Half Pint brings morning Greetings

After David Brooks had whipped the audience at Grizzly's Plantation Cove, Priory, St Ann, into a dancehall frenzy, Hlaf Pint brought Greetings to the large proportion of the Rebel Salute 2016 crowd, which remained for the 'morning ride'.

Although he was not the festival's final performer (Pinchers and Turbulance followed in that order), Half Pint effectively put the cap on a long night, each song he delivered having major impact on the audience, which roared its approval. Two to One, Political Fiction, Substitute Lover and Victory coming before Junior Cat came on to do Jamaica's history on the Answer rhythm.

Following the call of the audience and directions of stage handlers, Half Pint had a return to stage wit a line of Winsome which upped the ante even further, Half Pint closing the steaming performance (MC Mutabaruka said "I cyaa feel mi ankle!") with a snatch of Come On Little Girl.

Pinchers, who kicked a brown boot clad leg as he deejayed for Bounty Killer on their western style track and also delivered Agony for the ladies, followed, having his best moment with Bandelero. Turbulance did Notorious early in his closing stint and honoured Sizzla with Love and Honour, ending a series of romantic relationship related material with X Girlfriend to close his performance and Rebel Salute 2016 at 8:30 a.m.

David Brooks, who preceded Half Pint, delighted the audience repeatedly with snatch of song, including Starlight, Don't Worry and So Special. He was more of a marshal for the audience than a singjay, a white rag in one hand and the microphone in another, the former wheeled vigorously to get the audience going as he delivered vocals through the other. However, with the notable exception of I'm On The Rock (delivered on a return to stage), in many instances Brooks started the song and a back-up male vocalist kept it going, as a smiling Brooks danced for an excited crowd. At one point he changed tack, reminding persons of where he was and mentioned Reggae Sumfest as an alternate setting.

Junior Reid closed his set, which included Foreign Mind, with One Blood, done in Spanish for good measure.

- Mel Cooke