Nathaniel Stewart/Freelance Photographer
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CENTRE: Jimmy Cliff during his extended performance at Rebel Salute 2005.
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RIGHT: Beres Hammond in a full-length performance at his Moment concert in December.

Krista Henry and Mel Cooke, Gleaner Writers

It was an all-too familiar tale at Beenie Man's 2008 Sizzle concert, held on Independence Day at JAMALCO in Halse Hall, Clarendon. The concert's organiser and undisputed start of the marathon night, Beenie Man, performed for only 14 minutes before the police called a halt to the music.

In fact his 'performance' (if 14 minutes can be called that) could have been even shorter, as the lawmen had heeded to his pleas for a few minutes more.

Although this oft-repeated scenario was amplified by the policemen in the marathon concert scenario which dominates the Jamaican scene, performers hardly get to do full-length shows on their home soil. At Capleton's 2008 A St Mary Me Come From, held on the Tuesday before Independence Day, over 70 performers hit the stage. The annual Sting concert often boasts a line-up of over 40 performers.

Dancehall arena

And it is not only in the outright dancehall arena that the line-up gets crowded. The annual Rebel Salute, which trends more towards roots music of the singing and deejay kind, often puts well over 30 performers onstage. The same goes for Morgan Heritage's East Fest. However, Jimmy Cliff's 2004 Rebel Salute performance and Burning Spear's showing thefollowing year were exceptions, as they did full-length showings as headline performers.

In this scenario, Beres Hammond's Moment concert, held last December at the National Indoor Sports Centre, was a huge difference from the run-of-the-mill shows. Special guests, including Marcia Griffiths, Big Youth and Lenya Wilks, performed in the first segment of the sold-out show before Beres Hammond put on a full-length showcase in the second half. And Richie Stephens' Take Me Away, also staged at the Sports Centre, features a limited number of performers, with Stephens hosting his 'friends' and also putting on an extended showcase in the process.

In addition, Third World's Explanitation series also gave fans a chance to see them in full-length performance, interspersed with special guests.

Economics come into play with the many performers for a rela-tively low-price approach in Jamaica, as it simply is not viable to have shows with a limited number of performers in a smaller venue.

Different scenario

Outside Jamaica, though, many times it is a totally different scenario as artistes get the opportunity to perform at length, making for a totally different effect from the 'cut-and-go-through' showings which are often served up to the Jamaican public. Not only are songs done at length, but often songs which would fall flat on a 'yard' audience are included, giving the performer the opportunity to show the depth of his or her catalogue.

One of the artistes who has been allowed to show his depth overseas is reggae singer Tarrus Riley. When The Sunday Gleaner spoke with Riley, he was leaving the island for a four-week tour of the United States. Riley is frequently out of the island, performing around the Caribbean, in Japan and a large section of Europe. Riley almost exclusively performs with a live band, Black Soil, which further adds to the ambience.

Overfull line-up

Riley acknowledged that an often overfull line-up is part of the Jamaican culture, but it is one that he does not mind. In Jamaica, whether it's five, 15 or 20 minutes onstage, he gives his all. For Riley, performing abroad is different not only in terms of stage time - although at some major festivals lack of time is still an issue - but because of the nuances of being on foreign land.

"One difference when performing abroad is the language and di way you talk. In my yaad, yuh talk any thing not only Patois, but issues about what's happening in your country. Abroad, it's a whole different ball game. To connect with a crowd and reason with the audience, you have to watch the news and know what is happening there. Here your're more natural," Riley commented.

Party lady Dania Beckford said she prefers the smaller set-up with, at most, six entertainers billed. "I want more time for the artistes so that the artiste can connect with the audience. That way, I can get more value for my money other than a passing of the microphone type thing. That's why I love Welcome to Jamrock. I know who I'm going to see and in what time frame and that's it," Beckford said.

Another frequent concert patron, Sasha, prefers the smaller concerts as well, "I want quality for my money. I can't bother standing up from night till morning and when day light, I finally see who I want and is a five-minute performance. I want to bask in ma artistes," she said.

Name changed upon request.