Sister Nancy’s long-awaited concert was scheduled to close out the 11 p.m. program at the Piccolo Rialto, but it wasn’t until shortly after 1 a.m. that the high priestess of dancehall took the stage at the Piccolo Rialto. And what an entrance!
Sister Nancy, whose real name is Ophlin Russell, is a pioneer of Jamaican dancehall—a predominantly male-dominated world in her day. Fans of Jamaican culture know that she paved the way for many women who followed in her footsteps.
At 64 years old, she was in fine form during her set at the 25th edition of Pop Montréal and even did a few jumps on stage during her performance. Accompanied by a DJ spinning wild riddims, she kicked things off with an impromptu session paying tribute to Montréal.
Known worldwide for her mega-hit “Bam Bam,” her voice is instantly recognizable from the very first notes—this incredible performer certainly hasn’t lost any of her vigor over the years. What energy!
Sister Nancy performed several of her hits, but I also discovered some lesser-known songs. From time to time, she shared messages with her audience, whether to talk about the importance of loving one another in these times or to make the most of life. During her last visit to Montreal, she met Carrie Brown backstage, a Canadian reggae artist who passed away in January 2026. “Today, I’m here, and she’s no longer with us. Life is short—make the most of every moment,” she says between songs.
She even shared the very first song of her career, dating back to 1979, announcing right away that she doesn’t always remember the lyrics and asking the audience for help—who were delighted to sing along with her. She also made the most of Hal David’s lyrics, “What the world needs now is love, sweet love,” from a classic song composed by Burt Bacharach.
Her boundless energy on stage was contagious; the crowd danced the whole time. Some reggae fans were thrilled to see their idol, while others were discovering the artist for the first time. As I left the Rialto, I promised myself I’d watch the documentary made about her to learn even more about this great lady’s journey.
