THIS year the Cari-Folk Singers encouraged its audience to “lef yo worries outside” and they certainly made sure that everyone did. CultureFest 2010 was a bankra basket of fun.

In always colourful costumes, the members of the group produced four suites of Caribbean music. The group’s tone was pure throughout the two-hour presentation, with appropriate accompaniment from a live band. Despite the fast tempo of the music and the fact that the choreography had the performers dancing in varied formations across the stage; they managed fair enunciation of the dialect lyrics of the musical items.

CultureFest 2010 saw the return to the Jamaican stage of respected actress/comedienne/ poetess Joan Andrea Hutchinson. The ‘professional schizophrenic’ was the conscience of the show; as she made several appearances on stage in different characters. Among her avatars were: scolding woman; dancehall girl Bleachie; Jamaican grandma; bad min’ parishioner; ska instructor; African diplomat; certified madda and dumpy conqueror; Rastafarian male; and wailing widow. Each dramatis personae, serving as a transition between musical themes, added to the connectivity of the pieces.

Guest performers for the season were Dance Xpressionz and Nexxus Performing Arts Ensemble. Both groups paid tribute to the culture emphasis of the event. Nexxus presented a largely African-themed set. Obviously short on male voices, the pieces, while melodic, lacked the gusto foundation offered by solid male tenor and bass lines. The soloists all shined, but the balance of the chorus was simply satisfactory. It was also hoped that the selections (all in African tongues) would have been translated at

some point; even through programme notes — the audience simply trusted there were no curse words.

Dance Xpressionz journeyed the audience through the progression of dance; from its African roots to the transformation to skankin’ and one-tile winery onto the aerobics of dancehall. They showed well, there was clear understanding of the differences in style, stance and costuming to truly ‘edutain’ the audience on the growth cycle of dance.

The folk music of the Singers captured much of Jamaican life from market scenes, chat mout Liza to travelling. The strains of the song Blinkin Bus later gave way to the old time favourite Buggy Bruk closing the Happenings suite with Train a Blow; not to be outdone Joan Andrea as Bleachie hopped the train.

The musical stylings of Cari-Folk were exceptional in the Oldies suite, where the singers, clad in the fashion of yesteryear delivered the ever-popular Intensified, Simmer Down and a Ska reprise. CultureFest took on the Jamaican duppy culture in its next suite of songs with Obeah dung deh and Black puss, the changed scenery now had grave stones illumined by UV lighting, the section climaxing with the visitation of resident duppy during her self-titled piece Selena.

The final set was happy Dinky Sweet tunes. The audience was in stitches as the singers regaled stories of ‘ole time’ rural Jamaica. Telegram Wire, Anywhe de nine nite deh and Missa Ram goat oh took all presents back to the red-oaked front steps of many country homes. Cari-Folk was joined by members of Nexxus as the close drew near enhancing the colour of the music. Nexxus director Hugh Douse even served as lead vocalist for the piece Me Unda Me Cerassee.

CultureFest coordinator Marilyn Brown has much for which she can be proud. The selections were true to the theme of the event. The performance standard and strong history of the singers was bolstered by this year’s instalment. Their music aides, too, should be congratulated; led by Asley ‘Grub’ Cooper. Though noticeably absent from stage Erica Brown, of Bubbles fame from the series Lime Tree Lane sang from her seat in the audience and the event’s programme spoke of her hand in co-ordinating the event. The audience was fed to an array of artistic expression through folk music and dance; a true tribute to Jamaica’s rich and diverse heritage. The buzz after the show signalled that patrons anxiously await the next opportunity from the Cari-Folk Singers to leave all worries outside.