|
 The
annual Unity Splash, held on New Year's Day at the Llandilo Cultural Centre
in Westmoreland, witnessed an impressive turnout. The only low point of
the show was the sound, which, according to the promoter, arose from a
problem with one of the wires.
Nevertheless, that didn't stop patrons from having the time of their lives
as both billed and surprise artistes passed through to support the son
of Westmoreland, Richie Stephens. The artistes gave patrons "brawta"
for their money. One high point of the evening was a special two-the-hard-way
between Coco Tea and Richie Stephens. The two created a buzz as they tried
to outdo each other. It was all in good fun and the audience got caught
up in it as they cheered both of them along.
Early acts Ambassador and Heather Cummings delivered well, setting the
pace for what was to follow.
Richie Stephens' protégé Copper Cat seemed to have come
into his own, as a clearly mature cat took command of the stage. He was
followed by Jimmy Riley who took the audience down memory lane with some
of his popular tunes. John "1000 Volts" Holt was next and with
"Tribal War," "Love I Can Feel," "Ali Baba,"
"Stealing Stealing" and many others, he reminded the crowd why
he was so named.
Following Coco Tea and Richie Stephens' dynamic set, Queen Ifrika gave
an energetic performance. It seems like with every performance she adds
a new dimension.
LUST was in great form as they individually and collectively did their
thing. It was something to behold, as they had the audience eating out
of the palm of their hand.
Degree came on stage with a burst of energy, reeling through a medley
of his hits. His enthusiasm was catching and everyone was caught up in
his stage antics.
It was chanting time with the
strong-voiced DYCR as he gave the audience something to laugh about with
"Misunderstanding" and "Delroy."
Then it was "almshouse" time with Captain Barkey & Wickerman,
as they came on stage holding a piece of lignum vitae branch in their
hands doing "Nuh Mouly Arm." No one could keep a straight face
as they performed one silly song after another.
Assassin was raring to go and that he did, taking the audience to an energetic
high.
Unbilled artiste Ninja Man passed through, giving the crowd a "brawta"
as he, in true Ninja Man style, gave a performance that generated loud
cheers and set lighters flaring.
Capleton brought fire in the cold cold morning, generating well-needed
heat in the crowd as he blazed on stage.
When one hears the name Beenie Man one expects to get a first class performance
and he certainly did not disappoint. He often dubs himself an entertainer
and entertain he did.
 Coming
right after Beenie Man, Elephant Man totally devastated as he went right
into his deejaying and dancing routine. It was pandemonium time when he
brought a physically handicapped man on stage and the two did some wicked
dance moves. Elephant also brought an elderly man on stage and it was
fun time again as he taught the old man "modern moves."
In between climbing boxes and doing his thing, Elephant Man gave the crowd
their money's worth and then some.
Bounty Killer brought the curtains down in fine style on what was an evening
of enjoyable performances.
Cecelia Campbell-Livingston
is currently the assistant editor at Jamaica's leading weekly tabloid,
XNews. She
also writes for other publications.
|
