Catch Big Mountain at The Monastery and Ayala Center Cebu

CEBU, Philippines - The American reggae band Big Mountain is scheduled to do a concert dubbed as “Big Mountain Live in Cebu” at The Monastery (formerly The Outpost) in Nivel Hills, Lahug, Cebu City today. They will play along with Cebu’s pride Junior Kilat, CoolieDread and The Raw Belief.

The first time the band made an announcement on their official Facebook page, it was flooded with positive comments and garnered more than 6,000 likes showing a huge following in Cebu and the neighbouring regions.

Much like UB40, Big Mountain brought a very commercialized version of Jamaican music to the American mainstream when their cover of Peter Frampton’s “Baby, I Love Your Way” reached the Top Ten in early 1994. Its three albums contain reggae roots music combined with only several R&B-ish covers, and the lineup includes two Jamaicans with excellent credentials: rhythm guitarist Tony Chin and drummer Santa Davis — both of whom played with Peter Tosh’s band and the Soul Syndicate.

Big Mountain was originally formed in San Diego as the Rainbow Warriors. After several years of dizzying lineup changes and two name changes — first to Shiloh and finally to Big Mountain — the group settled around vocalist/guitarist Quino, with rhythm guitarist Jerome Cruz, drummers Gregory Blakney and Lance Rhodes, keyboard player Manfred Reinke, and bassist Lynn Copeland.

That lineup released Wake Up on the Quality label in 1992 and charted “Touch My Light” early the following year. The single reached number 51 in America, but only one year later Big Mountain began to experiment with several different guitarists. After several changes, Tony Chin became available and joined Quino and Copeland with new additions Santa Davis, James McWhinney (percussion), and keyboard players Billy Stoll and Michael Hyde. During sessions for their second album, movie producer Ron Fair approached Big Mountain about recording a cover of “Baby, I Love Your Way” for his movie “Reality Bites.” Included on the soundtrack and the group’s 1994 Unity album, the single reached number six in the U.S. and became a worldwide hit.

Despite Big Mountain’s success on the commercial pop charts, most of the reggae community remained faithful to the band; the group headlined two consecutive Reggae Sunsplash festivals in Jamaica during massive world tours that crisscrossed Europe, North and South America, Asia, and Indonesia. Their third album Resistance was released in 1995, followed two years later by Free Up.

After 10 albums and more than a decade of touring, Big Mountain decided to take a hiatus and the members pursued their respective careers, though the band would occasionally get together to perform in international events and various benefit concerts. The band got together in 2013 forming an extended lineup for a new album and world tour.

“Big Mountain Live in Cebu” is presented by DMC Philippines in partnership with Cebu Parklane International Hotel and The Monastery. Tickets are available at SM Tickets outlets or online via www.smtickets.com. For inquiries and more information you may call 09178226416 or 09328763416.

After tonight’s concert at The Monastery, catch Big Mountain again tomorrow, 7 p.m., at The Terraces of Ayala Center Cebu.

Homegrown rock and ska band Sefyla, whose eight years of experience in the local music scene make them one of the well-applauded indie bands in Cebu, will open the show. The first 300 shoppers to present a single receipt purchase of P1,000 dated March 9 to March 27 from any Ayala Center Cebu establishment (excluding bill payments and department store kiosks), or P2,000 purchase from Rustan’s Supermarket or Metro Gaisano Supermarket for the same period, will receive a concert pass for two.

The first 25 Amore and first 25 VIPinoy members to present their cards at the Concierge expansion will get one complimentary pass each. The first 40 shoppers and first 10 Amore/VIPinoy members to register will get an extra pass for the Meet and Greet session after the show. Registration will be at the Concierge located at the first level expansion and will be open from Mondays to Sundays, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. (PR) (FREEMAN)