With the show starting at 5 p.m., The Big Beach Bash at Brandons last week Saturday, Errol Barrow Day, promised to be big on many things: big-name acts, a big crowd and big-name personalities. It delivered on all fronts. Here is a timeline of the events.
5:00 p.m to 6:45 p.m. Emcee Alff started the ball rolling, warming up the crowd with a few jokes and soem giveaways. Peter Coppin and the Monsta Piece Crew played music while waiting for the first act.
Kid Site started the show with a song for Errol Barrow. He touched on the Eager Eleven; the froot loops craze and some stolen pigtails in his 15-minute stint.
He was followed by Grynner, Mr Dale (who brought up girls on stage to give wining lessons) and Red Plastic Bag who brought a performance worthy of a calypso king.
Food stalls had some patrons, and a police presence was felt by the many walkthroughs of blue uniforms. By this time the moderate crowd had swelled.
Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler, tucking into a plate of food in the VIP tent, said he expected that by 8 p.m. the crowd would get bigger. A massive televison screen was set up on the beach for those who prefered that spot.
6:45 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. It may sound cliched but the very brief rain could not stop the jam, as krosfyah with Edwin Yearwood picked up the tempo. The crowd partied under umbrellas while Khiomal showed he had moves like Jagger.
7:45 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. Jon Doe provided deejay music while the Fully Loaded band did their setting up. Then surprise!?Peter Ram and Trevor Eastmond came on stage (they were not in the line-up). Crimeson, Mr Levi and Fari did their popular songs with Sinckler singing along to Do Sain Fa Me and Doan Ask Me. Hilarious.
Amber, a young female singer did her stint, backed by Fully Loaded.
At 8:30 Buggy’s melodious voice filled the night air. He charmed the crowd with his clean delivery.
8:45 to 10 p.m. The lights dimmed. The crowd, now noticeably increased to about 10 000, looked to the left of the stage. Dressed in a black robe with gold trimmings, staff in hand and cap on head, Jamaican singer Luciano ran on stage.
Cap gets thrown to the side, followed by the prancing, front flips and shouts of “Jah”. Luciano revealed he came to teach the youth about roots and culture.
His lyrics swept over the souls and heads of the crowd who had umbrellas out for the second set of rain at 9:15 p.m. that lasted for 15 minutes. Luciano saw it as showers of blessings.
In the VIP tent, with drinks flowing and food aplenty, Banks calendar girls mingled with Patrick Todd, Mara Thompson (who sang every Luciano song) and her daughters, Undene Whittaker, executives of Digicel (sponsors of the event) and media personnel.
Luciano loves Barbados and Barbados loves him back. With a 9:55 p.m. warning, Luciano squeezed in two more songs and exited the stage at 10 p.m. The crowd filed out.
A check with security personnel afterwards said that it was a well behaved crowd; no incidents. Sinckler said the event “was what I expected and more. I’m happy”.
He promised another one around Crop Over.
