Teino Evans, Staff Reporter for The Star

Buju Banton

The long line of bumper-to-bumper traffic leading up to the Windalco Sports Club in Ewarton, St. Catherine, last Sunday night, December 31, 2006, suggested that a big 'Campfire' was blazing in the hills.

Reggae Campfire saw a massive turnout of patrons who undoubtedly came to ring in the New Year with their favourite artistes.Big names like Buju Banton, Beenie Man, Sizzla and many others were among the acts who delivered the ultimate enter-tainment package on stage.

After the New Year was officially welcomed, it was time to party into the early morning as Wayne Marshall, Bling Dawg, Delly Ranks, LUST, Hero, George Nooks and others got the vibes going after 1 a.m.At 1:58 a.m. when QQ took the stage, the young deejay had patrons rocking to his every move as he rounded off his set on a high by introducing his new dance, 'Rum Ram', the girls screaming at his dancing skills.

The dancing vibes continued at 2:24 a.m. when Voicemail took patrons to their dancing school with hits like Gangsta Rock, Get On Up, Ready To Party and Just Dance.

The 'Campfire' was kept blazing by the likes of Macka Diamond who paused to, "Give God thanks for all the rich men I robbed in 2006," while Turbulence and his Higher Trod family proved to be quite Notorious.

The Monster Shack Crew also took the stage declaring that it was a new year and for '07 they had become the Monster Empire, as they presented an energetic mix of old and new tunes to the delight of patrons.

'Gangsta For Life', Mavado, also engaged in Gun Battle on stage while spitting a couple new lyrics for '07.But the core performances rested with Buju, Sizzla and Beenie who brought down the curtains on a very successful event.Buju, who took the stage at approximately 4:12 a.m., was in a no-nonsense mood as he sang 'Hey bwoy hey bwoy' and declared 'Mi nuh inna nutt'n too wide'.

The Gargamel then paused and said, "Mi come back an everybody bad, some all a call dem self God, but all I see is dem taking life and none to give life," before he sang, Mr. 45.But Buju's set on stage was not to end before he went back into the past to travel, 'Over hills and Valleys', declared his Destiny and remind that 'The full has never been told'.

Sizzla continued to carry the torch when he took the stage at 5:08 a.m. singing 'Get to di point'.

It was one of those occasions where artistes came to perform a full set and not just touch and go, as Sizzla had patrons fully captivated as he performed hits like Haffi Get Di Nookie and Big Long Guns, before making it clear that 'Rastaman don't apologise to no bbwoy'.It was almost time for the sun to rise, when Beenie Man appeared on stage at 5:58 a.m. clad in a long, white coat, declaring, "Dem get mi ma, ma, ma, ma, mad."But 'The Doctor' had to address a couple issues, while making a few New Year's resolutions.

"Yuh si Spice, mi nuh do ar nutt'n, but mi apologise fi di act. Mi love all woman," Beenie said.

And after he Reverse Di Ting, he again paused to inform his fans, "Yuh si dis year, mek mi tell yuh wah mi nah guh do, me an Bounty Killa nah guh war again. Don Mafia, yuh violate, suh mi nuh know wah yuh a guh do. Bounty kill yuh career wid di name Gringo an mi tek yuh up an brush yuh off."Beenie then got back into his set, stirring a few blasts from the past before rounding off his set with Frame I An I, King of the Dancehall and Heart Attack.

At 6:30 a.m., it was all over and patrons left Reggae Campfire feeling satisfied that they got their money's worth.

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