An evening of transcendent musical storytelling that radiates with such honesty, clarity and humility, it is a real let down when it comes to a close
There are few performers who can do what Duane Forrest does.
His show, Bob Marley: How Reggae Changed The World, isn’t just a celebratory concert of the reggae icon’s work. It is a carefully crafted, vulnerable exploration of Forrest’s own identity and a loving shrine to an artist who helped Forrest find himself. This piece radiates so palpably with hope and light and love, it is impossible to walk away without feeling its warm hand on your heart.
In the second Edinburgh Fringe run of his award-winning show, this gifted Toronto-based singer-songwriter gently pushes us along a burbling stream of cultural and political commentary, weaving together Marley’s soul-balming songs with milestones of Forrest’s own journey exploring his Jamaican roots and the historical erasure of his enslaved ancestors. Music underpins and uplifts even the darkest moments of the story.
Sometimes, Forrest introduces a song with the story of the first time he heard it – where he was, how old he was, how he wore his hair at the time. Other times, Forrest simply explains how it makes him feel whenever he hears it in his life today – how it gets him through hard times and how it makes him feel connected to those around him, those who raised him, and those who came before him. He does all of this with such honesty, clarity and humility, it is a real let down when the show comes to a close.
There is something so spiritual about this piece that words will never quite capture. It can be a bold move for an artist to write and present a whole show about personal transformation. A lot of times, there’s still what feels like a hazy wall between audience and performer. You don’t quite buy that they’ve actually undergone the change they say they have.
But with Forrest, any doubts that a change has taken place – that the music of Bob Marley has profoundly shaped the soul standing before us like water over a smooth river stone – flies out the window. The moment Forrest greets his audience, that wall collapses. The air around you relaxes, breathes a deep sigh of relief, in the presence of something much greater than words, gestures, or images. Forrest becomes a vessel, not only in the service of carrying on Bob Marley’s legacy, but also of inspiring anyone with the privilege of simply being around him with the reassuring hope that we really shouldn’t worry ‘bout a thing. That every little thing is indeed gonna be alright.
Bob Marley: How Reggae Changed the World was a part of the 2025 Edinburgh Festival Fringe and played until 24 August. More info here: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/bob-marley-how-reggae-changed-the-world