By Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer
The amphitheatre was not as popular with some patrons or some of the performers at bMobile Reggae Sunsplash 2006. - Ian Allen
With two stages, a large main one on the expansive open field and a smaller one directly beside the sea, fixed seating rising on the incline facing it amphitheatre style, the bMobile Reggae Sunsplash 2006 promised continuous live music.
It was on that 'small stage' there that the festival began last Thursday with the Kingston Drummers, and the exchange went well enough until 4:30 the next morning. Spice, Ifrica, Tarrus Riley and Alozade were announced for the amphitheatre. However, despite many people heading over to the seaside, there were no performances and no explanations for the half-hour it took to resume action on the main stage with Mavado.
Alozade, Spice and Ifrica eventually squeezed in a word after the closing combination of Ninja Man and Elephant Man, along with those they called on to the main stage.
The following night, Friday's World Beat concert, there were complaints from the amphitheatre by Anthony Cruz. He noted that there were two stages, "one ova deso full a people an one have bout 100 people. But because we go all ova de worl'".
"Me no see no Sunsplash banner ova here so, but me see it ova desso," he said, asking the people present to stand and some did as he delivered Half-Way Tree. Still, before he did Place Too Bloody, Cruz said "dem know sey de fire ever hereso, so dem put we pon de small stage. I gwine bun it!"
Big opportunity
Lexxus, who came on after Cruz, got the audience going with Cook. After instructing the women to Walk Up Inna De Video Lexxus said "a yasso dem gi we, so me a put on a show". Before ending, Lexxus said "a big opportunity for me. As a yute me grow up a dream bout Sunsplash an' see, me get my own".
And Tony Curtis of the male quartet LUST, which followed Lexxus on the ampitheatre stage, said "a way dung yasso dem put we, but still we a work as always," High Grade rocking the audience. Everton Blender with Family Man and Blen' Dem finished that set of performances.
Later in the morning, after Morgan Heritage finished their main stage set, Mutabaruka said "yu have some artiste full a ego" who said they would not perform on the little stage. "Is not a likkle stage, is a ampitheatre. It is alongside the Caribbean Sea. Yu no want nutten more dan dat. What a beautiful place Jamaica is. Can yu imagine if yu meva have any politician? It would be heaven."
On Saturday's International Night after UB40 wrapped up on the main stage with I Can't Help Falling In Love and Yvad started the action in the ampitheatre, Kip Rich said "even though de stage far me naa bawl. Me deh ya fi please de fans," he said, staring out with Leggo Yu Belly. When he hit Liquere he said "in ya full up! De show can start now! Dem tink dem can go roun' me?"
And on the closing Singers' Night poet I-Nubia said "I-Nubia again on the small stage. Guess what, we like small things so a no nutten."
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