Ochie ‘Lovers Rock’ getS Hollywood pop-in

A Hollywood power player showed up at Lovers Rock: A Night of British Reggae last Friday. Jimmy Fallon, host of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on NBC, surprised the packed house at Ocean’s 11 Bar and Restaurant in Ocho Rios, St Ann. Fallon popped into the venue with Wayne Jobson, the Jamaican impresario who is an influential figure in the Southern California reggae scene. Steve James, who started ‘Lovers Rock’ in 2025, was surprised when the American comedian appeared. “I was very shocked! We had received an indication that he might attend, but there is a big difference between hearing that someone may show up and actually seeing them there,” he told the Jamaica Observer. “When we saw him we were pleasantly surprised and delighted. His attendance was certainly an unexpected highlight of the evening.” James said Fallon mingled with patrons, most of whom are fans of lovers’ rock, the genre that emerged in the United Kingdom during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Since 2014 Fallon has hosted his late-night talk show, which is consistently one of the top-rated in the United States. Beres Hammond also attended Lovers Rock: A Night of British Reggae, which saw a performance from singer/bassist Lloyd Parks. The South Florida-based James, who hosts the Real Rock Radio show, led the line-up of selectors who played songs that defined the lovers’ rock movement. Others manning the turntables were Martin Mitchell; Twinn Spinn from Fetedayzradio.com; DJ Jacko from King Jammy Sound System; Buppy C from Vibes FM London; and Lady Gee, formerly of Choice FM London and Vibes. “The atmosphere was fantastic! Many patrons expressed how much they had missed hearing this kind of music. For them, it was more than just a night of entertainment; it was a nostalgic journey that transported them back to their days in the UK,” said James, who is considered an authority on lovers’ rock. The genre produced several stars, most of whom were born in the United Kingdom to Jamaican parents. They include Janet Kay, Peter Hunnigale, and Maxi Priest. Lovers Rock: A Night of British Reggae was first held during Reggae Month last February at Pon Top Seafood Grill and Bar in Kingston. The second staging took place at the same venue in May. The fourth is scheduled for Kingston in February.