Noel Thompson, Freelance Writer
Left: Montegonians, Patricia and Hopeton, get down to dancing business on the sand, during Reggae Sumfest Beach Party, which kicked off Reggae Sumfest, at the Tropical Beach Club, in Montego Bay, on Sunday July 16. The pair, along with a few other patrons, brought the venue to life with its outrageous dancing. Right: Jeannie Elliott, of Austin, Texas, U.S.A., lets her hair down, as she flexes her waist to do the 'Dutty Wine' with a friend at Reggae Sumfest Beach Party, at Tropical Beach, in Whitehouse, Montego Bay, on Sunday. - PHOTOS BY NOEL THOMPSON
WESTERN BUREAU:
The annual one-week festival, Reggae Sumfest, officially kicked off at the Tropical Beach Club in Whitehouse, Montego Bay, last Sunday evening with its usual beach party.
A number of the festival organisers were on location milling about with friends and patrons, who turned out to bask in an evening of fun, food and live
entertainment on the beach.
It was noticeable, however, that not many people were in attendance, particularly locals. The evening got off to a slow start. Despite the loud music blasting from the sound systems, patrons never seemed to care much in the first few hours. Some locals, as well as foreigners, remarked that they simply could not 'feel the vibes'.
But, at about 8:20 p.m. a group of locals from Lilliput, Bogue Heights and other neighbouring communities put on a show on the sand, grabbing each other and danced their way to attention.
Minutes later, the selectors invited them onstage to show the audience what they could do. This was seemingly the medicine others were waiting for in order to get to the front of the stage. The selectors played mainly soca music, but the crowd got into a frenzy when rapper TI's What You Know About That echoed from the jukebox.
Sonya Carroll, insurance agent visiting from Baltimore, U.S.A., is attending Reggae Sumfest for the first time. "I have watched many tapes of the festival over the years and I said one day I am going to be there and I'm here for Sumfest 2006," she said.
Mary-Ann Harris, an insurance broker, also from Baltimore said: "I first heard about Sumfest during my vacation here in January. It is the largest reggae party in the world. There is no better place you can go for a reggae party, but Jamaica. I am here because I love Jamaica. We have also toured the island so that we can capture the culture of the people."
