Marville met Dewight Peters, the CEO of Saint International, during Barbados Fashionweek 2006.

Peters promised that he would make her a special project, despite Marville’s petite frame. Soon after, she was offered an exclusive contract with the Jamaican-based agency.

International recognition

Marville, with the support of the BIDC, Barbados’s equivalent of Jamaica Trade and Invest
(formerly JAMPRO) and the contacts of Saint International, soon embarked on a path to international recognition, starting in New York.

There, she did portfolio shoots with some of the fashion industry’s most respected photographers, including Mark and Seth, who have been working exclusively with Saint International.

Peters considered this strategy critical, considering that the Barbadian Government was playing a key role – financing the crucial development process.

“Leah is a refined beauty whose features are globally appealing and can make her a commercial superstar,” Peters said. “She is a bright girl and is committed and loyal and focused. Those qualities will take her a far way. I am delighted that Saint International could afford a beautiful girl from Barbados this kind of opportunity, which many Jamaican models take as routine.”

After receiving her photos, Peters got Marville signed with Base Model Management, South Africa’s leading agency. He also got her a contract with a top German agency, East West Models.

Created a spark

In a surprise development, Marville’s arrival in South Africa created a spark in the industry. Top clients, including commercial producers, magazine editors and catalogue companies were ringing the agency, seeking out the Bajan beauty.

Within a week , Marville set a new record, shooting some of the most coveted assignments in the South African market.

Marville won the lead role in the Blue Ice Deodorant TV com-mercial. She also appeared on other high-profile assignments, including editorial layouts in Cosmopolitan, Elle, Marie Claire, Dunhill Magazine and Jet Club magazine. Marville will also be the promotional model for department chain store, Truworth.

Saint International is the Caribbean’s leading international model placement agency and since June, the agency’s models have been dominating the international fashion spotlight.

Source: Jamaica Gleaner

The show will feature a fabulous line-up of exceptional performers on the lawns of Jamaica House. Among them will be Macy Gray, Morgan Heritage, Buju Banton, Sean Paul, J Holiday, Sean Kingston, Tessanne Chin, Marcia Griffiths, Etana and others.

The event is aiming to attract Jamaicans from all walks of life who want to make a difference by contributing to the upgrade of the Bustamante Children’s Hospital. Tickets for ‘I Dare You’ are tiered in three categories, $20,000, $10,000, and $5,000. Shaggy’s organising team and event suppliers are all donating their services and working towards ensuring that each category of patrons will get the best value for money.

A tantalising experience awaits all guests who purchase the highest category of tickets, valuing $20,000. The lawns of Jamaica House will be totally transformed and an exclusive ultra VIP area fashioned with exquisite décor to create a warm and inviting atmosphere filled with comfort and splendour.

Guests will also be treated to fine cuisine which will see each person being served a six-course dinner, each course being prepared by a different caterer. A premium bar will also be available with drink mixes.

The $10,000 VIP area will be all-inclusive (food and drinks) and allows patrons “choice” seats and the $5,000 donors will have all-inclusive drinks.

Patrons who purchase these tickets will in effect be donating their contribution to the hospital and will be able to participate in an additional fund-raising art auction which will display works from Cartier, Bijoux and also a run with Usain Bolt and an autographed sneaker and an autographed glove from Lennox Lewis.

Shaggy adopted the Bustamante Hospital for Children in 2001 and has been donating to the institution since 2004. However, the hospital is still in need of other life-saving equipment as many are outdated or non-existent. These include vital items such as incubators, vital sign monitors, volumetric pumps and dialysis machines.

The ‘I Dare You Show’ dubbed Shaggy & Friends is the first in what is hoped to be an annual concert which will see Shaggy joining forces with other entertainers to continue to extend the reach of “love” to the hospital.

Source: Jamaica Observer

Nickolas Ashford & Valerie Simpson have been added to the opening night line-up of the festival, set for January 22-24 at Rose Hall in Montego Bay, Jamaica.

Since the beginning of their career together over 30 years ago, Ashford & Simpson have become one of the most prolific and versatile musical couples in recording history.

Combining multiple skills as performers, songwriters and producers, they have created an unprecedented catalog of chart-topping hit singles and albums, collecting 22 gold and platinum records and more than 50 ASCAP awards.

As staff songwriters for Scepter Records, Nick and Valerie penned Ray Charles’ classic Let’s Go Get Stoned in 1964, which brought them to attention of Motown’s hit-making team Holland-Davier-Holland.

