Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer

Tarrus Riley performs at Reggae Campfire, held at the Windalco Sports Club, Ewarton, St. Catherine, on New Year's Eve. - Colin Hamilto/Freelance Photographer

AS SIZZLA performed yesterday morning at Reggae Campfire, he said in between songs that he was keeping it short, as there were many more artistes backstage.

However, when he wrapped up with the plea "woman I need you, like never before" at 7:05 a.m. and left the stage, the band stopped, there was no recorded music, no MC and the large audieince at the Windalco Sports Club, Ewarton, St. Catherine, simply drifted away.

It was not a satisfied exodus, however, as the complaints and curses flew thick and fast about the absence of Buju Banton, who was advertised for the show.

And as the response to many performers was, by and large, as cold as the weather, with many a shining reggae light looking dim in the fog, when 'Campfire' went out in the morning light like the large log fire that had blazed at the rear of the field there was not much to soothe the general anger.

Trio brings real spark

Most of the real spark came in the very late stages of the concert from the closing trio of Anthony B, Beenie Man and Sizzla, in that order, with a tap-dancing, white tailcoats flashing Beenie Man being by far and away the most blazing. He worked his way through older material, such as Slam and Memories, did a new song in which he dismissed D'Angel ("Dem sey me nearly mad cause mi wife tek anadda man/so wha, me have anedda gal"). and promised more music for 2008.

Anthony B also did a new song, Satisfaction, near the end of his showing, well after starting out with Good Cop, Bad Cop and, after creating a recall to the stage, prodded his hips at length to emphasise how he "buck a sexy black girl inna Kingston city" to a cheering audience, Raid De Barn among the closing numbers.

Sizzla rasped the hardcore deejay of Frontline and had a go at the roots of Holding Firm and Solid As A Rock, many in the audience showing firm suppor the overall effect was far short of explosive.

Recall for Queen Ifrica

In the earlier going, Queen Ifrica opened to huge applause with Below The Waist.

"We naa hype pon de I dem an' show off," she said. Her tribute to 'sensimilla' hit home and she was recalled to complete Daddy after doing a single line and leaving. And she expressed her disgust for homosexuals, saying, "As a woman, a my job dat. A our ting dem a juk juk ova de place".

Chuck Fender gashed and lit his way into the audience's good graces, I Swear and Murderer hitting home then the audience filling in for Cherine Anderson to ask "Are you coming over tonight?", while Turbulence was Notorious and pointed.

Sanchez' love songs, among them Lonely Don't Leave Me Alone, hit a mellow groove, Amazing Grace proving a decent closer.

However, many got a generally lukewarm response in the chill, Morgan Heritage working through A Man Is Still a Man, Down By the River and Don't Haffi Dread. John Holt was rescued by a decent response to Police In Helicopter and Love I Can Feel, the rest of his songs generally getting the stand and stare treatment.

QQ 'stookied' and 'rum-rammed' mightily, but the audience was not impressed, band changes breaking the flow of an already dragging event, with Macka Diamond's Money O being devalued.

Etana sang of her Roots and DeMarco hailed the Fallen Soldiers.