“Mi never see nuttn like dis yet!” said Digicel Christmas Concert patron Joan Davis who was still standing in awe at what she called “The Concert of the Year” last Thursday. “When Digicel promise fi gi yuh some ting, dem dont stop till dem give you!” she continued.
The highly anticipated Digicel Christmas Concert, held at the National Stadium Parking Lot on Thursday evening, went above and beyond both the patrons’ and the artistes’ expectations! Pulling a crowd of almost 20 thousand patrons, the concert, which promised to deliver exciting family entertainment to the loyal Digicel customers held up their end of the bargain with performances from Grammy nominated, international Gospel artiste Tye Tribbett, Reggae Gospel legend and Dynamic Music Minister, Carlene Davis; the widely popular Digicel Rising Star and conscious youth supporter Romain Virgo; equally popular local Gospel artiste and Digicel Brand Ambassador Jermaine Edwards; and the 2011 Digicel Rising Stars Top 3 winners: Tash, Latty J and Delando Colley.
When the concert’s hosts, the popular Gospel entertainer Tommy Cowan and radio personality, the vivacious Miss Kitty, welcomed the twenty thousand strong to Digicel’s Biggest, most powerful event yet; neither they nor the crowd knew just how memorable the evening would turn out to be.
The 2011 Digicel Rising Stars Top three were the first to perform, warming up the crowd with some of the same hits they had Jamaica glued to their television sets with this summer. The baby-faced Delando Colley had the crowd singing along to Justin Beiber’s Never Say Never, young Micheal Jackson’s I want You Back, and Chris Brown’s This Christmas.
The amazingly talented Latty J took the stage next, moving the audience with performances of 80′ Love-Rock hit I Want to Know What Love Is, Jamaican Gospel singer Chevelle Franklin’s Radio Playing, and her own jazzed up version of the Christmas classic, Joy to World.
Then Digicel Rising Star 2011, the legendary Tash , was up next, performing hits like Jamaican Gospel anthem Daddy-O, Alicia Key’s Fallin’, Beyonce and Lady Gaga’s Telephone, and her own sultry version of Mariah Carey’s All I want for Christmas.
After the Digicel Rising Stars had sufficiently whet the crowd’s appetite, they started craving more of the soul-quenching music they had been promised; and local Gospel legend in the making Jermiane Edwards did not hesitate to give them. Edwards who started out his set with the upbeat and powerful Oh Holy Night, was quickly joined on stage by fellow Island Worship Artiste Rondell Positive for their collaboration God is a Good God. Edwards and his team of equally talented supporting vocalists then continued to bless the crowd with Gospel hits Keep my Mind on You, In My Life, Wise UP, Make You Smile, and the immensely popular Nah Bow which usually features fellow Gospel artistes DJ Nicholas and Kevin Downswell. Edwards and his team then closed off their energetic set with a humbling version of the traditional Christmas Carol Oh Come Let Us Adore Him.
Taking the stage next, with over three decades of Gospel Hits was Jamaican Gospel Legend Carlene Davis. Davis went straight into her energetic set with ground breaking Jamaican Gospel hits like Hand Full of Salt, Rivers of Babylon, Nobody Greater, Nothing but the Blood and This Island Needs Jesus. By the time she got to Days of Elijah the crowd had already worked up a sweat jumping and waving with her in the name of the Most High. Crowd favourite Santa Claus Do You Ever Come to the Ghetto had the audience singing along loudly, and slowed down her tempo enough for her to end her set with the carol Silent Night.
The soaring Digicel Rising Star turned international artiste, Romain Virgo performed next. Though not a Gospel artiste, Romain’s conscious songs: Cyaan Sleep, Live Mi Life, Who feels it knows it, Taking You Home, Rich In Love and System (Feel Like Letting Go) were excellently received by the crowd, who sang along loudly.
“It was very good, especially the reception from the crowd! I wasn’t expecting that crowd reaction. It just shows that when you sing positive music, people will always gravitate. This really was a nice way to start the Christmas season” the artiste said backstage, after his performance.
After a quick band change, the concert headliner, Grammy nominated, internationally acclaimed gospel extraordinaire, Tye Tribbett took to the stage and made sure that Digicel’s Christmas Concert would be one for the History books. His highly energetic set which included hits like Bless the Lord, No Way, Everything, and Son of Man, had the crowd in a frenzy. By the time he and his supporting vocalists, Greater Annointing, got to the song So Amazing the crowd was singing along with them and jumping and waving! Other hits like Glory to God Forever, Champion, You are the Most High God, No Other Choice, and Still Have Joy rocked the crowd even further and had them literally begging for more. As an encore, Tye finally sang his last song and biggest hit to date, Victory. The crowd reception to Victory was like none seen before, it ultimately caused the concert to end on a high note.
“It was wonderful! I love Jamaica and I can’t wait to come back!” said Tribbett after his set.
“It was a tremendous blessing; I mean the people were really enjoying themselves! They came out very expectant, and the artists delivered, we all delivered. It was an amazing night, and I know Jamaica will never be the same because of this Digicel Christmas Concert, it can only get better and better and better!” said Carlene Davis, still on a high after the concert had ended. The crowd, who left the National Stadium Car Park on a spiritual high, agreed with her loudly as they passed.
Digicel Sponsorship Manager, Paula Pinnock–MacLeod said the concert was a resounding success: “It was a very, very well attended concert! We knew it would be big, we anticipated 20 thousand people to come, and they showed up! And Tye Tribbett gave a brilliant performance! All the artists on stage were excellent! The reception from the crowd was excellent, we are very pleased! This is the perfect way for us to start Christmas!”
Apart from being a fun, memorable, family event, the major telecommunications company promised that it was also going to be safe. In keeping with their promise, the police securing the event reported after that it was incident free, with one officer saying “I wish all events were like this”.
“Digicel needs to change them saying from “bigger, better network” to “di more bigger, more better, network” concluded patron Marcia Williams while exiting the venue, still smiling.