Burning Spear brought reggae sunsplash to the Uptown

June 13, 2024

Allison Scavo,

Burning Spear. // photo by Allison Scavo

Burning Spear
Uptown Theater
Friday, June 7

Due to inclement weather, Mammoth had to switch the venue. With open communication and actively answering questions on social media, they set a VIP section up nicely, especially considering how Uptown doesn’t normally have one. Living legend, Burning Spear, started the show by having the lively and animated guitar player walk on stage with a flag, jumping on the speaker and starting a “Burning Spear” chant.

Burning Spear walked on stage and preached the word of Jah and Rastafarianism, prior to beginning. After blessing the night, he dove right into his classics. While there may have only been 10 songs played all night, Burning Spear extended each one with jams, solos, and rally cries. His powerful and soulful music addressed social justice, Rastafarianism, and African heritage. With a career spanning over five decades, his deep, resonant voice and roots reggae sound have made him a prominent figure in the genre, and Kansas City was there to celebrate. His compelling lyrics painted spiritual depth, cultural pride, and calls for unity and peace, while being sang with intense energy and emotional passion, with rich and rhythmic instrumentation.

Kansas City openers Page 7 brought an upbeat reggae experience to Uptown Theater Friday night that had everyone grooving and smiling prior to Burning Spear. The lead singer was particularly dynamic, commanding the stage with his animated presence as he spread messages of peace. At one point, he spoke directly to a child in the audience, asking who his grown-up was, and when the child pointed to his dad, the singer emphasized the educational value of exposing children to music. The horn section danced and laughed, constantly hyping each other up, while the drummer remained hyper focused on maintaining the heartbeat of the music. The smiles were genuine and wide all night.

Our photographer Allison Scavo was in attendance to capture the performance:

Burning Spear