THE ANSWER to this question was clear on the Heroes' weekend, as hundreds of Kingstonians raided Ocho Rios, St. Ann, for the Appleton and Absolute Entertainment sponsored 'Pirates Of Ochie' weekend and other shows that were held there.
One would think that by driving so many miles away from Kingston one could escape its inhabitants, but walking through the town it was not hard to spot them. Kingstonians were the ones who mostly were asking for directions to everyday places like supermarkets, taxi stands, pharmacies and food stores. They were the ones who packed up the cambios, fast food restaurants, shopping centres and, of course, the night-clubs.
Apart from the Appleton series of sessions, the town had other shows which helped to draw the city slickers into Ocho Rios. The Little Pub, for example hosted Tanto Metro and Devonte for one show, while the island Village hosted a vintage show featuring Leroy Sibbles, The Mighty Diamonds and Boris Gardiner, which drew more Kingstonians, and Club Amnesia hosted a leading sound system for a dance.
FAMILIAR PARTY FACES
Inside the Appleton series of sessions, The Gleaner team saw so many familiar party faces we had to wonder if we ever left Kingston.
"That's how it is when it come onto holiday time," explained one taxi driver to The Gleaner. "A just pure Kingstonian come through the place, except when ship time come, yu find more tourist dem time deh," he added.
At 'Pirates, The Docking', the first party in the Appleton series, for example, the regular Kingston party freaks, Kingston representatives of other media houses and several Kingston deejays were on hand. CVM TV, was there, RE-TV and Music Plus were there, as well as Elephant Man, Vybz Cartel, Predator and Kid Kurrupt.
"Ochie is just a place we love to go and let loose," reasoned one Kingston female. "The scene is different from Kingston and nobody really knows you so you can carry on," she added.
Carry on they did. Inside the 'Shipwrecked' after party inside Margaritaville Ocho Rios, a few students from the two Kingston universities whipped up their own storms on the dance floor. Sitting the term paper was far from their minds, as they were closer to sitting on the floor for certain dance moves.
At the 'Stages' beach party held at the Sans Souci Resort, it was like a Kingston beach party as well. Well-known Kingston based lawyers blended in with the crowd, soaking up Ocho Rios's sun and Appleton's arsenal of liquor.
Ocho Rios last weekend was like Kingston without the traffic.
