BASSETERRE, ST. Kitts - DESPITE having Shabba Ranks and Movado as the headliners, nothing can replace experience as the Third World Band stole the show on night two (Jun. 23) of the 2017 Music Festival.
The band, which has been around for 40 years, hit the mark with fans from the first chord on the guitar to the last beat of the drum.
Members of the band belted out their popular lyrics from their early days, which included their marquee tune, ‘96 Degree in the Shade’.
The band instantly connected with the hundreds gathered, the old and the young together - with many swaying in time with the music.
With everyone on their feet singing along, the band’s lead vocalist treated patrons to a bit of yesteryear opera - which sent the growing crowd into frenzy.
The band performed for approximately 90 minutes at which time many were hyped with extra energy for more.
SKNVibes caught up with the entertainers shortly after they had completed their performance and enquired about the energy they exhibited as well as how they came up with the structure of their entire performance.
They indicated that due to their large cache of music, they deliberated long and hard on “where to put and what to sing”.
“We have meetings and discussions on which song to play and where, when and how to [to perform those songs]. Not on all did we agree! It is always a challenge with the repertoire. Third World has so many good songs, and then we have to pick out what we have to do. When we come to a place like St. Kitts, we always bounce it around each other...we do our best and we did well tonight.”
With other performers gracing the stage, including the Goo Goo Dolls, fans seemed to have been impatient as they awaited the arrival of the headliners.
As the smell of the fresh morning breeze blew across Warner Park, so too did the announcement that the wait was over for Shabba Ranks, which brought light to the many sleepy-eyed patrons at the cricket ground.
Shabba Ranks’ performance was the missing piece in night one, an individual said.
He brought the energy, the flair and laid down a performance that all in attendance loved.
The veteran performer soothed the crowd with his ‘Ting-a-Ling’ lyrics, touched the couples in the audience with ‘Champion Lover’ and belted out his popular ‘X-Rated’ hit for the single individuals in the Park.
Meanwhile, many complained that they were unhappy with Movado’s performance although he laid it all out for the house this morning, as the sun rose to greet many on the playfield.
The curtains will come down on this year’s Music Festival this evening at the same venue and it is expected to begin at 8:00 p.m.
