Beres Hammond conquers Rebel Salute 2016

By Renae Dixon Observer reporter

BERES Hammond came, saw and conquered Rebel Salute’s final night at Grizzly Plantation Cove in Priory, St Ann, Sunday morning.

Turbulence

Junior Reid

Mavado

Half Pint

Pinchers

Ken Boothe

Eric Donaldson

The singer, who took the stage after 4:00 am, could do no wrong during his nearly two- hour-long set. He had patrons dancing throughout and the ladies screaming.

After an exciting solo set, Hammond went song for song with the show’s promoter Tony Rebel. He also performed with Marcia Griffiths.

Hammond’s performance was the closing act for some fans, who left immediately after his set closed, despite David Brooks (Mavado), Half Pint and Pinchers still to come.

David Brooks — who was appearing on the show for the second time — was well received. His fans, happy to see him performing in Jamaica after an extended break, gave him a grand welcome.

The singjay teased the audience with snippets of his songs, moving from one hit to another, which did not please one female fan who complained that Brooks should have completed his songs.

Queen Ifrica made a spectacular entrance with her version of Adele’s Hello. She entered the stage in an aerial bucket lift, surprising the crowd who had their eyes fixed to the stage, expecting a conventional appearance.

She performed a number of her hit songs to great reception.

Recorded in 1978, Eric Donaldson’s Festival Song winner Land of My Birth is powerful enough to win over any crowd.

There was similar reception when he did his 1971 winner Cherry Oh Baby.

Ken Boothe, who followed Donaldson, kept the momentum going. In addition to songs from his recent album Journey, his vast catalogue of rocksteady hits also found favour among fans.

English deejay Macka B also went over well, using his performance to touch on hot-button issues, such as the British Government’s plan to build a prison in Jamaica; and legalisation of ganja.

Half Pint and Pinchers were entertaining. The former had the crowd begging for more.

Turbulence, Paul Elliott, Pablo Moses, Junior Reid and I-Octane gave energetic performances.