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Buju Banton maybe down but certainly not out and there isn’t more evidence than the huge turn out for his Buju Banton & Friends concert last night at The Bayfront Park amphitheatre in downtown Miami.
The sold out show was to be streamed live by LIME TV and BUJULIVE.com, however technical difficulties prevented the streaming.
The media coverage for the event was stricter than normal, but Urban Islandz reporters and supporters were on hand to send in constant updates.
The press, who came from all over the world to cover the event were allowed only to video or photograph the first five minutes (one song) of each performance.
Every artist who graces the stage was well received by fans. It was the ‘My Cupp’ deejay himself Richie Loop who kicks things off in fine style. From then on every artist consistently raise the bar leading up to the big man himself Buju Banton.
The opening performance include veterans like Freddie McGregor, Nadine Sutherland, Everton Blender, Gramps Morgan, Gyptian and more, who all gave fans above average performances. Gramps send thank you shouts out to Stephen Marley, who gave his Miami home as collateral for Buju bail.
Other notable performances include Tarrus Riley, Shaggy, Sean Paul, Konshens, Dean Fraser, Sly and Robbie, DJ Khaled, as well as, Stephen Marley and Damian Marley who performed their new single ‘Jah Army’ to a receptive crowd.
Security officials were out in their numbers at the venue, which obviously made some patrons uneasy. Police officers, US Marshals and Buju Banton security detail seal the event tight. It was as if the security force was guarding a serial killer. But nonetheless, the concert was incident free.
Buju Banton song for fans from the heart and fans loved it, they couldn’t got enough of the Gargamel as he belt out songs from his huge catalogue of hits. Carlene who was almost at the front, told Urban Islandz that this was her first Buju Banton concert and it felt like magic.
“This was one of my best concert ever, I was at the front and could every sweat from Buju, they need to free the man,” she said.
Money raised from Sunday’s event will help cover security and other costs while on house arrest.
Buju Banton new trial is schedule to begin next month, after his first ended last year September in a mistrial.
Buju Banton has only done one interview since release on bonds late last year, his attorney David Markus says ‘Banton and his team are very thankful to the court for the opportunity to do what he lives for – performing his music.’
