BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE hype and expectation which surrounded the first night of the 16th annual St. Kitts Music Festival was more than matched with the thousands-strong crowd receiving a generous dose of rhythm, soca and plenty reasons to gyrate.
The line-up was promising, with some eight entertainers – both local and regional - set to tease and please their audience.
The Spectrum Band – which was well received by the audience - kicked off the show performing a variety of songs including ‘Everybody ah Bawl’, an old favourite ‘Come Forward’ and a soca version of ‘Forever Young’.
The size of the crowd increased as the fire was brought by Edwin Yearwood and KrosFyah of Barbados. Their energy, coupled with the tunes they performed including ‘French Kiss’, ‘Wet Me’, ‘Nah Missing It’, ‘Pump Me Up With the Music’, ‘All Aboard’, ‘Seventeen Plus’ and ‘Mary Mary Jumping Up’, set the tone and atmosphere for a ‘wuk up’ and jump up session to remember.
The Limitless Band, which was founded by the late Masud Sadiki, graced the stage performing a number of songs that he penned in honour of his memory. Their work however was not over as they provided musical accompaniment to local artiste Nicha B.
Nicha’s performance was eye-catching with his creative use of dancers appropriately attired to match each of his songs which included ‘School Time Lover’, ‘Grudge People’ and ‘White Sheet’.
He ended with his well known Sugar Mas’ 40/40 ‘Bounce and Skant’ which he married with a brilliant display of cultural elements including an iron band, clowns and the Mansion Bull, much to the crowd’s approval.
Backed by the Grand Masters Band, were Ali D out of Nevis and Shakki Star Fire. And following their performances, Grand Masters kept the ‘pumped’ crowd energised as only they could.
The previous five hours of soca and jamming – according to many – were spectacular, but the night would not have been complete without the anticipated appearance of the world’s number one soca artiste Machel Montano and Team HD.
For just about two hours, the group put on an energetic and interactive show which left the crowd wanting more.
‘Pump Yuh Flag’, ‘Bottle of Rum’, ‘One More Time’, ‘Congo Man’, ‘Mad Bull Fever’, ‘Advantage’, ‘One More Wine’, ‘Bend Over’ and ‘Mr. Fete’ were just a few of the songs they performed.
Taking their final bow at approximately 3:35 a.m., Machel and his team brought the curtains down on the first night of the of the Music Festival’s Sweet Sixteen Celebration.
And according to a number of patrons who spoke with this publication, “if the other nights are as good as this one, we are in for a treat”.
Last night’s event was chaired by WINN FM’s GQ and Crystal.
