Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer
( left - right ) BERES HAMMOND and BABY CHAM
WESTERN BUREAU:
THE LINE-UP announced on Wednesday night for the 'Beenie Man Summer Sizzle' concert was long in terms of sheer volume and deep in its variety and artiste quality.
The show, which doubles as a birthday celebration for deejay Beenie Man, takes place at the JAMALCO Sports Complex in Halse Hall, Clarendon, on Saturday, August 27, the RJR Communications Group, Lion Heart Stout and Bigga heading the list of sponsors.
It is the third annual staging of the concert and the first on the island's south coast, as the previous two were held at the White River Reggae Park in Ocho Rios and the James Bond Beach in Oracabessa, St. Mary, respectively.
Clyde McKenzie of Shocking Vibes Productions gave an overview of the event, including the line-up, which includes Beenie Man, Jimmy Cliff, Beres Hammond, Bonecrusher, Kevin Lyttle, calypsonian Bunji Galin, Cobra, Vybz Kartel, Bunji Galin, Assassin, Lady Saw, John Holt, Leroy Smart, Baby Cham, Admiral Bailey, Cocoa Tea, Turbulence, Fanton Mojah, Terror Fabulous, Turbulence, Macka Diamond, Captain Barkey and Wickerman, Beekie Bailey, Left Side and Esco, Voise Mail, QQ and the Shocking Vibes Crew, which includes Miss Thing.
"Most people are already saying this show seems to be collapsing three or four events into one. It is value for money," McKenzie said. "In a long time, I have not seen a show that can boast a line-up like this," he said, noting that there are "hot acts of the day, hot acts of days gone by " You name it, we have it."
"You will look at the price and say it is a bargain," McKenzie said.
EARLY START
The bargain comes with a starting time adjustment, though, as in a country where people are notorious for going out late McKenzie urged the public to come out early, as the show is going to start early. The gates are opening at 4:00 p.m. and the show begins at 6:00 p.m.
Later in the programme, in response to a question, he said that among the parking arrangements at the venue are a shuttle service from nearby schools where parking will be provided.
Member of Parliament for South St. Andrew and Minister of Finance Omar Davies, who officially launched 'Beenie Man Summer Sizzle', underscored the magnitude of Jimmy Cliff. "You have Jimmy Cliff, who I don't believe Jamaicans understand Cliff's place in world music," he said. He also singled out Beres Hammond, saying "I don't think people understand the sway of Beres Hammond. I went to Barbados recently and 15,000 Barbadians stood up in the torrential rain to hear Beres Hammond. Mud and rain."
"I do not know if the artistes understand their power. It is much more than the power politicians have. There is a lot of the message that we need to communicate and if it comes from the musicians it is more effective than politicians making long speeches," he said.
"You have an influence over young people and I want you to take the responsibility seriously," he said.
Davies made reference to the length of the line-up when he said "my only problem with this show is I don't know how long it is going to last. Jimmy is going to drop you about an hour and a half, (and)Beres about that".
EXCELLENT SHOW
However, he concluded "I think it is going to be an excellent show before declaring this year's 'Beenie Man Summer Sizzle' officially launched.
Beenie Man had a presentation to make to Dr. Davies and he did so with a smile and the caution "When me gi yu dis me want yu fi put it right side a de picture dem yu have inna yu place."
There were cheers as the item was revealed as a large, framed picture of Beenie Man in his 'King of the Dancehall' regalia.
"Dr. Davies, I gi de picture to de I to put side a all de picture inna de I office," Beenie Man emphasised.
And in the beginning, the night's host Dr. Kingsley 'Ragashanti' Stewart defined those who interact with dancehall music in three categories. There were the peripherals, who stay on the outside and criticise, then the intermediates who go to dancehall events and behave a certain way and then change their behaviour as they leave and go to church, for instance.
Then there were the core participants, who behave, speak, dance a particular way in the dancehall, but also behave in the same way away from the dancehall. For those core participants, once their events were only behind zinc fences and on open land. "An yu see where dancehall reach now!" Stewart said.
"No disrespect to the open land thing," Stewart cautioned, saying that for a certain hardcore feel it is still the place to be.
