“World Class” performances at Music Fest Day 2 [Photoslide Included]
Patrons gathered on Cane Garden Bay beach for the second day of the BVI Music Festival, May 26, 2012, and were treated to an earful of what can be dubbed classical reggae and world class performances from the group which took the stage after 1 a.m.
They started off their performance with the Band’s “Spirit Lives”, which is a song they had composed for the people of Haiti and is one of the top songs on their latest album Patriot. The Jamaican reggae group who has released some 23 albums since their 1973 formation, dished out tune after tune from several albums and also colloborations with other artistes including with the late Gregory Isaacs.
From “I Am Committed”, “Reggae Ambassador” to “96 Degrees in the Shade”, the energetic reggae band which has won several regional and international awards including a 1986 "United Nations Peace Medal” and New York City Ambassador Award in November 2009 at Brooklyn Academy of Music ("BAM"), kept the crowd swinging and singing as they delved further into their musical history.
But it was founding member Guitarist and Cellist Stephen “Cat” Coore that stole the show with a “grammy winning performance” on his cello. Coore, well known for his musical versatility on the cello, wooed the crowd with his talent. He then did a highly notably cello rendition of Bob Marley’s “No Woman No Cry”.
The group known for combining Jamaican Reggae and Folk music with all strains of African Rhythms, American Pop, Rhythm & Blues, Rap and Classical music, had its drummer also drummed up some hot African beats as the members of the band switched around places to show their skills on different musical instrument.
Lead Vocalist Bunny Rugs said, “It’s a pleasure to be here this year, as Third World celebrates 39 years together.” He also promised not to stay away from the Virgin Islands for “so long”.
Prior to their performance, the Queen of Dancehall Lady Saw, showed that she still got the dancehall grove at age 42, as she managed to keep the crowd well engaged with her more than hour long performance filled with sexual lyrics but neatly edited to suit the occasion.
She rendered her popular, “Wuk for the Money”, “Impossible”, Secamore Tree”, “Chat To Meh Back” and more recently “Shortcomings”. She even had a very unusual guest on stage, a white male only in his underwear made from the colours of the American flag. He seemed very excited to be next to Lady Saw, posed for her and was overly bold to show up his tiny piece of underwear.
In an interview with this news site after her performance, Lady Saw said the bikini clad male “was something else”. But said she has seen “worse than that” at other performances.
The dance hall performer ended her performance by calling on women to demand respect to be treated like queens, telling them that they deserve respect and good treatment.
The Virgin Islands’ own Ritical also performed last evening including his popular “Love is the Greatest” while the United States Virgin Islands’ reggae queen Mada Nile delivered another great show with her songs, “Mama Strong”, “Send I the love”, and “I would like to See”.
The night was not fulfilled without the stellar performance of Quito’s and the Edge who started off the night but garnered a very large fan support with their many original songs and classy performance. Leader singer Quito Rymer dished out some of the band’s popular “What we need is Harmony”, "Oh Africa I hear you Calling", “Did I" and "Everything Irie".
This evening, the curtains will come down on the three day musical extravaganza with performances to come from X Factor winner and VI’s own Melanie Amaro and Estelle.
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