“IT’S good to see an artiste spreading positivity and making a difference. It’s really a positive move,” said Gary Reid in reference to entertainer-cum-promoter Tarrus Riley on Thursday evening.

It was Reid’s fourth time at the annual Tarrus Riley and Friends ‘ Let Live Music Live’free concert held at Emancipation Park in St Andrew. The show, which is celebrating nine years, was held under the theme ‘Let Peace Reign’.

Reid, 33, was among a crowd of cheerful patrons who were treated to a star-studded line-up.

“The whole vibe keeps me coming back. You get to see artistes perform the full song and you get good performances. The theme is on point; we’ve gone skyrocket with the crime rate so this is good to sensitise the country about what’s happening and show how much we are destroying our country,” Reid expressed.

Since the start of the year, the island’s murder toll has surpassed 1,562, which is 270 more than what was recorded for last year during the same period. Despite the gloomy figures, entertainers encouraged patrons to have a crime-free Christmas as they rocked the venue.

“No violence this Christmas, a dat we a promote,” said deejay Ding Dong as the Ravers Clavers group induced the the audience to dance along.

The dancing frenzy continued with appearances by Chi Ching Ching and Sean Paul, who performed their 2016 collaboration Crick Neck. Sean Paul also performed Temperature and his Billboard hit Cheap Thrills.

While Tarrus Riley did not have a set for himself, the show organiser ensured that all attendees were left musically satiated. He teased patrons with his recent single Graveyard, which looks at Jamaica’s crime crisis.

Among the evening’s performers were Richie Spice, Romain Virgo, Etana, Iba Mahr, Kabaka Pyramid, Shenseea, Ikaya, Govana, Jahmiel, Glacia Robinson, and Tinga Stewart

Reggae act Protoje performed Sudden Flight with his protégé Sevana and engaged the crowd in a modified rendition of Blood Money.

Speaking with the Observer, Protoje said it was important for him to be part of the show.

“I reached out to Tarrus and said I wanted to be part of the show cause I always come and sing here but I never brought my band, so I wanted to come and hold a vibe,” he said.

Veteran reggae act Mighty Diamonds swayed the crowd with I Need A Roof, Have Mercy and Pass the Kouchie. Younger acts Jada Kingdom, Lanz, Adahzeh, Chevaughn, Darrio also performed.

The night ended with an appearance by Richie Spice who left patrons wanting more with his performances of Earth A Run Red, Grooving My Girl and Brown Skin.