DESPITE the rain at the Catherine Hall Entertainment Centre in Montego Bay, entertainers gave powerful sets at the third staging of the annual Rainforest Seafood Festival on Ash Wednesday.

The hundreds of determined patrons, several of whom sheltered under umbrellas, who stood their ground as the sudden rain drenched the venue, might have provided an extra boost to the performers.

It started to drizzle during Ding Dong’s high-energy set.

By the time veteran deejay Stitchie took the stage at 8:15, the “showers of blessings” increased significantly.

During his half-hour performance, Stitchie “flooded” the venue with lyrics from Fast and Pray, No Necessary, and Man a Pastor, as well as his secular hit songs Natty Dread and Wear Yuh Size.

He passed the baton to Marcia Griffiths, who maintained the pace with hits including I Shall Sing, Kiss You Once More, Dreamland, Fire Burning and others from her vast catalogue.

When Jah Cure hit the stage about 9:38, by then the water-soaked patrons appeared oblivious to the downpour and cheered wildly for their native Montegonian.

He did not disappoint them. He serenaded the females with Call on Me, Longing For, Unconditional Love. He closed his strong set with Reflections, by which time the rains had eased.

By the time dancehall acts Agent Sasco, Bounty Killer and Beenie Man appeared, the rain had fully ceased.

Closing act Beenie Man was joined onstage by his former rival Bounty Killer for their collab, Legendary.

The aim of the organisers of the festival was to raise $10 million from the event, which will go towards the We Care for Cornwall Regional Hospital Foundation to purchase a bronchoscopy machine valued at US$45,000.