Machel Montano lifted the energy at Shaggy and Friends 2010 Concert, held on the lawns of Jamaica House, Hope Road, on Saturday night. - Winston Sill photos

Before veteran deejay Bounty Killer put his foot in his mouth, bashing homosexuals at Shaggy and Friends held on the lawns of Jamaica House on Saturday night, dancehall found its place comfortably among the splendour of the now-popular charity event.

Shortly after 2 a.m., as Shaggy made his last of countless appearances for the night, he called on surprise act Mavado who came out to loud applause from the crowd before making way for his 'musical father' Bounty Killer. And while a number of persons may have been upset by the ensuing comments made from the warlord, the thunderous forwards from the crowd showed that there were some who enjoyed the short but spicy performance.

Prior to that, the likes of Machel Montano, comedians Blakka Ellis, Ity and Fancy Cat, and international acts Joe, Mario and Boys II Men, all came and delivered.

Beenie Man, decked out in full white, was one of the few entertainers to grab a response from patrons right across the venue as they waved and rocked to his Eva Clean and older classics. Cham, who hasn't performed locally for a while, was also in good form as he showed off some dance moves and did hits such as Many Many, Joyride, Vitamin S and Ghetto Story.

Busy Signal was on time for his set crying out 'hot head' before doing Step Out, Deh Style Deh and One More Time. Ding Dong and his Ravers Clavers crew was in the house for Responsible Parents, Bad Man Forward and Holiday, alongside Chevaughn as ladies 'summa swinged' in their high-heeled shoes. Ce'Cile was in a more mellow vibe as 'Miss Charlton', looking elegant in a simple dress, while Alaine shocked the crowd with a new, very blond hairstyle.

R&B singer Joe.

Queen Ifrica was energetic as usual as she sang hit after hit, commanding attention with Lioness on the Rise and applauding the efforts of the crowd to assist the Bustamante Children's Hospital. Other acts for the night were more mellow except for the energetic Machel Montano who wined away and jumped around, having the crowd at the front of the stage moving about.

Among the international acts, Joe and Boys II Men stood out the most, Mario getting a forward for one or two songs. Joe captivated the women with his incredible voice singing On and On, I Wanna Know and Bob Marley's Redemption Song. Boys II Men came out with energy, the three singing classics such as On Bended Knee, I'll Make Love To You, handing out roses and smiles for the ladies.

Going on a little beyond the scheduled time, Shaggy and Friends was a sold-out affair with a grand setting, one of the few drawbacks being the traffic coming out of the venue.

Cham reminded local fans that he was still on top of his game.