STING 2015 was billed ‘From Then Till Now’ and featured a number of acts, who electrified the stage in the fledgling days of the event.

On Saturday night it was these acts who were able to provide the little spark that there was to the festival.

Although their sets were much too short, deejays and singers from the 1980s and ’90s lit up the stage and brought back memories for many a patron.

The first sign of any major life at Sting 2015 came about about 3:00 am with the appearance of a trio of females who were at the forefront of the game in the 1980s: Lady G, Lady Junie, and Lady P.

Lady G proved that she still has the chops to stand on a Sting stage and command her audience, with the others not far behind. Dropping it ‘tune fi tune’ the ‘Ladies’ were able to earn admiration from what is considered one of the toughest audiences to please.

This would also be the case for ’80s deejays Flourgon and Daddy Lizard. Both had the Jamworld Entertainment Complex in St Catherine rocking to some of the signature tracks which defined dancehall music of that decade. Run Gyal Run, Mek It Bun Dem, Dibby Dibby, and Love Mi Lover Bad were among the hits from these two. And in a final ode to the late Red Dragon, both collaborated on his break out hit Hol’ a Fresh.

The throwback continued when Little John — who is not so little anymore — Courtney Melody and Pinchers took to the stage. Again it was a flood of old school dancehall music.

Angel in the Morning and Ninja Mi Ninja from Courtney Melody opened the floodgates, to which Little John responded with All Over Me, and then cam Pinchers with Bandelero. Tracks like Mud Up, Return of Don, Croos The Border, Lift It Up Again, Sit Dung Pon It, Modern Girl, Denise, True Confessions, and more rang out across the not-so-full Jamworld complex.

More was to come with Terror Fabulous, Louie Culture and Frisco Kid. Again it was more of the hits from the era in which these artistes reigned.

Gangster’s Anthem, Rubbers, Gangalee, Excellence and Quality, Kotch a Gyal Yard, Ole Before them Young and more flowed. Power Man, Benny Irie and Ninja Kid would also bring back more tracks form a bygone era.

The momentum of the throw-back was lost quickly as the organisers threw in a number of present day again by 5:00 am, just over an hour before the cops came knocking and closed down the event.

— Richard Johnson