Montego Bay's songbird Sister Doreen as she delivers some Studio One hits on stage at the 'MoBay Nite Out' show along Gloucester Avenue, Montego Bay. 'MoBay Nite Out' had been off the entertainment scene for several years but was relaunched three weeks ago and is being held on the Hip Strip every Monday night. - Photo by Noel Thompson

Noel Thompson, Freelance Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

After being shelved for several years, the once-popular 'MoBay Nite Out' is back in the western city, every Monday night between 7:00 and 1:00 a.m.

In its heyday, 'MoBay Nite Out', also known as the carnival, was held along Gloucester Avenue and attracted large crowds weekly.

But with only three weeks since its rebirth, the event is now being staged on the lawns of the old hospital ground.

Promoters of 'MoBay Nite Out 2007', Selections Promotions Limited said the revised show now has something different, something that was missing from the event.

Said coordinator Warren Johnson: "When the event was being held in the 1990s it was a fantastic event, but it experienced some difficulties at various levels. The organisers tried to restart it but they took the heart out of it, which was a live band with persons performing extemporaneously.

"The live music was missed and so we want to bring that back," Johnson continued. Monday night was a fitting example of the effects the live performances have on the audience.

Lovely though unrehearsed

Irie Connections Band, based in Montego Bay, made a profound impact on the audience, playing and backing local talents flawlessly throughout the night, many of whom admitted they were unrehearsed. The four-man band opted to forego a scheduled break and played tirelessly to the end of the show.

Singer 'CBS', of Montego Bay, was the opening act. His rich vocals and handling of the stage was evidence that he had been exploring the entertainment scene for sometime. His presentation was punctuated with several hits from Bob Marley's and Dennis Brown's collections, which were well received.

Midway in his performance, he invited Shandy Man and his entourage on stage, but their lengthy performance did not find much grace with the audience.

There were many other amateur and semi-professional acts who took center stage, but the man of the night was Nickey Silk, a perfect reincarnation of the late reggae singer, Garnet Silk.

Nickey Silk wooed the audience throughout his entire performance, reeling off a barrage of Garnet Silk's popular songs. At the end of his half-hour performance, an unsatisfied crowd echoed repeated shouts for more Silk. Nickey Silk was leaving the venue, but the calls were overbearing, so he returned and performed for another 30 minutes. He was the only performer who earned an encore.

Extra display outlet

Meanwhile, Warren Johnson said 'MoBay Nite Out' would also give craft vendors an extra outlet to display their merchandise to the tourists.

"We want all of the most interesting things from all across Jamaica to be exhibited at the event so that visitors can sample a little of everything about Jamaica."

Selections Promotions also plans to establish a Rastafarian village, which will include food, arts, crafts, literature and herbal products. "This will allow Rastafarians to represent themselves on the front-line because they too are promoting tourism," he said.