THE 19th annual staging of Reggae Sumfest proved that yet again it is the premier event of its kind in the world.

The week-long festival was staged from July 17-23, with the three main shows staged at Catherine Hall.

Dancehall Night kicked off with a slew of upcoming artistes, such as Toya, Keida, and several more before going into a worthy set by DI.

Sumfest first-timer Chan Dizzy brought patrons to life with his opener Hello Badmind and held the crowd throughout his performance. The same could be said for other upcoming acts Ikaya, Seanizzle, and Zamunda.

Nesbeth and Laden provided creditable performances, but they did not ignite the crowd as much as an energetic Fambo did.

Both Ce’Cile and Tifa performed as the seasoned vets they are with cohesive sets, standout wardrobes, and vocal deliveries that packed a punch.

It seemed as if those in attendance had thoroughly missed JahVinci as he created hysteria all the way through his first performance as a solo act at the festival.

Khago held his own with his hit-driven performance that was greeted by rounds of fireworks by his fans.

Kiprich, Elephant Man and Spice brought their old bag of tricks by name dropping celebrities and touching taboo topics in their songs. Spice, however, had a more diverse set in her eccentric outfit as she toasted, sang, and even rapped much to the delight of patrons. She also brought out American recording artiste Mya to debut their single Take Him Back.

Konshens gave a career-defining performance that showcased the range of his repertoire that kept the crowd engaged from start to finish. The same can be said for Aidonia and Assassin.

I-Octane solidified his spot as a staple act on the Jamaican circuit by literally causing a bonfire by patrons in response to his show-stealing performance.

Bounty Killer was refreshing as he moved away from relying solely on his cult classics as he gave life to his more recent material, but ended abruptly unfortunately.

Beenie Man continued his known reliability as a true showman and even “crossed it” with guess spots by Internet celebrity Clifton Brown and interbational singer Mya.

Mavado stood larger than life with his invigorating performance of singles from his colossal catalogue and even found time to thank Barack Obama regarding the recent renewal of his US visa.

Although packed with an arsenal of hits at his disposal, Vybz Kartel had to make best by performing with no backing band and a questionable sequencing of song selections.

Just like Dancehall Night, the early birds in the crowd enjoyed opening acts of the first International Night, and had a bump in the tempo when Richie Loop performed.

Christopher Martin serenaded the ladies in attendance with a mixture of covers and originals as undoubtedly one of Jamaica’s leading vocalists.

Tanya Stephens had the crowd in a trance as she narrated relatable experiences through songs to her audience.

The man who stole the night was without a doubt Coco Tea, who drew from his timeless musical index and that of his legendary peers. It was no surprise that when he asked patrons repeatedly if they missed R Kelly, they harmonised a resounding “no”.

Beres Hammond gave a performance fitting of the honour bestowed upon him that night by Summerfest Productions for his contribution to Jamaican music over the years.

Closing the night, both Half Pint and Bunny Wailer gave impeccable showings as expected from living legends.

On the second International Night, Denyque and fashion designer/singer Ashley Martin were the standouts among the opening acts. Both gave confident performances as first-time acts.

Former LMS member Laza Morgan, displayed excellent stage presence and proved that he’s not only built to be a solo act, but that inevitably, sustained crossover success will occur for him.

Internationally acclaimed singer Cherine Anderson did not disappoint with a raunchy and socially conscious set that displayed the immense depths of her musical creativity and diversity.

Both Hezron and Turbulence gave laudable performances, while Protoje cemented his place as a major player on the local music scene. Protoje performed a string of singles and selections from his album 7 Year Itch to a rave response from the crowd.

Gyptian delivered as expected but had flaws due to lengthy and loquacious at times interludes before songs.

Persons came out in the droves to see the reigning queen of rap, Nicki Minaj take centre stage.

The superstar exceeded expectations as a dull performer with a well-choreographed set thanks to her ongoing appearance as the guest act on Britney Spears’s Femme Fatale tour. Minaj ran through a barrage of solo hits and featured singles such as Roman’s Revenge, Did It On Em’, Your Love, and many more. Without a doubt her performance was a true Moment for Life for her legion of “barbies”.

Reggae Sumfest concluded with praiseworthy performances by Wayne Wonder and Jah Cure and the band Chalise.

It is safe to say that despite the absence of an expected international act that Reggae Sumfest had once again come and delivered.

— Dominic Bell