Barbadians showed their appreciation for good Bajan music while also demonstrating tremendous patriotism when close to 2 500 spectators turned out for the Wrap Yourself Around The Flag Independence concert at Kensington Oval on Saturday night.
When James Leacock and Promise opened the show with some of their best gospel tunes, the numbers in the stand were mere spectators bedecked in national colours and quietly waving national flags.
However, those spectators then took over the show when they interrupted an interview between Leacock and MC Admiral International to stand and lustily sing the National Anthem.
From there on it was sheer nostalgia and involvement by the fans as Barbados’ First Lady of Song, Carlyn Leacock, took to the stage to pay tribute with Beautiful And Unspoilt followed by Love And A Song.
By the time she teamed up with her brother James to render Musical Matrimony and then finished off with the Nicole C. Mullins’ My Redeemer Lives, the Kensington crowd knew they were in for a treat.
The 12-year-old Wahid twins Naheem and Nakeem then showed how technology and past generations could positively affect the future as they provided a fascinating rendition of the Draytons Two’s It Was Written Down with all of the antics of Zorro and Fowl.
In response to queries from The Admiral, the boys said they went on YouTube to see how the Draytons used to perform the song and then their mother showed them how to perfect the dancing moves.
The fans, including Minister of Social Care Steve Blackett, were then given more than their money’s worth with Tony Poser Grazettes showing that his sartorial elegance and vocal abilities were still of the highest standard after 54 years of performing, as he crooned I Have Always Adored You, Oh Lonesome Me and Do You Like Good Music.
At that point the brave couple who had initiated the use of the dance floor in front of the stage were lost in the crowd particularly when Lew “Jiggs” Kirton took the microphone singing Talk To Me and some of the other hits which made him popular.
A bonus came when the internationally-acclaimed Arturo Tappin joined Kirton on stage to help serenade the fans with his saxophone.
A break came at seconds to midnight for Mike Thompson to sing the National Anthem and he, along with Adrian AC Clarke and Donella Weekes, would close out the show later with the Troubadours.
Before the end, Richard Dick Stoute and members of his teen talent brigade added to the musical time machine and he then hinted that December was up next with his popular Rock Steady Christmas.
There was not a stationary body in the venue when Mistah Dale provided some spouge rhythms and then unleashed his popular Soca Junkie to add to a wonderful night of rocking to Barbadian music while wrapped in the Flag.
