THE impending election has curtailed this year’s staging of Reggae Wednesdays. However, that didn’t prevent the artistes on this week’s show from delivering some inspiring performances inside Mandela Park in Half-Way-Tree.

   The night of stirring performances truly got going with exponents of the gospel genre.

   Omari and Rondell Positive represented well and got the crowd moving. But it was Positive who struck a chord with the hundreds who had converged on the public space. He showcased his brand of Reggae worship to great effect with his popular tracks Cover Me, More than a Conqueror and All Over Me.

   Having laid a great foundation, the acts which followed were left no choice but to make the final Reggae Wednesdays event a memorable one and closing act Capleton, did just that.

   The ‘Fire Man’ from St Mary is always able to get an audience off its feet and doing whatever he commands.

   It was hit after hit, with all the dance moves and physical actions to accompany them, which came from the stage, all the favourites for Capleton’s early years to the present. His energy on stage was infectious.

   Another artiste whose performance left a good aftertaste was Nature. The young act gave another of his signature stage displays. Dropping tracks such as Revolution, Trying Man, World Peace and playing tributes to reggae greats Garnett Silk, Beres Hammond, Dennis Brown and Gregory Isaacs. Nature amused the audience with his antics, but satisfied with his vocal prowess.

   Iba Mahr was another crowd pleaser. When he invited his friends Kabaka Pyramid and Exco Levi to share the stage, it just took his performance to another level.

   Youngsters Vershon and Jahmiel were entertaining. However, they are still young in the business and therefore, in time, will develop the stage craft to carry their growing body of work.

   Due to next Thursday’s general election, Jamaica Reggae Industry Association (JaRIA) — which organises Reggae Month activities — cancelled next week’s show.

   — Richard Johnson