Jamaica’s north coast is set to resonate with profound emotional significance as the Wickie Wackie Music Festival commences this Thursday, February 12. While the three-day event promises a vibrant celebration of reggae music across generations, Saturday’s performance by legendary band Third World will transform into a powerful memorial for their recently departed founding guitarist, Irvin “Cat” Coore.
Singer Kumar Fyah (born Kumar Bent), who will perform alongside the remaining Third World members, revealed the deep personal meaning behind this appearance. “Cat Coore has been a light, a teacher, and friend to me over the years,” Kumar expressed during a recent interview. “He was instrumental in keeping Wickie Wackie Music Festival alive, so with his passing, myself alongside the Third World band members will be paying our utmost respect to the man who changed our lives.”
The tribute holds special significance as Coore, affectionately known as Uncle Cat, was not only a foundational member of Third World but also a steadfast advocate for venues that preserve live reggae music and cultural heritage. The beach-front Wickie Wackie Festival, with its strong community ethos, perfectly embodies these values, making the memorial particularly fitting.
This performance marks Third World’s first Jamaican appearance since Coore’s passing late last month. Audiences can anticipate the band’s characteristic fusion of roots reggae, soul, and pop-inflected harmonies, though the emotional undercurrent is expected to be palpable. Kumar promised “a night with great music filled with honest expressions” that would be “one to remember.”
Addressing speculation about his relationship with the band, Kumar clarified: “Third World is my family. I am more like an extended member. When I travel with them I open for the band and sometimes join them on stage for a song or two.” Following the dissolution of his former group Raging Fyah, Kumar has pursued solo work while developing his craft through continued association with Third World.
The tribute forms part of the festival’s Foundation Night, which honors legendary artists who have shaped Jamaican music across generations. The lineup includes JC Lodge, Etana, Turbulence, and The Abyssinians, reinforcing Wickie Wackie’s status as a convergence point between musical legacy and contemporary culture.
Beyond the performances, Kumar emphasized the festival’s communal spirit: “We are a family-oriented event, providing clean fun, great music around good people.” For many attendees, Saturday’s memorial is poised to become the festival’s defining moment—a rhythmic expression of gratitude, remembrance, and cultural continuity carried on the very sounds that Cat Coore helped create and sustain.