At Motown, they wrote their second smash hit Ain’t No Mountain High Enough for Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell.

Soaring high energy harmonies and driving rhythms became Ashford & Simpson trademarks, and other Gaye/Terrell hits followed: Your Precious Love, Aint Nothing Like the Real Thing, You’re All I Need to Get By and Good Lovin’ Aint Easy to Come By.

They soon grew beyond staff writers and signed with Warner Brothers in 1973 as recording artistes. The duo recorded eight albums, four of which went gold. Their numerous hit singles include Send It, Found a Cure, Don’t Cost You Nothin, It Seems to Hang On and Love Don’t Make It Right.
In addition to their own growing catalog of songs, Ashford & Simpson wrote and produced for Ben E King, Chaka Khan,

Gladys Knight and the Pips, Quincy Jones and rewrote a version of Aint No Mountain High Enough for Diana Ross that became a number one record. Her album The Boss, not only gave her another hit song but a title as well. In the ’80s Ashford & Simpson signed with Capitol Records and their hit Solid as a Rock continues to be a signature song for the duo.

Ashford & Simpson joins a Thursday night line-up that opens with award-winning multi-platinum superstar, Robin Thicke; British Grammy Award-nominated hip hop/R&B singer, rapper and producer Estelle, who is best known for her hit single American Boy; Los Van Van, a Cuban band led by bassist Juan Formell, the Reunion Jazz Quartet and Jewish reggae singer, Matisyahu.

On Friday night, January 23, Jamaica’s Rose Hall development in Montego Bay will come alive with multi-platinum Grammy award-winning singer, Lionel Richie, who will grace the stage along with Lou Gramm of Foreigner fame, Randy Crawford and Joe Sample, Alton Reeds Blues Entourage and young Canadian sensation, 13-year-old Nikki Yanofsky.

Saturday, January 24 rocks with Chicago, Maxi Priest, Atlantic Starr and the O’Jays, all of whom need
no introduction.

Also added recently to the Saturday line-up are: Acclaimed singer-songwriter Carlene Carter, who has emerged from a period of intense mourning and introspection to craft

Stronger, an album that explores the power of love to hurt, to bring laughter, to change the heart and, most of all, to heal.
The 2009 festival is being presented this year by the Jamaica Tourist Board, which is the new title sponsor.

The festival, which since its introduction in 1996 was known as the Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival, has attracted thousands of patrons from the USA, Europe, the Caribbean and Jamaica. International artistes that have performed at the festival include Alicia Keys, Kenny Rogers, Norah Jones,

Julio Iglesias, Roberta Flack, Lou Rawls, Dionne Warwick, India Arie, Nancy Wilson, Earth Wind and Fire, Kenny G, Michael McDonald, Gladys Knight, Kool & the Gang, Al Jarreau, Branford Marsalis, Brian McKnight Harry Belafonte, Babyface, Stephanie Mills, George Benson, Erykah Badu, Diana Ross, Michael Bolton, and many more.

And to bring the Jamaican flavour, well-known names such as Ziggy Marley, Morgan Heritage, Third World, Toots Hibbert, Shaggy, Sean Paul Maxi Priest, Beres Hammond, Monty Alexander, Ritchie Stephens and many other Jamaican talents have made their mark on the Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues stage.

This year the festival is being presented by key title sponsor, the Jamaica Tourist Board along with Rose Hall Developments, Jamrock Magazine, Half Moon, The Jamaica Observer, Holiday Inn Sun Spree, The Ritz Carlton Golf & Spa Resort in Rose Hall, Courts Jamaica, Scotiabank, Riu Hotels, CaribPR Wire, Sky Writings Magazine and CMS Media.

Source: Jamaica Observer

The latest of a distinguished list of personalities associated with the music in one way or another from – performer to producers – who made their transition this year, ‘Tata’, whose real name is Vincent Ford was more than a mentor. He was given the writer’s credit by Bob Marley, for his most re-recorded songs, No Woman Nuh Cry, which has a universal anthem for oppressed women.

Two departed mentors and songwriters for Bob Marley – Mortimo Planno (left), who left us two years ago and Vincent ‘Tata’ Ford, who died last weekend.

And according to a well-informed source, Bob Marley, in a 1975 radio interview, stated that he had written No Woman Nuh Cry one afternoon at Tata’s place.

