Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer

Nuffy

Just within two weeks of Guinness Sting 2007 at Jam World Supreme Promotions, organisers of what is dubbed The Greatest One Night Reggae Show on Earth tested the waters across the waters.

The final free road show was held outside Ken's Wildflower Lounge, Port Henderson, and pulled in what turned out to be a fair-sized, though far from large for the space, audience.

Those who turned up were treated to a long series of very short performances, with most of the performers doing a few lines.

Among those who made an impression were Rennigod, High Octane, Nesbeth and Ataru, with Queen Paula taking shots at Spice and Diva taking it to D'Angel.

In the end, it was the performances that were cut, as after Ras Frazer had asked the crowd for support "from yu a bun b.........m an' sodoweak", there was a tussle with a member of the Supreme Promotions team when he walked to the back of the stage.

MC Nuffy said that "nobody cyaan go roun yasso", indicating the rear. However, he explained, there was a condition "when yu have a sponsor show".

"All my show whe no have no sponsor yu can sey anyting," he said. With sponsored shows, though, "the sponsor have suppen inna de paper when de promoter come to dem".

"If yu breach de contrac', yu no get de res' a de money," Nuffy said, pointing out that if there was no sponsor, there was no concert. "If yu no like certain man, yu no haffi chat bout dem," Nuffy said.

However, the next performer declared his desire to "shot some b........y".

Nuffy had had enough of the unco-operative artistes.

"When oonu go a embassy, dem sey no cuss no bad wud, dem dress up nice. When oonu a go tru airport, oonu tek off oonu shoes," he said.

He said that a lot of performers were waiting backstage, but last year, someone caused him almost not to work on Sting and he was not taking any chances, so it was over to the sound system for the night.