Reviewed by: Mix102.3
Review by Wade Howland | 02 March 2025

Oh man, that voice.

As soon as Duane Forrest sings his first note you know there’s no way you can resist. Bob Marley: How Reggae Changed The World isn’t just a tribute to the reggae legend. It’s a far more personal look at the music Jamaica has given the world, weaving in the historical context of its evolution while focusing on the effect it had on a young black man growing up in Toronto, Canada.

Forrest’s honey-in-dappled-sunlight voice has competition - his easy going charm and million-watt smile are just as disarming. He treats his subject seriously though. His reverence for Bob Marley - and reggae as a musical and cultural force - is clear, and his joy in sharing it is contagious.

As he performs, he encourages the audience to sing too, guiding us through hits by Marley and beyond. His reggae take on I Can’t Help Falling in Love With You has the crowd in fine voice, as does Day-O (The Banana Boat Song) as we follow his lead. It ends with Redemption Song, and an hour of music and stories - moving, funny and always interesting - from a natural performer comes to a close.

With Bob Marley: How Reggae Changed The World, Fool’s Paradise has unearthed one of the most life-affirming shows of the Fringe.

And that voice? Oh, man.