The 2018 edition of the Shaggy and Friends show delivered a musical treat to its patrons. When your “Friends” include Sting, Wyclef. Third World, Barrington Levy, Junior “One Blood” Reid, Christopher Martin, Romain Virgo, Dexta Daps and Aidonia, a good time is virtually guaranteed. Throw in the Soca melodies of “power couple Bunji Garlin and Fayann Lyons, and you receive a performance of high energy.
The host himself set the show in motion, accompanied by Jovi Rockwell (preceded by a guitar ensemble that was hampered by a minor technical glitch), the latter making a welcome return in a silver floor-length but still exuding her casual “game for anything” persona. The mantle of headliner thus fell to Wyclef and, to his credit, he carried it well. Like Doug E. Fresh before him. The former Fugees front man gave a nice expo on hip-hop, but also weaved in his own diverse musical influences, including no small debt to Jamaican music. Patrons began flowing onto the lawns of Jamaica House long before the scheduled 8 pm start. While the final numbers may not be confirmed for a while, one can safely say that this ranks among the biggest ever turn-out for the show. The audience was in fact global, thanks to a live stream of the show, all geared at expanding the viewership and the donations to the very cause of additional ICU beds at the Bustamante Hospital for Children.
Shaggy and his production team maintained their reputation by delivering a top-notch presentation. The staging – lighting and imaging – as well as the sound, were perfectly balanced (save for a brief glitch at the opening). The hospitality team was engaging and welcoming, despite some logistical limitations. Platinum patrons repeatedly ambled over to the food and beverage stalls on the periphery, noshing on shrimp pasta, fried bread pudding, and other delicacies and imbibing a range of cocktails to help them soak up the vibe. To the left of the stage, the Media Tent was also abuzz with activity as the stars made their way through post-performance, with a media corps of local and overseas “journos” eager to get their impressions.
Shaggy and Friends has delivered this kind of transcendence in the past, and we can be assured that it will do the same in the future.
To Read More: Purchase your copy of Volume 9 #6 January-February 2018