QUEENS, New York: Over 20,000 fans here braved the threat of heavy rain Sunday to attend the fifth staging of Groovin’ In The Park at Roy Wilkins Park.

It was worth it as an all-star cast thrilled them with outstanding performances. Grammy winners Michael Bolton and Billy Ocean, Stitchie, Capleton, Cocoa Tea, Judy Mowatt and Luciano all delivered quality sets.

Since his appearance at Rebel Salute in January, Stitchie has shed his gospel image and returned to his dancehall roots. Sunday was no different as he thrilled fans with old favourites like Wear Yuh Size, Natty Dread, Great Ambition and Bun it Down, before going into Letter To Dad.

For the second consecutive year, Mowatt performed at Groovin’ and blessed the audience with songs such as I Shall Sing and Many Are Called. As it neared the end of her performance, she invited Groovin’ executives Chris Roberts and Clement ‘Ras Clem’ Hume to the stage, presenting them with a plaque for advancing Jamaican culture in New York.

Luciano’s high kicks and fancy footwork had patrons scampering to the front of the stage. Appeasing the masses, he jumped into the crowd, belting out spiritual hits such as Sweep Over My Soul, Your World and Mine, Give Praise and It’s Me Again Jah.

Cocoa Tea brought his blend of wit and charm in a dazzling performance. He kicked off his set with Babylon Throne and Kette Drum, which set the tone.

“Hold up yuh hand if yuh love Coco Tea style!” he shouted, as a sea of approving hands reached out to him. After a 25-minute set, he returned for an encore during which he serenaded the ladies with Good Life and Sanchez’s Never Gonna Let You Down.

‘The Fire Man’ Capleton created a spark with Jah Jah City and That Day Will Come before instructing patrons to ‘thumb the sky’ as he blazed a fire on “immorality, racism, Ebola, Chikungunya, incest and paedophilia”.

Six-time Grammy winner Stephen Marley joined Capleton, and the two performed Rockstone and It Was Written. Luciano and Cocoa Tea took the stage and the quartet belted out Bob Marley’s Three Little Birds.

Morgan Heritage also gave a good showing, paying tribute to reggae great Toots Hibbert and Buju Banton.

Billy Ocean created waves of excitement. Working through an impressive catalogue that includes Get Out of my Dreams, Love Zone and ‘When The Going Gets Tough, Ocean showed why he is still the consummate performer.

“I wanna take you to a place where we drink pina coladas,” he told the ecstatic audience, who by now, were eagerly awaiting his anthem, Caribbean Queen. Fans joined him in chorus, often times drowning out his own voice.

Bolton is a dynamic performer. Songs such as To Love Somebody and Said I Loved You But I Lied, had lovers in the audience wrapped in each other’s arms. He was joined on stage by Amanda Brown, and together they had patrons crooning to How Am I Supposed to Live Without You and the Motown classic, Ain’t No Mountain High Enough. He ended his set on a musical high with a tribute to the late Percy Sledge, doing his soul standard When A Man Loves A Woman.

“We are very pleased and happy with the outcome of this year’s presentation. The vibe was amazing and the music was superlative. I am thankful that the weather cooperated and that everyone enjoyed the show,” said Christopher Roberts, CEO of Groovin’ Inc.