Big Mountain

Big Mountain returned to the road in a big way in 2022. The veteran band from San Diego, California toured the United States with Maxi Priest and the Original Wailers then closed the year with dates in India.

Their first gig for 2023 is a big one - Rebel Salute in Jamaica. They play on closing night of the January 20-21 festival which takes place in Priory, a 15-minute drive from Ocho Rios in St. Ann parish.

"It's always an honor to play in Jamaica. Big Mountain is very proud of being reggae musicians. Everywhere we go around the world we remind people that reggae music comes from Jamaica and we are blessed to perform this music and bring reggae's message of peace, love and redemption. We take that responsibility very seriously and we are also honored to perform at Tony Rebel's historic festival," said Quino McWhinney, guitarist and lead vocalist for Big Mountain.

Most of the band's current album, Freedom, was recorded in Kingston, Jamaica's capital, in 2021 with producer Delroy "Fatta" Pottinger at Anchor studios. Quino and his bandmates - younger brother James on vocals and percussion, drummer Paul Kastick, bassist Mike Ortiz, keyboardist Richard Campbell, and guitarist Audley Chisholm - worked with top musicians such as Sly Dunbar, Earl "Chinna" Smith, Dean Fraser and Chris Meredith on their first album since Perfect Summer which was released in 2016.

Last year, Big Mountain collaborated with Groove Galore Muzik and Honorebel on If Only I Knew, a cover of Beres Hammond's 1981 hit song. But while staying busy in the studio was fulfilling, playing live was just as satisfying for the band which formed in San Diego in 1988.

"The package (with Maxi Priest and Original Wailers) was very well-received. So far, for 2023 we have performances planned for the western part of the United States and we are negotiating offers to return to India in June," Quino disclosed.

Big Mountain's big breakthrough came in 1994 with their reggae cover of Peter Frampton's Baby I Love Your Way.