Under neon lights and a white tent, a crowd gathered at the Holetown Public Centre on Sunday night for Rhythms Of Pride.
The concert featured the Police Combo band, which delivered both upbeat and soothing instrumentals to patrons as it brought the curtain down on the Holetown Festival that began on February 15 and treated locals and visitors alike to a wide variety of attractions and entertainment.
Barbadians, along with visitors from Canada, Chicago and Germany, could be seen soaking up the entertainment provided by the island’s top performers.
Natahlee had the audience on their What We Do as both young and old showed dancing and wining to the energetic tune.
She ended with the crowd favourite during November for Independence, Colours. soon erupted with chants of blue, yellow, raised their “flags” – which were sno-cone whatever was in their hand – while jumping Mr Showman added to the energy previous performance with his delivery classic Vehicle. He also performed his the audience’s attention on him.
When Mikey took to the stage the classic We Loose and Enjoy Meh Life went forward and back in a line dance When Mr Blood joined Mikey on Heart Of The Party and Roll It, the their feet with her soca classic showed what they could do, tune. favourite constantly played
Colours. The atmosphere yellow, blue as people cone cups, drink bottles or jumping and singing. energy that lingered from the delivery of Richard Stoute’s spouge his hit song Ready, which kept crowd went crazy. For his
Life the crowd rhythmically dance-type routine under the tent. stage for Feting Family, the atmosphere was turned into the ultimate dance party as the crowd belted out the songs word for word after being prompted by the two performers to sing along.
Adrian Clarke took the crowd back in time with his nostalgic performances of Lunar 7’s spouge classic Marry Me and Another Try along with Soca You, We Having A Nice Time and Stiff.
Soca artiste Hypasounds closed the show with a bang, performing his classics So Good, Barbados Nice, Happy, Dip and Sugar Rush which saw patrons in an energised line dancing session.
Gill Casten, a visitor from Chicago, said she originally came to the island for a friend’s 40th birthday and received word of the festival and decided to show up and see what it was like.
Throughout the night she enjoyed the music, dancing and vibing with her friends.
“We love it, it’s fun and it’s everything we were looking for when we came to Barbados,” she said excitedly.
Another attendee, Allison Payne, said whenever soca was played she always had a good time because it was her love and joy. She said she had attended the Saturday night show and thoroughly enjoyed it when her favourite performers Lil Rick and Edwin Yearwood took to the stage.
“I love soca. I love the Bajan artistes. I love Bajan music and it’s been good. I think it’s an opportunity because I think soca music is undervalued and underrated in Barbados and throughout the world. I also think it was really good for the tourists to see part of our culture and see them enjoying themselves brought me joy as well,” Payne said
