A carnival atmosphere erupted on the quiet Morne Rogue Ground, St George?s, Grenada, on Monday, as a host of T&T soca stars celebrated Caribbean Star Airlines? fourth anniversary. The show attracted hundreds of islanders.
The entertainers, among them Xtatik?s Machel Montano, 2004 Road March champion Shurwayne Winchester and reigning International Soca Monarch Bunji Garlin, were brought to the island by the airline as part of their relief effort and rebuilding drive for the hurricane-ravaged nation.
Chairman of Caribbean Star Airlines, Allen Stanford, said he had moved the celebrations from the airline?s base in Antigua since he thought the people of Grenada needed cheering up.
?Today is really for you. Come celebrate with us, put down your burdens and enjoy yourselves,? Stanford said.
Scores of children, their parents and even Trinidadian Cepep workers flooded the venue equipped with their rags and flags in expectation of a great time.
They were not disappointed as the energy level generated by the dynamic performers was enough to rival any fete in Trinidad during the Carnival season.
The increasingly popular female duo of 2?ntrigue had the large gathering swaying and clapping as they got things started with an impressive cover of Whitney Houston?s Your Love is my Love.
3Canal, perhaps the most popular exponents of rapso music worldwide, were greeted with rousing applause as they took the stage to perform last year?s hit song Revolution.
Lead singer Wendell Manwarren urged the gathering to begin the revolution from within in the rebuilding of their nation.
The announcement of Shurwayne Winchester was met with deafening screams from the predominantly female crowd.
Former Road March queen Faye Ann Lyons came running onto the stage as soon as Winchester made his exit to deliver her winning song Display.
She didn?t give the frolicking crowd a moment?s rest as she flowed into this year?s hit Freedom, much to their delight.
Soca Monarch Bunji Garlin showed that his kingdom extended beyond the borders of T&T as he reigned over his loyal Grenadian subjects, who kept jumping for joy throughout his performance.
Bunji delivered a medley of his popular songs before breaking into his famous extemporaneous style.
He sang about him being at home in Arima in T&T and hearing of Ivan hitting Grenada.
?I know that Grenada strong and Ivan can?t keep you down,? he continued.
Machel Montano brought the event to a tumultuous climax.
A dancing Montano, imitating the steps and slides made famous by Michael Jackson, trilled the crowd with an exhilarating performance.
Performing a medley of his songs, the crowd roared for more, demanding he sing all of his songs.
He accommodated them, doing some songs a capella. He was joined on stage by all the other artistes to end the show with the Caribbean Star Airlines relief theme song Share Some Spice.
