“A BOOM TIME” AT GT TAYLOR’S CHRISTMAS EXTRAVAGANZA!

PROMOTER GT Taylor and his team can take a bow for a well-executed Boom GT Taylor Reggae Christmas Extravaganza which took place on Christmas Day at Independence Park in Black River, St Elizabeth.The popular show has become a calendar event, attracting hundreds of patrons and top reggae/dancehall acts.

Fresh from Nairobi, Kenya, I-Octane gave the night’s first big performance by throwing down hit songs like Lose A Friend, Man A Suffer Too Long, Badmind Dem A Pree, and Mama You Alone.

One can always expect a spectacular performance from veteran Freddie McGregor and Friday’s set was no different.

He thrilled fans with classics like Prophecy, Push Come to Shove, To Be Poor Is A Crime and Stop Loving You during the opening 20 minutes of his set. The singer continued to captivate his audience with Big Ship, Winner and Let Him Try, before going into the ballads Always and Forever, And So I’ll Wait For You and his cover of the O’Jays’ Brandy.

Romain Virgo was also in good voice. He had fans singing along to his hits includingLive Mi Life, Who Feels it Knows It, Rain is Falling, Can’t Sleep and Love Doctor.

Favourable sets also came from Ikaya, Loyal Flames, Bugle, Chi Ching Ching, I-Wayne and Ishawna.

Some acts failed to impress, among them Bounty Killer’s proteges K Queens. Although the twin sisters tried feverishly to captivate the audience, they disappointed.

With dawn beckoning, the appearance of Ninjaman and Gully Bop sent the semi-packed park into a frenzy. Their free-style exchange went over well and included lyrical jabs at MC Nuffy, Sting promoter Isaiah Laing and Merciless.

The last 30 minutes of the show belonged to Bounty Killer, Beenie Man, Popcaan, and Sizzla Kalonji.

Bounty Killer ignited the crowd with a string of hits after which he invited Beenie Man to join him onstage. Minutes later, Popcaan came on, followed by Sizzla who ‘set fire’ to Babylon and homosexuality. He also thrilled the ladies with Give Me A Try, Woman I Need You and Just One of Those Days which drew firecracker and torch salutes.

It was approximately 6:30 am Saturday when the police called an end to the 15th Boom GT Taylor Reggae Christmas Extravaganza.

Taylor was honored by reggae artist Brimstone, not only for the show’s success but for his contribution to the less fortunate in St Elizabeth.

“I felt like giving up because of the lack of help. We ask the government a lot of time to help us because a lot of persons benefit from this event. It also attracts a lot of tourists. However, they take it to the North Coast instead. Reggae music is for all of us and everything should be done to preserve it,” said Taylor.