Fiery performance from Capleton at Encore Live

Capleton reminded patrons at Encore Live on Sunday why his name has remained synonymous with commanding performances, delivering a fiery set that brought culture, consciousness and dancehall history to Plantation Cove in St Ann.

From the moment he took the stage, the veteran reggae artiste performed with the urgency and physical energy that have defined his career. He moved relentlessly across the stage, delivering each song with conviction and drawing the audience deeper into the performance as the set unfolded. Those gathered near the stage responded by singing along, raising their hands and matching the intensity coming from the stage.

Among the biggest responses of the night came during Slew Dem and Or Wah, two records that remain deeply connected to Capleton’s catalogue and Jamaica’s dancehall culture. Slew Dem immediately stirred the audience, with patrons joining him word for word as the familiar opening and forceful delivery travelled across the venue.

Or Wah created an especially memorable moment when Renaissance’s DJ Delano joined Capleton for the performance. Delano originally created the riddim for the song, making their appearance together a live reunion between the artiste and the selector behind one of his enduring dancehall favourites. Their chemistry gave the song renewed energy and provided one of the set’s clearest links between the music’s history and its continued impact.

Capleton also used the performance to introduce material from his new album, Heights of Fire, performing Red Again for the Plantation Cove audience. Released in June, the 16-track project is his first full-length album in 16 years and finds him continuing the messages of spirituality, justice, resistance and righteousness that have shaped his music. On stage, Red Again fitted naturally beside the established songs, carrying the same fire and urgency that patrons have come to expect from him.

Throughout the set, Capleton’s interaction with the audience was direct and constant. Between songs, he spoke to the people, encouraged their participation and used the stage to reinforce his longstanding message of cultural pride, conscious living and upliftment. The crowd answered with raised hands, voices and visible excitement. Even when the pace shifted, the connection between performer and audience remained at the heart of the presentation.

The performance was also a reminder that Capleton’s stage appeal extends beyond nostalgia. While longstanding favourites produced immediate recognition, the inclusion of music from Heights of Fire showed an artiste still creating, recording and carrying his message into a new chapter. His voice remained forceful, his movement energetic and his command of the stage secure.

Encore Live was presented at Plantation Cove as part of Midas Entertainment’s Summer Finale Weekend. The programme also featured Nesbeth, Dean Fraser, DJ Delano of Renaissance and Bass Odyssey, bringing live reggae, dancehall and sound-system culture together for the Sunday staging.

By the end of Capleton’s performance, the strongest story of the evening was clear. Decades into his career, the fire that made him one of reggae and dancehall’s most recognisable performers remains very much alive for those who came to see him perform live.

entertainment@gleanerjm.com