Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer
Left: Wyclef Jean will perform at the 10th 'Fully Loaded'. - CONTRIBUTED. Right: Tony Matterhorn, one of the selectors slated for 'Fully Loaded 2006'. - PHOTO BY NATHANIEL STEWART
WHEN THE 2006 edition of 'Fully Loaded' gets under way on Sunday, July 30, it will mark the 10th staging of the beach party.
And it will also mark the return of Wyclef Jean, who a Solid Agency representative said dropped exclusive dub plates from Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston, among others, to make a huge impact in 2000.
The solid ground of the Liguanea Club, St. Andrew, was Wednesday night's launching pad for the hard-core combination of top sound systems and hot performers on the shifting sand of the James Bond Beach, Oracabessa, St. Mary.
Tony Matterhorn, Swam King and the Bass Odyssey Next Generation selectors were among the disc jocks at the Liguanea Club who will also be at 'Fully Loaded'. In addition, there will be Jazzy T, Ricky Trooper, Mighty Crown, Sky Juice and Black Kat, with Bounty Killer, Sizzla, Elephant Man, Aidonia, Lady Saw, Left Side and Esco among the performers.
Selector Jabba, who hosts 'Pull Up Selector' on MTV Tempo, and Ron Muschette, will host the party.
VIP SPECIAL
Rohan Wade of Cable and Wireless said, "Fully Loaded has been a top-class event for quite a while. It would be a serious flaw in our strategy if we were not associated with this event."
At the event, there will be a special VIP entrance for ticket holders who also have a bmobile telephone. "Just flip it out, bmobile red carpet treatment," Wade said.
Robert Thompson of Get Caught Media said that the name 'Fully Loaded' was actually one of about five that were considered and at first was FullyLoaded Beach Party. The concept was that "sound systems, known and unknown, would get the chance for the entertainment community overall to get a look. As it went on we realised that we had to spice it up."
MOTHER OF DANCEHALL EVENTS
He also said that the 'Fully Loaded' team was the first to get a model to pose for the party's advertisement, as before people used to simply cut out photographs from magazines.
Olivia 'Babsy' Grange went even further back, to when Solid Agency chief Sharon Burke was just staring out in the 1980s and recalled producer Sonia Pottinger. "I wish to say to all of you keep it going, but never forget those who paved the way," she said.
Tony Matterhorn has not forgotten the way 'Fully Loaded' has come. "Me de deh from 1996, about 2,000 people, I fly down, don't even sleep, play and done de place and 'Fully Loaded' was born. It is the mother of all dancehall events," he said.
He coaxed Sharon Burke into speaking. "I am proud and feeling really honoured ... I feel very special. I are the one," Burke said.
