BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – PATRONS of the St. Kitts Music Festival were far from disappointed with last night’s (Jun. 24) event and were even begging for more from their favourite artistes.
The event – the second night of the three-night Music Festival – boasted an impressive lineup of 11 artistes, including St. Kitts’ Dejour, Jamaica’s Morgan Heritage and son of the late great Bob Marley, Damian ‘Jr. Gong’ Marley.
Malik Mustafa, I-Mark, Rodney and Mod Stoney brought life to the stage and drew energy from their fans during their presentations. Mod Stoney, however, feeling that the time allotted to the local acts was not enough, challenged the audience to advocate for more time, a suggestion of which the crowd was obviously in support.
Over the past several years, local singing sensation Dejour gained considerable exposure and fame and delivered a sterling performance at the event. From smooth groove to Soca, the young artiste transitioned through a number of his original pieces, including ‘The One’, ‘Love Potion’ and ‘Ready’, before hitting the crowd with Wycliffe Jean’s ‘Two Wrongs’ and Marvin Gaye’s ‘Let’s Get it On’ and ‘Sexual Healing’
It was rock steady through and through from Jamaica’s Leroy Sibbles and Marcia Griffiths with her famous ‘No No No’ song, appeared to be favourites of the large audience.
She paid tribute to Bob Marley by performing a number of his songs including ‘Buffalo Soldier’ and ‘Redemption Song’.
One of the highlights of her performance was when she welcomed individuals onstage to dance the ‘Electric Slide’ which has grown to become one of the most popular wedding reception dance songs.
Desta Daps of Jamaica almost brought more energy than the patrons could handle and seemed to throw the ladies into frenzy with each note he sang.
A more conscious vibe took the stage when St. Kitts’ very own Crucial Bankie began to perform. Audience members sang word-for-word as the veteran lyricist and performer sang ‘Liamigua’, ‘Slaughter’ and ‘I am the I am’. He also performed songs recently added to his repertoire.
The atmosphere seemed to have shifted when the Morgan Heritage took the stage. A place which they call home, the St. Kitts Music Festival platform, has been frequented by this popular Jamaican Reggae group.
From ‘Down by the River’, to ‘Tell Me How Come’ to ‘You Don’t Haffi Dread’, to ‘Do You See Anything to Smile About’ to ‘Everything Will Be Alright’, Morgan Heritage put on a first-class performance, much like that to which they are accustomed.
From their most-recent album ‘Strictly Roots’, the group also sang ‘Wanna Be Loved’ and paid homage to Buju Banton by singing his track, ‘The Lord’s My Shepherd’.
Shouts and screams came from the audience as Jr. Gong walked onto the stage, a platform on which he performed once prior.
A combination of his energy, lyrical prowess, stage presence and sheer talent electrified the audience which seemed to have committed the words to his songs to heart.
He performed favourites such as ‘Justice’, Beautiful’, ‘Affairs of the Heart’, ‘Promise Land’ and of course, pulled from his father’s body of work and sang ‘Could You be Loved’, ‘War’ and put his twist on ‘Exodus’.
The thousands of patrons of last evening’s event appeared content with the quality performances. And this evening the curtains open for the final acts of the 20th edition of the St. Kitts Music Festival.
The line-up for this evening comprises of Deanna, The O’Jays, R. City, Taurrus Riley and 50 Cent presented by Effen Vodka.
