Shortened Reggae Wednesdays ends on high

This year's staging of the Reggae Wednesdays concert series came to a premature end last week. Due to the impending elections, this week's final staging of the concert series has been cancelled. With that in mind, organisers of the event made sure that patrons got a full dose of entertainment to make up for the early end.

Scores of guests turned up at Mandela Park, Half-Way Tree, St Andrew to witness a number of outstanding artistes in action. They were not disappointed, as the entertainers delivered one powerful set after another.

A number of up-and-coming artistes took the the stage in the earlier part of the show and the audience showed them lots of love. None received more applause than the all-female band Adahzeh.

Perhaps the audience was bowled over by how well the ladies handled themselves on stage, or maybe it was their effortless style of delivery. Whatever the reason, the audience loved them, enjoying the group's set so much that when Adahzeh finished there were loud shouts of "One more!"

With the go-ahead from the night's hosts, Denise 'Isis' Miller and Ibo Cooper, the ladies gave the audience what they asked for. From there on, the stage was set for a night of thrilling performances.

Gospel artistes Omari and Rondell Positive followed and both did well to keep the energy in the venue high. Omari performed songs such as Jehovah Guide Me, Help and Why, all of which were well received by the audience.

WORSHIP ATMOSPHERE

Omari established a worshipful atmosphere and Rondell Positive took things to the next level. The pint-sized performer wowed the audience with powerful vocals, his voice echoing throughout the venue. He performed some of his most popular tracks, including Cover Me, More than a Conqueror, All Over Me and Sticks Nor Stones. It was easy to forget that it was not a gospel show as Positive not only delivered songs, but came with a message. He reminded the audience that Jamaica is a great nation, highly favoured by God, and encouraged persons to continue praying for the country's advancement.

Nature, Vershon, Iba Mahr and Jahmiel were among the night's other standout performances, while Kabaka Pyramid and Exco Levi made special appearances.

It was a night that celebrated the best of reggae music and ended on a high when one of the industry's best came on stage. Capleton, the 'Fire Man', was handed the task of closing out the night's show and the 2016 Reggae Wednesdays series, a job he executed with masterful precision.

An obvious crowd-pleaser, Capleton wowed the audience with a high-energy set, delivering hit after hit. In addition to performing some of his most recent songs, the entertainer took the audience down memory lane as he did some of his most popular songs from early in his career.

Capleton provided a fitting end to an excellent evening of quality entertainment.