With that one element of uncertainty confronting me head on as I arrived for night one....the bar was raised on what it would take to enjoy the evening's loooooong list of entertainers for the crowd-favourite Dancehall Night! Despite the late start the show proceeded as planned with the favourites upping the energy quotient in the packed house as they performed. Bounty Killer managed to deliver his set without disturbing anyone too much (a far cry from 2008's antics) and there was even a measure of deference from a few of the 'unlikely suspects' to Beenie Man who was celebrating 30 years in the business.
The evening was packed with many remarking that it was the largest crowd they had seen for Sumfest and for that, I have to believe that, one of the biggest winners for 2009 (so far) would have to be Carib Beer and its local distributors CPJ. How (Trinidad-based) Carib beer managed to wrestle the sponsorship for this most Jamaican of Jamaican events away from perennial stalwarts Red Stripe is something that someone somewhere should be explaining by conference call on Monday morning -- but their loss is Carib's gain I imagine as they enjoyed prime positioning throughout the venue and the benefits of exclusivity of sale throughout the venue. Kudos to the Carib team....also showing their corporate marketing prowess was Wray and Nephew with the launch of Jagra (containing 'hungry goat weed') on the main stage with some 15-20 'gyals/dancers' arriving on the back of some screamingly loud motorbikes. (I heard a rumour that the ramp cost an estimated US$50K but if that is true they need to get back the $46K that wasn't used....).The entertainment was rich. The music was good. The vibe was solid but the outfits....WOWOWOW! How (and more importantly WHY) some of these women get into these outfits is worthy of a much more intelligent debate than I am capable of holding but suffice to say some of these outfits just scream for a good dose of Jagra (or Viagra)......talk about putting your @hit out in the streets!! The only real travesty is that with the show running so late Beenie's performance was curtailed....it was very good but something that I had hoped would really be the 'icing' and completely justify an evening that began at 9pm and came to an end at 7am this morning....a reality that my mind is still fully able to manage but my body is still trying to comprehend...anyway time to head back to the action....and more pointedly....confirm whether Toni is on her way!!
(Personally I think it would be completely justifiable for the Sandals jet which is apparently transporting the Jackson clan into Jamaica to be reassigned to collect TB in Atlanta.......I'll let you know what else I hear!) 24 hours to Tito Jackson's performance on the main stage........................WHOOOOO...
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