Noel Thompson, Freelance Writer
Beres Hammond
WESTERN BUREAU:
It's conclusive. There has never been a disappointing moment when prolific songwriter/singer Beres Hammond performs, at least as far as recent recollection goes.
And, it was no different as the curtains came down at Reggae Sumfest in Montego Bay early Sunday morning amid intermittent rain.
Earlier Saturday, a heavy downpour of rain doused the venue, but this did not deter thousands of patrons and fans attending the show in their rain cloaks and slinging umbrellas to see their favourite artistes. No doubt Beres was their choice act.
Excellent performances
Saturday, billed International Night II, was blessed with several earlier acts, who were excellent,including Brick and Lace, Rootz Underground and Andy Vernon.
Etana connected with the audience with ease, as her contemporaneous songs reverberated across the park. A woman walked to the front of the stage and handed Etana a bouquet of flowers, as a mark of appreciation.
Bonafide, a group comprising four brothers, originally from Mount Salem, Montego Bay, but now residing in the USA, gave a performance, which reminded Montegonians of their early heydays on the north coast.
Tarrus Riley gave a smashing performance, as was highly expected, choosing some of the right songs that the crowd wanted to hear. Among them were Protect Your Head, Beware and an introduction of Garnett Silk's Nothing Can Divide Us. A choir comprising 16 youths then joined him to provide back-up vocals for Lion Palm.
A keyboard was quickly placed on stage. As if he was surprised, Riley looked around and said: 'A wha dis', then started playing the keys and singing his cover version of I Will Stay With You.
Queen Ifrica joined him onstage to perform the song, which followed an earlier duet with Tarrus and his father Jimmy Riley. When the popular
She's Royal was introduced, the crowd erupted. Tarrus realised their thirst was quenched and ended his 30-minute show.
American rappers T-Pain and Lil' Wayne had their fair share of crowd response. However, Lil' Wayne was far more loved and appreciated than T-Pain.
Setting the pace
But the reggae crooner Beres, who preceded Lil' Wayne, had set a pace that was unmatchable by every other entertainer who performed before or after him. Walking down on to the stage on wooden steps in a silhouette of colourful smoke, Beres had the entire audience mesmerised throughout his stint.
Beres was in no mood to talk throughout his 50-minute performance. He sang deep from the heart, hits after hits and spoke briefly after 40 minutes: "I love you ladies". The cheers from males and females were deafening as songs rolled out such as Step Aside, What Can You Do To Stop A Man, Falling In Love, Pull Up The Vibes, Never Get Tired and Show It Off before ending with Rock Away.
Bringing the curtains down was John Holt, who gave another exemplary performance, except that most of the crowd had already left.
