New york - Reggae Carifest is easily the most anticipated summer music event for fans of Caribbean music in the tri-state area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut in the United States.

Over the past eight years, the event has drawn increasing attention from mainstream American media, while pulling out bumper crowds and high-energy performances from its main headliners. This year was no different, and on Sunday August 1, the Legendary Records-promoted event lived up to expectations with key performances from the likes of Beenie Man, Baby Cham, Capleton and newcomer Natty King.

The rains that fell earlier in the afternoon didn't deter Nicole, a Jamaican who resides in the Bronx, from coming to see her favourite star, Beenie Man. From her gyrations and the look on her face while the dancehall kingpin was performing, it was clear that she was satisfied with the entertainment package. The astute showman that he is, Beenie Man delivered a highly charged set that featured pockets of past hits blended with current chart toppers. From the moment he hit the stage, Beenie was greeted by a sea of flag-waving fans who crammed inside Coney Island's Keyspan Park.

"The Doctor" Beenie Man unearthed nuggets including Crazy Notion, Red Red Red, Slam, Trouble Maker and Dude before segueing into the latest chart toppers Breast Specialist and Weh Yuh Nuh Fi Do. He later brought onstage little QT, a primary-school-aged deejay who 'bussed the place' with his childish antics. Dancer John Hype also added excitement to Beenie Man's set as he demonstrated to the New York massive, the latest dances from Jamaica including the Scoobay, Kangaroo, Thunda Clap and Handcart.

Capleton whose new album Reign of Fire is soon to be released, brought the fire to New York. The 'Fire Man' as he is sometimes called, doused the venue with his string of hits, and spared nothing on his mission to 'burn out corruption'. In Har Heart caused the most uproar, but old-time favourites including Jah Jah City, and current blazers including Turn it Up, Fire Time and Consuming, wreaked havoc in the venue as lighters flashed, flags waved and patrons literally got on bad.

Baby Cham, who has made the trip to Carifest in the past, went all-out on this journey as he held the crowd under his spell with hit after hit. He entered the stage with Many Many, an old-time favourite that caused ripples. Joy Ride, Funny Man and Middle Finger also kept patrons busy before he asked 'Unoo get unoo money's worth yet? To that the crowd responded emphatically, 'No'!

Following that, the Cham accelerated the hype, and Boom, War Forever, Can I Get A, Man and Man, Babylon Bwoy, Wah Dat Fah, Ghetto Pledge and Vitamin S pelted the venue like manna from the sky.

Newcomer Natty King also represented well. It was the singer from St Thomas' first performance in the US, and he received an excellent response from the crowd, who were seeing him for the first time since his No Guns to Town topped the New York Reggae chart earlier this year. When he performed that hit, the crowd assumed choir duties. Mr Greedy, his most recent number one hit, was also well received during his five-song set.

Other performers who delivered the goods included the veteran King Yellow Man, TOK, rapper Juvenile, New York-based Jamaican deejay KC Jockey and Tanto Metro and Devonte.

Sound systems Steelie Bashment, Fun Factory and Massive B kept patrons entertained prior to the start of the stage show, and during the breaks.

The fear factor

Feeding the multitude

DANGEROUS PETS