THE event was officially launched last month; sponsors have climbed on board; the line-up has been sealed; the keepsake posters are in the hands of fans and Supreme Promotions says: Let the collaborations begin!

Sting 2010 is shaping up to deliver another exciting chapter of this reggae dancehall show that has stood the test of time and can easily brag about its 27 non-stop years of existence. Sting has seen the best of local and international performers and has the distinction of being the only show in Jamaica capable of making or breaking careers.

Come Boxing Day, Sunday December 26, the Sting stage will be set up to accommodate adversaries-turned-friends, Beenie Man and Bounty Killer, two of the headline acts on this year’s event. They will be performing tune-for-tune together on stage in what promises to be an exciting segment called ‘The 13 Warriors of Sting’.

According to Supreme Promotions, the organisers of the event, which has the tagline ‘the greatest one-night reggae dancehall show on earth’, the unity being shown in the music business among some artistes is praiseworthy.

“We are happy for the wind of change sweeping through the dancehall right now. Some people feel that the friendship among former dancehall rivals makes the music boring, but we love it,” Isaiah Laing of Supreme Promotions has declared.

Both Beenie Man and Bounty Killer have extensive catalogues dating back to the early nineties and their rivalry throughout the decades has provided some of the highest highs and lowest lows in dancehall history. But on Sunday, December 26, Jamworld Entertainment Centre in Portmore, St Catherine, will witness a one-of-a-kind offering, the likes of which has never unfolded on that historic Sting stage.

“Bounty Killer and Beenie Man together on a Sting stage and is not a clash vibes? Who did ever know seh that could happen?” Beenie Man asked.

“Yeah man, we have di programme set and we a go entertain the whole a Jamworld cause we know seh Jamworld a go full up a people. After we dun perform on stge Laing haffi pay we some more money,” the deejay who calls himself the King of the dancehall stated.

The last time Bounty and Beenie Man shared a Sting stage was in 1993 and fans will recall that there was nothing amicable about that encounter.

Seventeen years after that debacle, Bounty Killer and Beenie Man will give dancehall fans, young and old, a new memory when, as friends, they deejay in harmony and in the true spirit of this year’s theme for Sting, The Collaboration.

Among the other artistes confirmed for Sting 2010 are Sizzla, Gyptian, Lady Saw, Etana, I-Octane, Khago, Assassin, Kip Rich, Aidonia, Macka Diamond, Pamputtae, Ce’cile, D’Angel, DI, Romaine Virgo, Future Fambo, Twin of Twins, Food Kartel,

Sponsors for this year’s event include LIME, Wata, RJR Communications Group, Zoukie Trucking, Down Sound Records, Hype TV, LIME TV, Island Car Rentals, Hitz FM, Downsound and Mac D’s Records.