JAVAA Music Festival

By Steve James on Friday, December 26, 2014 - Photos by Steve James - Comment

Javaa's music festival took place December 8th for Kingston Music Week with Bagga Case, Dennis Walks, Mighty Diamonds, Boris Gardner, George Nooks & The Heptones.

RJR’s Kingston Music week appropriately ended with the staging of JAVAA’s Music Festival. This was held at the Country Side Club on Sunday, December 8^th. The show started at 6pm and featured several vintage artistes such as Bagga Case, Dennis Walks, George Nooks and Boris Gardner to name a few. The size of the crowd was indicative of the caliber artistes billed to appear.

bagaa chase Considered one of the most versatile backing bands in Jamaica, Fab 5 supported all the performers, and in so doing gave a flawless performance. Lead by JAVAA president and band leader, Frankie Campbell; Fab Five warmed up the crowd by performing several Jamaican, R&B and Christmas Classics. They were then joined on stage by the first set of artistes including Bagga Case, Charmaine Lemonious, and The Heptones who performed several hits including the popular Party Time, Pretty Looks and Baby Be True, from their classic studio album On Top. They were followed on stage by Boris Gardner who performed his ever popular, I Want To Wake Up With You. During his set he surprised many by showing his skill on the bass guitar. He touched on a few classics such as Nanny Goat and Police & Thieves which he had played the original bass line to.

George Nooks was next to deliver and was the first artiste to get the patrons on their feet. This he did while delivering songs such as Tribal War and Left With a Broken Heart. He exited the stage while leaving the patrons on a high indicating that he had a total of five events billed for the night. Mr. Dennis ‘Drifter’ Walks was next and dazzled the crowd with his songs and dance moves. The lone female on the show was Gem Myers, a top singer in the cabaret circuit on the north coast; she paid respect to several of our female icons before closing with her hit One Man Woman. Dressed in full red, Ken Boothe graced the stage and mesmerized the audience from the onset with his classic hit and rocksteady dance moves.

Mighty diamond

The show came to a close with the Mighty Diamonds gracing the stage. They delivered several selections from their vast catalogue and had the crowd dancing to their every move. At the end the second staging of Kingston Music Week was a very successful one and patrons have already started to look forward to 2015.