The Tribune

By ALESHA CADET

Tribune Features Reporter

acadet@tribunemedia.net

PROMOTERS of the recent Increase The Peace concert did exactly what they promised to do, which was to deliver a good show.

Even though plans for the concert had to be changed at the last minute, with a release being sent out via Facebook saying that headliner and dancehall star Mavado would be a no-show due to issues with his travel documents, the show still went on.

The entire night was violence free and filled with entertainment in every corner of the Luna Nightclub on West Bay Street.

There was music and entertainment from Nassau’s finest DJs, as well as 100JAMZ’s “Free Your Mind” host, Natural Empress.

Just before the show, event promoter and 24KT management director Cheldin Brown said he wanted to present artists that have not been seen in the Bahamas in a long time, but whose music everyone can still relate to. And this is exactly what went down last Saturday when Tanya Stephens, Jah Cure and Capleton took to the stage.

Tanya got a lot of the crowd’s attention when it came to her hit songs for the ladies. Coming out dressed in black, she sang hits such as, “After You”, “It’s A Pity” and “Good Ride”.

Shortly after, Jah Cure gave the audience what they wanted – music for all the lovers out there. From “Love Is”, to “Before I Leave”, he sang them all.

But a lot of the patrons agreed that it was Capleton who stole the show. Coming out dressed in a Junkanoo-inspired, bright coloured outfit, he brought lots of energy with every note he hit.

One concert-goer, Amanda, said:

“I think the concert is going okay so far, but it started way too late, but all concerts in Nassau start too late so I was not surprised at all. I am enjoying all areas of the concert, but my only thing is, there should have been more than just Hennessy available in the backstage area. Now in terms of the performances, so far my favourite has been the Illest, I am a softy for supporting my own, and they had me moving.”

Kimberley, another audience member, added:

“This is my first time seeing Capleton in concert and I must say, he shocked the heck out of me. He brought some real life to the stage, man. He brought everything. Even if you was tired, he made you move. I hardly knew the songs, but I am sure one or two cameras caught me singing along to every single beat. I would see him again in concert for sure.”

For Christina, the artists did a fair job filling in for Mavado.

“I don’t think they are as good as Mavado would have been, but at least they showed up and gave the Bahamian people some entertainment. It is good to see Jah Cure here again because I haven’t seen him since he was here the last time with Sizzla. He is always energetic and his songs never get old,” she said.