Tree, stars light up Christmas in the City

Hailed as the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation’s (KSAMC) marquee event of the year, the annual Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony in St William Grant Park – the finale extravaganza of an agency which has consistently pushed a mandate to ‘re-brand’ downtown Kingston as a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly hot spot – made a clear statement that an essential ingredient of the initiative is the dancehall. The tree was lit to polite applause, because it was soon evident that the decor was only a fraction of the attraction.

Despite the Yuletide-themed occasion, carols were few and far between at the concert event headlined by dancehall stars Chronic Law – a member of the 6ix, and Shenseea, Teejay and Ding Dong, signees of Romeich Entertainment. The generally youthful audience didn’t seem to notice, or care, as they waited to be served up by their favourite acts.

The organisers put other flavours into the mix, inviting a riveting rendition of Tina Turner’s Proud Mary, by Kimelia Issacs, a few high register selections from Digicel Rising Stars winner Sherlon Russell and an overzealous presentation by entertainment newcomer Carson Fire, who perhaps unintentionally brought some comedy to the stage with his song, Guh Look Wuk.

There were other performers like Sister Pat, who took the town to church; Kukudoo; Bongo Herman and a bag of percussive instruments; and a young American pop singer named Will Harden.

But it all became clear when the show’s emcee, Markland ‘Action’ Edwards called the first big ‘blessed’ star to the stage. Polite applause turned raucous, and in a flood, the stage front was crowded with girls and young women, clamouring to get as close to Shenseea as possible. She was allowed to rest her vocal chords for many choruses, with her fans loudly taking over.

Chronic Law and Teejay got similar receptions, pulling young men and boys out of the audience wings.

Then things got peppery when the reigning dancing king and his court, Ding Dong and the Ravers, entered the fray. While there were definitive demographics hounding the previous performers, it seemed like everyone wanted to dance.

Dancehall essential

It wasn’t just the fervent concert experience that proves dancehall, or entertainment, stands as an essential ingredient in the rebranding of downtown Kingston. That assertion came out during the civic ceremony featuring KSAMC officials and heads of government, just before the tree lit up, before the park flipped up into a stageshow.

“This is the last event of the decade. We want downtown to be somewhere we can party, where we can sit back and have a drink, eat and work – even at nights. That is bringing back the vibes of downtown,” minority leader Andrew Swaby said.

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Desmond McKenzie, aged the ceremony against himself. He then referenced the recent extension to party times for the festive period, urging the partying and promoting public to appeal to lawmakers and enforcers’ good side, to hopefully inspire confidence through obedience.

“Mayor Williams, the councillors and the staff of the KSAMC is sharing with you, a tradition that has existed for many years. I am 67 years old, and tree lighting has been taking place in this park long before I was born. It is a tradition that has grown and taken on new dimension. We must set the example, so when we ready to review at the end of the extension, we will say that the people worked with the system, so let us continue it for a little longer.

kimberley.small@gleanerjm.com