Great performances at Groovin’ in the Park

As was promised by CEO of Groovin' in the Park, Christopher Roberts, several persons benefited from Sunday's staging.

On the outside of the Roy Wilkins Park venue in Queens, New York, dozens of homeowners were observed converting their front yards to temporary parking lots for a US$50 fee.

Mini-bars and cookshops were also set up on front porches and seemed to be doing brisk business. Billed as 'North America's premier reggae and R&B festival', the concert had a mix of reggae and dancehall artistes, with the headliner being rhythm and blues crooner Charlie Wilson.

Among the standouts on Sunday were dancehall artiste Cham, who could do no wrong in a segment titled 'Timeless '90s'. The Sherlock Cresent native had the more than 20,000 persons inging along to a string of hits from his catalogue, among them Ghetto Story, Babylon Bwoy, Vitamin S and Wha Dem Feel Like. It was seemingly not just a paid gig for the entertainer, but more of an opportunity to party with his fans, as he showed off his dance moves and connected with his audience. The Flawless Band, a mainly female contingent, also added spice to Cham's set, with the sexy bass player catching the eyes of almost all the males present.

Wayne Wonder was also a part of the Timeless 90s segment and the singer lived up his musical expectations. Although a lot of the music from his catalogue was recorded decades ago, the artiste had the full attention of teenagers inside the venue who sang in unison to No Letting Go, Joyride, Bounce Along and Saddest Day. Frisco Kid aloo delivered well in this segment.

Prior to their igniting sets, Minister Marion Hall, formerly known as Lady Saw, showed that she was just as lyrically inclined in gospel as she was in the secular world, as she trampled demons and witches through song, while selectors Bass Odyessy, Dynamq, David Rodigan and Yard Beat fired up the stage through their friendly sound clash.

Following the Timeless 90s segment, members of the audience were somewhat sceptiical if Tarrus Riley would be able to keep them on their feet, but the singer silenced their doubts.

He had the audience singing and saluting to tunes such as Stay With You, She's Royal, Lion Paw and Never Leave I.

Like the others who performed before him, Riley also used his platform to lash out against violence against children, making reference to the brutal killing of eight-year-old Danielle Rowe earlier this month.

International R&B crooner Wilson brought the curtain down on the festival. The headliner did a number of his hits, but the reception from the crowd was not quite as warm as that given to the other performers. Minutes after he began his set, hundreds of persons had already began filing out the park.

In-between performances, the patrons were kept entertained by the MCs Pretty Boy Floyd, Nuffy, and Jenny Jenny.