Reggae the winner at Intimate

Reggae music was the real winner on New Year's Day when thousands dipped deep into their pockets and turned out to fully support a showcase featuring headliners Beres Hammond and Buju Banton, in addition to Marcia Griffiths, LUST and Tarrus Riley at Grizzly's Plantation Cove in St Ann.

The show was dubbed Intimate and promised that the two headline acts would perform long enough to fill the appetites of their hungry fans. Intimate, whose general admission tickets cost $10,000 and VIP $30,000, delivered. The turnout was a promoter's dream, as patrons steadily streamed into the venue before the gates opened at 5 p.m. and the concert's 7 p.m. start had to be delayed by more than 90 minutes in consideration of those who were stuck in traffic heading to St Ann. Vendors, too, had much to celebrate with robust sales throughout the night.

It was a night of highs, with perhaps the loudest screams occurring when five minutes in his already scream-filled set, Beres Hammond was briefly joined on stage by Buju. Known for their unmatched chemistry on stage and on record, the stalwarts of reggae and dancehall music gave the Grizzly's crowd an appetiser. The real bellyful came later when Beres continued solo for more than an hour, delivering evergreen classics from his songbook which fans, by then a mass choir, seemed to know page by page. Kudos to his Harmony House band and singers, and his 'nephew' Popcaan, who joined him at 2:22 a.m. for their collaboration, God is Love.

It was the same scenario all over again when closing act Buju commanded centrestage shortly before it started to drizzle. Unfazed, both he and the crowd performed for each other, with Buju starting a song and the crowd taking it over, or simply blowing their vuvuzuelas and any other noisemaker at the highest level, while jumping and saluting with their dancehall 'gun fingers'. Buju's musical aggregation, the Shiloh Band, was on point and so were the back-up singers whose harmonies blended perfectly on songs such as Destiny, Untold Stories, Murderer, Close One Yesterday and 23rd Psalm with Gramps Morgan.

Another high moment was when Red Stripe honoured Buju, Beres and the Queen of Reggae Marcia Griffiths with the inaugural Red Stripe Living Legend Award.

Earlier in the evening, reggae singer Tarrus Riley nearly had patrons crying when he paid a tribute to his late father, Jimmy Riley, by bringing his own son on stage to perform with him for the first time.

"Mi father wasn't the greatest father on paper, but in action him was mi best friend. Mi a try fi nuh bawl, but if a bawling a just bawling though. A the first me a go do this.. cold bump a tek mi. Jimmy Riley introduced me to music, tonight Jimmy Riley grandson is here, my son. I want to introduce my son, Meckie... cause a mee mek him. Walk out star boy," Tarrus said and his 12-year-old son appeared with his guitar, which he then played.

Tarrus, who delivered a high quality reggae set, paused to offer condolences to Aidonia and his wife, who lost their son to cancer recently, and also to Stephen Marley, whose son Jo Mersa passed away last week. Tarrus sang the poignant Maroon 5 song Memories in tribute.

The other advertised acts, L.U.S.T. and Griffiths also brought their A-game to a truly appreciative audience. Nitty Kutchie, Medisun, Mitch and D'Yani also performed.

In thanking all who had participated, Buju said "the energy was amazing".