Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer

When Dean Stephens, lead singer of the band Chalice, sang "children, children run to the river" at Hope Gardens, St. Andrew, on Saturday evening, the response from the small, but very enthusiastic audience gathered in front of the stage dictated a 'wheel up'.

The people who stuck around for a rainy end to the first day of Ocean Spray Wellfest 2007 didn't have to go to the river, though. The river came to them from the skies, as rain that had eased somewhat near the end of Taurus Riley's stint came back with a vengeance during Chalice's performance, stage hands prodding the tarpaulin over the stage to send a torrent of water cascading to the rear of the stage. But as Riley said after keeping things of a 'one two order', "we no fraid a water; we no fraid a rain".

Those who were more cautions about the showers stayed under the tents housing displays from the various exhibitors that formed a loose semi-circle before the stage.

'Dancehallmonic'

After Chalice had gone 'dancehallmonic', Wayne Armond doing conducting duties as Stephens intoned the Church Heathen of Shaggy, the fire of Capleton and growled when in 'Tigerish' fashion, Chalice closed to howls of protest. Bu those under umbrellas and a few chairs, the music hardy standing unprotected to dance in the rain, howled for more, it was the end of live performances at Wellfest.

Close to the end of his stage stint, Riley sent his respects to those who had performed earlier, including Constructive Noise, Rootz Underground and Etana. She's Royal was sent out to the empresses and he sat to sing the sleepless woes of a new father as he played the guitar, concluding "I can't sleep, but I love my baby."

He rose to rock the house with Stay With You, adjusting one line to the weather with "whether it rains or shines", even as one hardy young lass in heels and a clinging dress, a black plastic bag held artfully in her right hand, gave a mincing run over the soggy earth. Riley wrapped up with a long 'stay' and departed with a "Rastafari, one heart".

The band change to Chalice was brief enough, considering the wet change circumstances, Armond leading off with Still Loving Jah. The squeals at the end of the song were drowned out by the quick changeover to Good To Be There, Stephens singing lead as Armond and guitarist Steve Golding doing a walk and play. Armond, who did a narrator's role through the performance, greeted all "in the spirit of wellness and oneness and little wetness".

He spoke about going to dances in the early days and watching the ladies go in, so he could make a selection. But there were times when she could not dance, Stephens delivering the lament 'Cyaan Dub'. But as he stood at the front of the stage, looking down and matching moves with a sprightly lady at the front, Stephens said "we have to change this song", singing "she can dub".