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 | 03.08.06 DANCEHALL NIGHT |
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It was the honour of the „Kingston Drummers“ to open the Reggae Sunsplash on the stage of the amphitheathre, the smaller one of the two festival stages at about 8pm.
Followed by poets and dance groups they took care of the right warm-up for the Dancehall Night.
At exactly 11pm the first chords started to sound from the main stage.
After a short instrumental intro by the backing band „Ruff Kut“ Oxygen passed the microphone on to Silvercat, followed by CeCile, who kept the party going carrying 4 dancers.
Dressed in a jeans batty rider and not much more than that the young Kingstonian artist presented 15 minutes of hits, before Bascom X had his showtime.
In short intervals conscious reggae artists and slack dancehall DJ got themselves some food; Chezidek asked to „leave the trees“ while Tanto Metro and Devonte explained, that „everyone falls in love somtimes“.
0:15am the most notorious entered the stage.
The compulsory burning of tight pants followed a vocally great a capella, before Turbulence showed the audience how real badmen dance.
Appropriate to the international visitors he still made a statement against racism and then left the stage with his unique „I could have been...“ to make space for some comedy.
Reminding of the occurences at Bling Dawgs Summerjam Twin of Twins told the ironic „Portland Story“ and asked on the classic melody of „Now that we found love“: Now that we got buh, what are we gonna do with it?
Natty King’s performance followed a short break for the ears when colourful fireworks filled the sky above the Richmond Estate at 1am.
To keep the band change on the main stage as short and pleasant as possible for the thousands of visitors, the show went on in the amphitheatre.
Vyper danced the crazy frog and Danielle wined dutty until the attention returned to the main stage and Richie Spice at 1:35am.
Surprisingly without his typical hat he took no pause in jumping up and down the stage while presenting hits such as „Ghetto Girl“, „Earth a run red“ and „Youths are so cold“ until he finished his set with „Pon di corner“ and the audience itself gave proof of his great performance by still singing the lyrics even minutes after the artist had left.
Announced by the next host Richie B, who already hosted Reggae Sumfest two weeks ago, Hero was next to enter.
In styles with dark glasses, a golden grill and a red jacket he still pushed the fans in his home parish St Ann until the first highlight of the Dancehall Night.
Not walking but riding a bike with a hot girl Mr Vegas rolled on the stage in a gentleman-like outfit including a funky hat at 2:35am.
„Constant Spring“ was followed by „Taxi Fare“, „Heads High“, „She’s a Ho“ and other great performed hits, that kept both the artist and the audience moving.
To cool himself and maybe to do the female massive little favour, Vegas finally took off his shirt and did not miss the chance to sing „Do you know“ half-naked in the audience while dancing with a young woman.
After another 10 minutes it was time for some female power at 3am.
Styled Tina Turner like Macka Diamond even jumped on her guitarist to give him a little dutty wine.
As the night’s last host Tricia „Wild Child“ Spence took the chance to present some of her own DJ skills before she made space for Busy Busy Busy Signal.
Dressed in a self-designed, black overall covered with „Testin’ 1, 2“ and „Sound the big ting dem“ he filled the audience with enthusiasm and loud „rah rah“ by djing 10 minutes without catching his breath.
As Wayne Marshall got replaced by Natty King earlier that night he finally had his time now at 3:25am to perform hits like „OK“ and „Forget dem“.
Who else could be the last female for the show than the queen of the dancehall herself Marion Hall aka Lady Saw?
In a colourful dress and barefoot she first tought some lessons in tight pussy walk and positions before she welcomed the tourists with a little ironic hint on the „rent a dread“ business.
Announcing to be „ready fi get dirty now“ she made a female visitor come on stage to dance the „Backshot“, but in the end it was not the acrobatic dance skills of Saw’s dancer but the bored face of the young woman, who seemed so not impressed, that made the audience laugh out loud.
The rarely performing Mr Versatile Assassin was next.
Beginning with his recent single „Gully sinting“ he filled 15 minutes with pure big tunes: „As a man“ on the „Wipe out“ riddim, followed by „Step pon dem“, „Idiot Ting“, „Girls gone wild“ or „Don’t like you“.
After this bomb the short band change was a pleasant chance to re-energize for the last part of the show.
35 minutes later a rising star in the dancehall sky entered the stage at 5:05am: Bounty Killer’s protégé Movado ran the place red with his typical „anyway... gangsta for life“, that he also wore on his jacket like Busy Signal before.
Performing his recent hits „Wha dem a do“,„I was dreaming“ and „Gangster for life“ he convinced the Sunsplash fans and and prepared the massive for the following performance of his „Godfather“.
Bounty Killer, also dressed in the Alliance-fashion wearing a black jacket with „Warlord“ on it, came with classics like „The Mystery“ or „Warlord Walk“ and tought the people to respect their parents.
Giving a good example himself he carried his youngest son on the stage to dj about „bullet“ and „murder“ in the typical warlord style.
After Aidonia keeping the Prices company it was time... jamaica mean time!
Vybz Kartel presented 20 minutes of big tunes like „Sen on“ and „Pussy Jaw“ and took his chance to sing a combination with Bounty Killer.
With the rising sun at 6:10am the last bunch of artists was ready to enter the stage.
Filled up with energy, wearing a silver glitter suite, the hair fire-red as usual Elephant Man started the showdown.
Putting their hands, rags and even chairs in the air the enthusiastic audience followed the request „Over the wall“ and threw down the backstage fence while firing gunshots with their fake „popcorn“ guns.
Ninjaman was next to enter the stage.
By turns he and the Energy God fought a lyrical war before Ninjas youngest kid proofed, that the Ballentines can definitely dj, too.
After a little costume parade of sniper Mad Cobra and Catwoman Spice, who impressed more with her whip than her out-of-beat singing, the last but not least artists came on:
Alozade, Junior Cat and Queen Ifrica hit the notes while the massive slowly but surely left the venue of Richmond Estate at 7am...
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