Krista Henry, Staff Reporter
Bacchanal Jamaica road parade, held on Sunday, March 30. - Winston Sill photos
It was a long journey to the Mas Camp Village through the rain and the heat but the true 'soca warriors' conquered the exciting trek at the Bacchanal Dreams road march last Sunday.
Starting on Mona Road at 10 a.m. it was a sea of vibrant colours as revellers put on their last minute sunblock, glitter and pinned up their costumes to get ready to play mas.
Costumes
The costumes were all gorgeous with Appleton's 'Delirious' looking vibrant in bright pink, Digicel's 'Mirage' was in gold, along with 'Acropolis' in gold and black, Ammar's 'Bacchanal Babes' was in a pale orange colour, Dreamscapes flowed in blue and orange, 'Trance' looked flowery in purple and blue and Fame FM's 'Indulge' stopped traffic in bright lime green.
The vibe was high as the revellers made their way along Wellington Avenue through to Liguanea as persons came out with their families to watch the parade pass by.The Fame FM truck at the back of the line was blazing with Kurt Riley causing a stir with soca hits. Songs from Machel Montano and Fayan Lyons' Hold It... Get On were on constant replay throughout the day but it was songs from Destra Garcia such as Saddle, Position, I Dare You and others that had the revellers in constant motion.
Creating a stir
With persons on stilts, a marching band at the head of the parade and a huge float-like costume, the parade was a true spectacular to watch. When the revellers made their way down Hope Road at midday, the rain did not put a damper on the vibe. At the front of the Digicel truck had ZJ Liquid creating a stir with some dancehall hits as the ladies backed it up to Beenie Man, whined pon it for Munga and flung it up for Kartel.
As the rain continued to pour a state of euphoria had the revellers going crazy as they got on worse in the rainfall. ZJ Ice took over on the Digicel truck as he hit the retro soca button with Faluma, Bonny and Clyde, Big Truck and others. Soon the streets were flooded and though some patrons kept on dancing others hurried along the sides trying to avoid the rivers of dirty water running to the lunch stop.
After an hour's break for lunch it was back to the road as the parade headed down Traflagar Road. The live band Imijin and Company took over one of the trucks as they gathered a large crowd of revellers singing along and following the directions of the band. As the sun came back out and the feathers in the costumes rose back in the air the vibe continued to pick up to a frenzy.
Huge response
As the truck passed Devon House the revellers got a treat as Shurwayne Winchester gave a surprise performance. Winchester got a huge response from the crowd as he sang his hits Dead or Alive among many others. To the shock of the persons on the truck Shurwayne climbed down unto the road flanked by security as women made a beeline for the artiste.
During the Half-Way Tree leg of the march more persons followed along the sidelines as security kept the revellers and the onlookers in check as persons played water wars with each other down the road. A number of revellers looked tired but kept on going as during the last lap down Knutsford Boulevard the beat picked up with live drumming on one truck and ZJ Ice and L.A. Lewis at the front as they teased with Charlie Blacks Nuff Love.
As the trucks departed, it was the marching band that took the revellers home to Mas Camp as non stop dancing ensued as they soaked in the last beats of soca music on the road.
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