From Ras John's Report Form da Yard August 9, 1995...People started to line up at the gates between 6-7 PM and it was now almost 8 PM. It was actually looking like all would be ready for an 8:30 or 9 PM start. As the first people began coming in, the only difficulty was that none of the trenches holding all of the wiring in the crowd area were filled in yet. Four guys with shovels were looking at the probably 120 feet of two foot wide trench saying how are we supposed to do all this with the crowd already coming in!

Dennis Brown

While the trench guys were still long way from done, the Fab 5 began pumping out the show's opening set as thousands of balloons were released from behind the stage. Reggae Sumfest '95 had officially started its massive four day line up.

With the likes of Dobby Dobson, Hopeton Lewis, Scotty, Derrick Morgan and the Clarendonians on the bill, it is hard to pick a highlight. But my picks are Scotty in the first half of the show and then the killer trio of acts, Ken Boothe, Leroy Sibbles and the Heptones and John Holt, who closed the show. Very few of the 6 -7 thousand people had left and while some slept on blankets or beach chairs, most were on their feet skanking and clapping hands as the first rays of sun began to come up behind the stage. It was wonderful - a full moon just dropping below the horizon behind us, the starts bright above us and the sun coming up to the smooth harmonies and pulsating rhythms of the Heptones. The joy and unity of Reggae Sumfest permeated the air. All I could say was thank you Jah for putting this adventure on my path.

Buju Banton - Friday Night, August 11,1995

From RasJohn's Report from the Yard for August 10th... Inside the hall (which is actually an enclosed area that looks like an oversized baseball field) the staff is raking and cleaning the field of debris for a clean start a couple of hours from now. Around the entire perimeter of the field, local vendors are setting up for the night ahead in 8 X 10 foot shops. A variety of local restaurants and companies are represented along with dozens of other local craftsmen and cooks. For many of them, like Andrew who I had gotten to know the other day, this was a big entrepreneurial opportunity. The smells of chicken, curry goat and fish being grilled over charcoal fires creates a delicious aroma in the air. Above the shops, Walter's' restaurant and Appleton Rum each have VIP areas that will soon fill up to capacity. Backstage, some the musicians were starting to arrive.