Jamaica should be permanent ambassadors to the United Nations of Good Times.” Cheltenham International Jazz Festival
Pre-event Food & Drink
Enjoy delicious drinks and light bites from our Café Bar ahead of the event.
Available to pre-order when booking your tickets, you can choose from a selection of house drinks on arrival, accompanied by a board of bread, olives and dips (all Vegetarian). Just select which option – for one or two people – you would like, before checkout.
Your pre-ordered food and drink will be available to collect from the Café Bar from 60 minutes before the event. It’s the perfect way to begin your event experience at St George’s!