The 2018 Magnum Tonic Wine Reggae Beach Party on Sunday night was everything patrons could have wanted.
Based on the crowd response from the thousands who gathered at Pirates Cove, Bay Street, St Michael, there was no doubt that headliner Jamaican Aidonia stole the show.
The 37-year-old, whose real name is Sheldon Aitana Lawrence, came onto the stage promptly at 10:40 p.m. He was quickly followed by an entourage of hype men, and provided one hour of entertainment filled with high-energy performances and at times explicit lyrical content that the bashment lovers came for.
From the moment Aidonia stepped on stage, fans could be seen with outstretched arms and cell phones in record mode. It didn’t take long for them to begin chanting “4th Genna” – a salute to his production company.
Early in his set he paid tribute to a number of entertainers, including Capleton, Beenie Man, Vybz Kartel, and soon-to-be-released convict Buju Banton. When he performed the incarcerated artiste’s Driver, numerous Jamaican flags went up in the air as the crowd went into a frenzy.
But he did not have to rely on his colleague’s songs to make the show, because his performances of tracks such as Nuh Boring Gal, Breeze, Bruki, Krayzay, Bruise, Nuh Bwoy, Empty and Hot Tool all got similar responses.
The most talked about moment of the show, however, came when he asked the patrons to “part the red sea”. He then leaped into the crowd and had everyone screaming “Yeah, Yeah, Yeah”.
The numbers this year appeared to be on par with last year, but the vibes were a vast improvement, and despite the rains earlier in the evening, the show got started at 5 p.m. and ran on schedule without major hiccups.
The opening acts included Bajans Kas Katee, Lady Essence, Jagwa The Champ, Deejays Puffy, Blaqrose Supreme Scrilla, Porgie and Murdah and Stiffy who held their own.
Dancehall artiste Kemar Ding Dong Ottey, who was accompanied by his team of dancers, had everyone mimicking the choreography of Bad Man Forward / Bad Man Pull Up, Fling and Genna Bounce.
Rising star Shenseea was the lone female headliner and she was also well received. She noticeably lost some energy mid-set, but the Love I Got For U singer has a promising future. (TG)