In the booklet from Bunny Wailer’s box set Musically Speak, the Untold Story of the Wailers, a picture of Tata seated in front of his Trench Town home is captioned, “Tata’s ranch (Casba) where the Wailers rehearsed.”

In an obituary article appearing in the Sunday Observer in March of 2006, prominent reggae historian, Bob Marley’s documenter/discographer Roger Steffens, related an experience he had in 2001, when for the first time in Jamaica he gave his multimedia presentation at the University of Technology (Utech) titled The Life of Bob Marley.

He said after he was summoned by Mortimo Planno who was seated outside of the venue, the late elder Rastafari patriach, smiling broadly, pointed to a slender man seated in a wheelchair beside him, “a man who was missing the bottom half of his body”, and asked him, “Do you know who dis man is?”.

In his response to Planno’s question, Steffens replied, “I think so… It’s Brother Tata. ‘Yes mon’, Planno roared.

Then, according to Steffens, Planno demanded sternly, that “Tata show de mon how you dance pon your stomp!”

With great effort, Steffens said, Tata boosted himself on the arms of his chair and wiggled his torso a couple of times before collapsing back into the chair. “See,” said Planno, laughing, “Di man du di cripple skank fi you.”

Source: Jamaica Observer

Uruly passenger forces jet to divert

A passenger jet headed for Toronto had to make an unscheduled landing in the Dominican Republic on Tuesday.

	The jet had to divert to the Dominican Republic because of the actions of one passenger

The plane was forced to land there after an agitated passenger tried to tamper with an emergency door.

An airline official said the Boeing B757 landed safely and nobody was hurt.

She said flight crew and passengers restrained the man until the plane landed at the Punta Cana international airport late Tuesday afternoon.

Electoral reform debate heats up

A key adviser to Dominican prime minister Roosevelt Skerrit says the opposition parties on the island have not made a strong case for electoral reform.

The main opposition United Workers Party and two smaller political parties not represented in the island’s parliament, are pressing for reforms they say should include a cleaning up of the voters’ list to remove the names of dead people and others who have moved on.

But attorney Anthony Astaphan, an adviser to the prime minister, says there were no widespread irregularities during the last general election in 2005, and the opposition is yet to make a compelling case for the reforms they’d like to see.

Tough talk on crime

The security forces in St Kitts/Nevis have been urged to get tougher on crime.

That appeal from Prime Minister Denzil Douglas, who told the country’s Defence Force that those who challenge the integrity of the country must be confronted as if the territory is in a state of war.

Dr Douglas said those who continue to terrorise citizens, residents and visitors must be held accountable.

The government earlier this month organised a national consultation on crime.

Antigua wants relief funds

Antigua and Barbuda is seeking a 30 million US dollar loan from the Caribbean Development Bank to weather the global financial crisis.

	Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer’s government’s targeting CDB funding

Government spokesman Winston Henry says officials are finalising plans to secure the funds for infrastructure development and job creation.

The government will also ramp up unemployment benefits for those in the ailing tourism industry, which has shed roughly 200 jobs in recent weeks.

Jail term for former minister

A judge in Suriname has sentenced former civil works minister Dewanand Balesar to two years in prison.

Mr Balesar who was convicted of corruption during his 2002 to 2004 tenure, has also been barred from holding public office for the next five years.

He’s expected to be sent to jail after he is officially served with the verdict, possibly next month.

The former minister was tried in July on 19 charges including forgery and fraud.

Weekly Virgin flights for Puerto Rico

Virgin Atlantic is to start running direct flights between London and Puerto Rico late next year.

	Virgin Atlantic aims to put on weekly flights to Puerto Rico

The British airline has signed a deal that’ll see it start operating those flights from November 2009.

Puerto Rico’s tourism director Terestella Gonzalez says the weekly flights will generate some 30 million dollars a year in revenue for the island.

Coming of Age collection published

The Kittitian prime minister Denzil Douglas is about to publish a collection of speeches in a book entitled “Coming of Age”.

It covers speeches made during his first two terms in office between 1995 and 2004.

Dr Douglas’ office quotes Caricom Secretary General Edwin Carrington as describing the collection as compulsory reading “for anyone who wishes to learn how a small country with a visionary leader can influence the entire region”.

Toots and his band were on the road for much of 2008. The veteran unit covered the gamut: playing the European festival circuit, touring the United States with Grammy winners Sheryl Crow and James Blunt and performing at a private party for Elvis Presley’s grandson.

