THE muddy conditions underfoot at the Catherine Hall home of Reggae Sumfest did nothing to dampen the spirits of the thousands of patrons who turned up for the first major night of the festival, which is this year celebrating its 18th year.

The vibe inside the venue was accentuated by the strong performances which  hit the stage. The Artistes clearly did their homework and presented tight, well-rehearsed sets which proved to be quite entertaining and worthy of making it to the festival’s main stage.

Some of the early acts to prove their worth were Tifa, Charley Blacks, Ce’Cile, with surprise act Tanto Blacks, Ding Dong and the Ravers Clavers crew, D’Angel and Stacious.

The set featuring the duo of Kevin and Craig of Voicemail was tinged with emotion as both spoke to missing their brother — the late O’Neil Edwards. Their tribute performance, although lacking O’Neil’s vibe, was uplifiting from the opening, which featured the Kingston College Chapel Choir.