Pulse of the nation

Last year's Bluesfest featured a great set by reggae legend Toots and The Maytals. The show was a big success, which I think might have inspired the festival to seek out a couple of top-notch reggae acts for this year's edition. Steel Pulse was the first of them, headlining the Subway Stage

Selwyn "Bumbo" Brown in blue.



David Hinds and his fab pants (and a somewhat obscured Sidney Mills).



Guitar man Donovan McKitty.



Drummer Wayne "C-Sharp" Clark, bassist Amlak Tafari and singer - I think - Juris Prosper (or is it Keysha McTaggart?).



David sings!



Selwyn and his stack'o'keyboards.



Backup action!



Even more keyboards from Sidney.



Selwyn steps out!



Bonus Selwyn!



Donovan rocks the frets.



Audience participation action!



Fancy footwork action!



Dread action!



Amlak flies the team colours.



There was also some guest rapping.



Stringed action!



Clapping action!



Singalong action!



Check out that guitar playing!



Contemplative action!



Sharp action!



And that's it!

• Show reminder: The Soiree, and Montreal's Belgrave play Raw Sugar Cafe; Nummies unleash their new CD at Mavericks, accompanied by Hands of the Few, W!NSLOW, Knives and Forks for Freedom, Chest Hair Eagles, The Krapskraps and Haywired; what's this, a show at Barrymore's?!? Kobra and the Lotus, Silvergun and Spleen and Junkie and the Spider perform there tonight. Vorasek and Riot Police play Irene's; The Elmdale House hosts Jack Pelletier and The Battle of Ontario and Hinterlanband.