Reggae Sumfest 20 produces massive second night

Int'l Night One befitting a Jamaica 50 event

Nagra Plunkett, Assignment Coordinator

WESTERN BUREAU:It was a line-up of 17 acts that was presented at the Catherine Hall Entertainment Centre in Montego Bay, St James on Friday night as International Night One unfolded at Reggae Sumfest 2012.

The show, which also featured a stunning display of fireworks, was headlined by 'Dancehall Emperor' Shabba Ranks, R&B sensation Trey Songz, and reggae crooner Tarrus Riley.

"A me man, big, dutty, stinking Shabba!" the dancehall veteran shouted as he took the stage.

Shabba's performance - his first in 11 years on local soil - resounded well among the thousands of patrons who sang and danced as he reeled off tunes from his catalogue of hits such as Winey Winey, X-Rated, Wicked In Bed, Reality and Girls Graduation.

special counterparts

In his usual outspoken style, the entertainer commanded the attention of the packed venue and used every opportunity to emphasise his love for women; and the need for his male counterparts to find their special counterparts to comfort them in the bedroom. Shabba also teamed up with Cherine Anderson on Telephone Love and Twice My Age.

Heart-throb Trey Songz was greeted by deafening screams from the females as he teased and sang. He also paid tribute to Jamaica's 50th year of Independence with Bob Marley's Turn Your Lights Down Low.

It was obvious why the young singer is successful in the field of entertainment, as he has managed to skilfully twin charisma with his vocal abilities to woo his audience. Three lucky patrons also benefited from his generosity in the form of his sunglasses, a sweaty towel, and eventually, a shirt.

Singy Singy, as Tarrus is called, stamped his mark on the 20-year-old music festival with a blistering set. The Rastafarian singer, who is known for popular hits such as She's Royal, Lion Paw, Love's Contagious, Stay With You and Good Girl Gone Bad surpassed expectations and reaffirmed his place among reggae's superstars.

Earlier, female entertainers such as the vibrant Tessanne Chin, Sophia Brown and 14-year-old Bahamian pop sensation Angelique Sabrina graced the stage. They were preceded by Montego Bay-grown talents Bonafide Band and singer Nature who gave admirable sets as the night's opening acts.

Bonafide gave a snippet of the talents that have made the group a sought-after one in Las Vegas and Hawaii.

Nature, who hails from the inner-city community of Glendevon, showed maturity, performing songs such as Hold On, Hold On and World Peace that will be featured on his debut album to be produced by DownSound Records.

The night's entertainment was topped off with a special Jamaica 50 tribute from veteran entertainers such as Derrick Harriott, Uroy, John Holt, Leroy Sibbles, Mighty Diamonds, Pinchers, King Yellowman and Frankie Paul.