“I am sure that Toots tours more than any other reggae act out of Jamaica consistently. He has created a whole new fan base which comes from touring and working so much with international acts like the Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Buffett, Los Lonely Boys, Dave Matthews, No Doubt, Ben Harper and many others,” said Mike Cacia, the group’s manager.

Main phase

The main phase of Toots and The Maytals’ 2008 tour started in the US in May before moving to Europe where they played from June 4 to July 16.

From July 28 to August 31, the group was back in the US with Crow and Blunt. Crow, who was promoting her new Detours album, was the headliner.

Cacia told The Gleaner that Toots consistently attracts maximum 3,000 fans to his solo shows in the US. Ninety per cent of the crowd is usually white, he said.

Toots and The Maytals’ booking agent in the US is William Morris Agency.

Toots, whose catalogue of hit songs includes Funky Kingston, Monkey Man and Pressure Drop, has experienced a career revival in the past five years.

His 2004 album, True Love, featured collaborations with Willie Nelson, Bonnie Raitt, Jeff Beck and No Doubt. It won the Grammy award for Best Reggae Album in 2005.

Extensive US tours

Another seasoned reggae act, The Wailers, also did well in 2008. They did two extensive US tours which were bolstered by a hit song (Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven) they recorded with country star Kenny Chesney.

Sean Paul and Damian ‘Junior Gong’ Marley, the most successful reggae performers of the last eight years, were quiet for most of the year. They appeared at select events.

Stephen Marley also toured well on the strength of his Grammy-winning Mind Control album, while Morgan Heritage had a two-month run in Europe and the US where they promoted their Mission in Progress album.

Although their days as hitmakers have long passed, acts like Toots, The Wailers, Burning Spear and Culture have done well tour-wise on both sides of the Atlantic.

Since 2000, Sean Paul, Shaggy and Junior Gong have headlined major world tours thanks to platinum-selling albums like Dutty Rock and Trinity, Hot Shots and Welcome to Jamrock.

Tour notes

The Wailers is scheduled to start a monthlong tour of the United States with a show in San Diego, California, today.

Ky-Mani Marley’s eight-date tour of Brazil gets going January 6 in the city of Fortaleza.

The Raggamuffin Festival, featuring Ziggy Marley, Shaggy, Inner Circle and Arrested Development, starts January 24 in Fremantle, Western Australia.

Singer Cherine Anderson toured extensively in 2008, opening for punk/rock bands Slightly Stoopid and Spearhead.
Source: Jamaica Gleaner

The first hint of the New York native being on Sunday night’s show at the National Stadium, came when Mr Reggae himself, Toots Hibbert, started sending shout-outs and mentioned Freddie’s name. This, however, went unnoticed by the near-capacity crowd which by then had streamed into the stadium’s grandstands as well as the cycle track, the running track and sections of the infield. In Moment in Time tradition, there is no host, heightening the anticipation as to who would appear next. This anticipation was relieved each time by opening bars of a popular tune and a crawl on the giant screens in the venue.

Beres Hammond embraces surprise act, R&B crooner, Freddie Jackson at Sunday’s A Moment in Time at the National Stadium.

Freddie took to the stage at 11:45pm and worked every inch of the massive stage during his 30-minute set. He wooed the predominantly female audience, opening with his take of Billy Paul’s Me & Mrs Jones, which featured excellent music on horns led by Dean Fraser. This paved the way for an even more entertaining set featuring tracks such as All I Ever Ask, You Are My Lady and his smash hit, Rock Me Tonight. This artiste clearly has not lost any aspect of his vocal range and talent with the passing years.

Jackson’s performance was preceded by acts such as The Mighty Diamonds, Courtney John and Jimmy Cozier, but the real heavy hitters started coming with the entry of John Holt. He sent shockwaves through the crowd with his 1000 volts and reeled off his hits – Love I Can Feel, Carpenter, Stick By Me, Wear You to the Ball and Impossible – in rapid succession. There was never a dull moment in this set and with the seasoned musicians on the stand this performance was a thrill
to behold.

The pace slowed somewhat when Toots took to the stage, but he managed to redeem himself with 54-46. He made way for Barrington Levy who not only picked up the pace, but ran with it taking the stadium crowd with him. Living Dangerously, Murderer, featuring a cameo by Beenie Man, Broadway, Too Experienced and Vice Versa Love, were what the crowd demanded and got in excess. Mr Big Ship, Freddie McGregor’s set was short and spicy and despite admitting to having a less-than-perfect voice, he managed to pull off a decent performance featuring Push Come to Shove, I Will Wait For You and Let Them Try.

