Impressions: A Sunset Session with Reggae’s Palace Pickney, Jesse Royal

August 24, 2016

Photos by Justin Pallack

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This summer, LargeUp has been bringing some of our favorite reggae artists to The Surf Lodge in Montauk (New York’s “coolest music venue”) on Thursday nights for a series of sunset performances along the water. And it’s been sweet.

Over the last few weeks, dancehall icons Sister Nancy, Nardo Ranks and Screechy Dan have joined us on the pool deck for some memorable performances, alongside one of the tightest reggae bands around, The Skadanks. Last Thursday night, it was time for the new generation to shine. Backed by the Kingsuns Band, the Palace Pickney Jesse Royal delivered a set covering all of his hits, from 2012’s “This Morning” to this summer’s “Cool and Deadly,” as the sun set on a seasonably hot summer night. The vibes, as they have been all summer, the were just right.

We’ve only got two weeks left, before the inevitable arrival of Labor Day brings an end to #Summer16. But we’re not going out quietly. Tomorrow night, one of our favorite Jamaican artists of the ’80s Carlton Livingston will be trodding through the jungle (not literally) for a too-rare live performance, backed once again by The Skadanks. And next Thursday, Sept. 1st, it’s sure to be an epic performance from the brilliant No-maddz — here’s what it looked like last time we brought them to the beach. If you’re not already convinced these fellows are one of the best Jamaican bands in a generation, you will be after this show.

But first, a look back at last Thursday night’s show with Jesse Royal…

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