Arthur Guinness gets worldwide toast

Krista Henry, Staff Reporter

The Caribbean region connected to 'raise a glass to Arthur' the founder of the Guinness brewery and brand, on Thursday night for The Arthur Guinness Live concert.

The world celebrated Arthur Guinness Day on Thursday to remember 251 years of greatness for the Guinness brand. In its own salute to the founder, Guinness Caribbean staged a live online concert at the National Indoor Sports Arena.

The concert was aired live online across the region and to various television stations. For those persons lucky enough to be at the National Indoor Sports Centre, they enjoyed the likes of Assassin, Kes the Band and I-Octane, live and direct.

With music by Coppershot's DJ Sanjay to get the party going, the concert started promptly at 8 p.m. with Assassin, who delivered a flawless set for almost an hour. The deejay explained his views on greatness, saying it had be something that "stands the test of time." He soon asked persons to "raise a glass to Arthur", which they did.

Assassin easily blazed through songs like Nah Sell Out We Friend Dem, Talk How Mi Feel, Something's Got to Give, Nothing At All, before hitting latest hits like JPS as he said, "di bills dem cyan tek a holiday one time?"

Kes the Band, from Trinidad, brought a flurry of soca energy to the arena as the women seemed mesmerised by the band's lead singer Kees. The band breezed through songs like Whine On Somebody, Sexual Healing, Til the Morning, which got persons dancing and jumping around.

Lucky female

To the surprise of the audience, Kees jumped off the stage and danced with one lucky female. His gyrations are not something she might soon forget.

Getting back on the stage, he brought the energy in the auditorium to fever pitch with the band's hit song Wotless.

I-Octane closed the night by going through his slew of hits such as No Love Inna Dem, Badda Dan Dem, Nuh Ramp Inna Mi Natty, My Life, Lose A Friend, Mama You Alone and more.

It was Puff It, however, that got the most favourable response from the audience, the traditional gun fingers raised high as the audience sang along.

I-Octane surprised the audience by bringing on track star Usain Bolt, who readily declared, "Mi a di greatest ting."

The performances were over but the music wasn't and 'patrons' drank and danced until next year. As I-Octane exited the stage it, was time for a little music as persons enjoyed a Guinness and await another year to celebrate.