After the intermission and a single tune Rising Stars finalist Lenya Wilks (who Beres has now taken under his wing), the screens announced the arrival of The Cool Ruler, Gregory Isaacs and his entry sent wild screams through the stadium. Another master of the stage, he brought the crowd to their feet and had them dancing to Tune In, All I have, Number one, Rumours and Hard Drugs.

Reggae Queen Marcia Griffiths lit up the stage in her metallic outfit and was engaging from the opening note. She performed one of her latest track, Everyone’s Got a Story on the Drop It riddim followed by Dreamland, I Shall Sing and closed with her perennial hit Electric Boogie, at which time she invited members of the audience including Beenie Man and Etana to perform the Electric Slide.

Freddie Jackson made way for Beres at 12:15 am. The ladies went wild as he rolled out hit after hit and the ladies so loved his smoky vocals tinged with a hint of gravel. The much-loved tracks including, One Dance, She Loves Me Now, Step Aside Now, Tempted to Touch and Putting up Resistance were all available for the taking. He closed his set and this year’s event by bringing back all the performers to the stage and with support from the Nexus Ensemble brought an enjoyable evening to a close. This was not one of Beres’ better performances, but considering the quality of the line-up his job was pretty much to seal the deal and wind down the evening.

A Moment in Time gets full points for production value. The venue, staging, sound and lighting were absolutely first class. The calibre of artistes and the air of anticipation, not knowing who was next were strong points which added to the surprise element of this show. With other major shows to come this season, Beres and his team should take a bow for their efforts, and are clearly the front-runners for event of the year.

Source: Jamaica Observer

No local government elections yet

The Guyana parliament has passed a bill postponing long overdue local government elections.

	The parliament decides yet again to postpone local government elections

The authorities had been hoping that they could hold this year, those elections which should have taken place since 1997.

There was vigorous debate on the matter in parliament on Monday night, after the government proposed an amendment which would give the Minister of Local government the power to instruct and authorize any local council to hold elections for mayor and other officials.

Opposition members argued against the proposed change.

They saw it as an attempt by the government to gain greater control over local authorities.

However the government used its parliamentary majority to approve the amendment.

More losses from natural disasters

One of the world’s biggest re-insurance companies, Munich Re, says this year has been one of the worst on record for losses from natural disasters.

The company says climate change is increasingly a factor.

Munich Re says natural disasters such as hurricanes caused two hundred billion dollars’ worth of damage this year.

It says there were actually fewer such disasters than in 2007, but the ones there were had a greater impact in human and financial terms.

Hanging debate’s on in St Lucia

A former St Lucian attorney general is recommending an overall holistic approach to tackling rising violent crime on the island.

	Former AG warns that hanging is not the solution

Phillip La Corbiniere has been responding to plans by the government in Castries to make legislative changes to speed up the execution of condemned criminals.

The national security minister Guy Mayers wants judges to be able to set a time frame for when such executions can be carried out.

But Mr La Corbiniere says the emphasis shouldn’t be on just hanging as the solution against violent crime.

Christmas spending down

Retail spending over the Christmas period has seen a drastic decline in some of the Eastern Caribbean islands.

The Caribbean Association of Industry and Commerce says while figures from the larger countries are not yet available, initial indications are that in some of the smaller islands consumer spending was down by about 30 per cent – or a third.

CAIC President Nigel John told BBC that in some instances the fall-off is alarming.

Cubans face new austerity measures

Cubans have been told to expect more austerity measures in the New Year.

President Raul Castro says those measures, including fewer subsidies for workers and stricter management, are necessary to pull the country out of an economic morass.

	Hurricane Gustav unleashes its fury on Cuba

It’s a situation aggravated this year by three hurricanes and the global financial crisis.

President Castro told a year-end meeting of the National Assembly that the government would cut official trips abroad by 50 percent, and do away with programmes that reward good workers with free vacation trips but cost the government.

Flooded communities trying to cope

The authorities in Guyana have increased their efforts to deal with the widespread flooding caused by heavy rainfall which began more than three weeks ago.

	Flooding has become an annual problem for some Guyanese communities

Worst affected have been communities along the coast which stretches for over 150 miles.

There has been widespread loss of food crops and livestock in some villages.

