GUESTS inside the jam-packed ballroom at the Moon Palace Jamaica Grande Resort and Spa in Ocho Rios were treated to one-and-a-half hours of non-stop entertainment last Saturday night, courtesy of international dancehall star Shaggy.

It was the second in a series of live concerts promoted by the hotel, and Shaggy certainly lived up to expectations.

From the moment he hit the stage with the popular Long Time (featured on the Street Bullies rhythm), the crowd, consisting mostly females, gave their stamp of approval.

Bonafide, Bombastic, Strength of a Woman, Church Heathen, Only Love and Hey Sexy Lady were well received.

With a career spanning more than 23 years, Shaggy displayed charisma, energy and diverse showmanship. His spontaneous interactions with fans were another of the highlights from his hit-laden performance.

Patrons enjoyed the nostalgic trip down memory lane as Shaggy and singer Rayvon teamed on Angel, It Wasn’t Me and In the Summertime.

“Moon Palace Jamaica Grande is a beautiful place. They have wanted me to perform before and it didn’t work out until now. I’m happy to be here,” Shaggy told the Jamaica Observer.

Clifton Reader, the hotel’s general manager, was in high spirits about the overall execution of the show. “Shaggy is just the best. I think he has done an amazing job.

He went from every single section of the Jamaican music that you can think of. From dancehall to reggae to Shaggy,” said Reader.

A guest at the hotel, who gave her name as Joanna, said she’s been a fan of Shaggy since she was a child. She couldn’t miss the opportunity of seeing him perform.

“I’m now 25 and I have been listening to Shaggy since I was around 4.My husband and I are here on our honeymoon and we had to come to the concert. Shaggy is the best!,” she said.

She added that Shaggy’s 2000 Billboard chart topper It Wasn’t Me was her favourite from his catalogue.

“We couldn’t have asked for a better artiste than Shaggy to continue Moon Palace Jamaica Grande’s concert series.

We are confident that with this year’s diverse entertainment line-up, we will continue to position Moon Palace Jamaica Grande as one of the Caribbean’s most successful entertainment destinations,” said Gibran Chapur, executive vice-president of Palace Resorts.

The next show in the concert series is scheduled for July 30 with Canadian pop/reggae group Magic!

— Kevin Jackson