ANNA MARIA – Making a return engagement and performing iconic songs made famous by Bob Marley and The Wailers, the current version of The Wailers brought their reggae and ska vibrations and bliss to The Center of Anna Maria Island.
Graced with beautiful weather, The Wailers’ outdoor concert on Saturday, Jan. 24, was much warmer than their chilly show in 2025.
The Wailers’ lineup for Saturday’s show featured multi-talented bandleader Aston Barrett Jr. on drums, although he usually plays bass. Barrett Jr. is the son of Bob Marley and the Wailers’ late bassist and bandleader, Aston Barrett.
Saturday’s lineup also featured Wendel “Junior Jazz” Ferraro on lead vocals and guitar, Owen “Dreadie” Reid on bass, Ricky Walters on lead guitar, Miguel “Scooby” Anderson on keyboards and backing singers Andrea Sawyers and Shanna-Lee Fletcher.
Just after 8:30 p.m., The Wailers’ ‘Roots, Rock, Reggae’ show kicked off with “Lively Up Yourself” and the next 90-minutes or so provided an endless string of well-known reggae classics that included “Is This Love,” “No Woman, No Cry,” “Stir it Up,” “Waiting in Vain” and “I Shot the Sherrif,” with many in the crowd dancing and singing along throughout out the show.
After a crowd-pleasing version of “Three Little Birds,” Ferraro said, “It’s gonna be alright.”
Before launching into “Jamming,” Ferraro said, “This is your party song right here.”
During the show, Barrett Jr., a fantastic drummer, sang lead vocals on one song. Ferraro also noted Barrett Jr. played the role of his father, Aston Barrett, in the 2024 biopic movie, “Bob Marley: One Love.”
Before playing “Get Up, Stand Up,” Ferraro used the Jamaican, Rastafarian word, “Irie” when he said, “How are you feeling out there? That sounds like one Irie set of people – it means when you’re feeling so good that nothing can change that vibe.”
He then welcomed his brother Craig to the stage to play drums on a few songs.
The stellar setlist also included “Exodus,” “One Love” and more.
The encore set began with Ferraro and Reid performing “Redemption Song” as a duo, followed by full-band versions of “Buffalo Soldier” and the show-ending “Could You Be Loved”
Performing solo, singer/songwriter Dylan Cotrone began the evening with a well-received opening set of his original songs.
Saturday’s concert was sponsored by the Sandbar restaurant, Cedar Cove Resort and the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. The concert proceeds will benefit The Center’s youth programs.
The Atlanta Rhythm Section will perform at The Center on Saturday, Feb. 14, and John Oates & The Good Road Band will perform at The Center on Sunday, March 1. For tickets and more information, visit The Center website.
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