These communities have for several weeks remained under stagnant water contaminated with waste from animals and the pit toilets of the villagers.

Emergency medical teams have now been permanently established in some areas and three cases of suspected lepto spirosis (which killed about 30 people in similar flooding in 2005) are being monitored at the Georgetown Hospital.

Depending on who you ask, where you were and what you heard, the jury is still out as to who won the most anticipated clash at Sting in years – the settlement of all arguments.

From the moment you entered the Jamworld complex in Portmore St Catherine on Boxing Day, the air was thick with anticipation and expectation as to what would unfold during what has been dubbed the greatest one-night reggae festival on Earth. The bumper crowd – Isaiah Laing and the Supreme Promotions crew have not had it so good in years – fuelled this excitement from the get-go. From as early as midnight, the crowd was militant and the Gullyside and Gaza crews were already drawing battle lines in support of their respective deejay. However, the heat really began to rise close to 5:00 am when the most eagerly anticipated artistes, Vybz Kartel and Mavado began to arrive at the venue. Kartel was first to hit the stage, making a cameo with female deejay Spice for their performance of the hit of the season, Rampin’ Shop. Although it was just a cameo, it got the crowd going and raised the intensity metre.

Then it was showtime, and once both were onstage, the war of words and lyrics was on in earnest. The not-so-brave took cover and the seasoned campaigners stood their ground and watched the two masters at their game slug it out. After a near 45-minute onslaught, the dust settled but no one was ready to play dead, each claiming victory and the respective camps even more defiant.

The segment Dancehall’s Baddest, contained some of the top performers. Top female on the bill, Spice was in a no-nonsense mood. She appeared in full boxing gear, gloves and all, and she delivered knockout punches to everyone in her way. When she took on fellow female deejays, Macka Diamond and Queen Paula, it was no holds barred and some of the punches could even be considered below the belt.

Merciless was one act whom it can be said failed to live up to his billing. He relied heavily on the possibility of a clash, and when this was not forthcoming, his act fell flat. Despite repeated calls by the warhead, there were no takers. The act which followed – the warlord, Bounty Killer – earned the wrath of the audience when he declared that he was not into a clash this year. Despite his best attempts, the crowd which was in the mood for a clash, decided to let him go.

The performances which came before this segment were a mixed bag of entertaining, mediocre and disappointing. It is important to point out that with more than 100 acts, no set is longer than eight minutes, leaving the performers very little time to recoup after a poor song. Such is the nature of Sting and therefore the artistes must learn to work the stage from the moment they enter. The doctor, Beenie Man was a prime example of one of the entertaining acts who understands clearly how to work a stage from beginning to end. He was able to draw on his arsenal of tunes, firing on rapid, hitting everyone in Jamworld with his infectious vibe. The duo of Captain Barkey and Wickerman was another entertaining act, and with the very humorous tune, Thick Man, set to OneRepublic’s Apologise. This had the crowd in stitches as they each spoke to the type of physique women prefer on their men. “The Strong One”, Etana breezed on and off the Sting stage performing four tracks and leaving her fans satisfied. So too did Mr “August Town”, Duane Stephenson who earned two ‘forwards’ during his three-song set. Deejay Kip Rich was in fantastic, fiery form and came prepared for any and all challenges. His was an entertaining set during which he reeled off new lyrics, specially built for the event, but, alas, none of his detractors felt brave enough to walk into the fire.

Of the three acts billed as Dancehall’s Divas, only Lady G was able to move the crowd. She easily eclipsed Junie Platinum who gave a disappointing performance, and Patra, who failed to excite the crowd and quickly made an exit after performing Pull up to the Bumper and Wucka Man. However, Lady G got the crowd going from the onset with her take on the expected clash, she then took on the paedophiles and closed with a hillarious tune hitting out against the tight pants-wearing men.

The mediocre acts included, the Monster Hemp Higher, Shane O, Black Judah, Bugle, Fyan Kin, DI, Stacious, Chino and Egg Nog and Danny English.

The disappointing performances included many of those from whom much was expected. These included Konshens who entered with Winner, but simply faltered soon after; Rising Stars alum, Laden was given his time to shine, but did not make much of the opportunity. Braga Dat, wearing full white, was weak even in performing his hit tune, Dagga Dat. The trio, TNT – Timberlee, Natalie Storm and Tiffa, also put on a less than pleasing performance, despite the exciting costumes.