Make or break for Sting

Mel Cooke, Gleaner Writer

Last year was the worst of times for Sting, the annual Boxing Day concert dubbed 'The Greatest One-Night Reggae Show in Earth!'. In the absence of Mavado and Vybz Kartel, whose 2008 clash pulled in a bumper audience to Jamworld, Portmore, St Catherine, and no battle royale to whet the palate of clash fans, the turnout was paltry.

With Bounty Killer not performing and a 'pass the mic' closure, including Beenie Man, Ryno and Kip Rich, the reviews were unfavourable, save for an incendiary performance by Sizzla.

This year, sticking to its standard Monday, December 26, date despite changes in the holiday calendar as Christmas Day falls on a Sunday, Sting is going back to its tried and proven clash formula. The tagline is 'Rumours of War' and it is critical that it works. When The Gleaner asked Isaiah Laing and Heavy D of Sting organisers Supreme Promotions Ltd if the concert could survive if there is a repeat of last year's turnout, simultaneously they said "no!".

It comes down to numbers. Heavy D said they are looking to pull in 30,000 paying patrons. Having 20,000 people at Jamworld for Sting 2011 would be a disappointment. A crowd of 15,000 would be a disaster.

Still, having started promotion from September by putting out the 'Rumours of War' theme on promotional boards across the Corporate Area, they are confident of meeting the upper target, or at least exceeding the second. This would make it comparable to the 2002 turnout of more than 20,000, as well as the huge audience for what turned out to be a debacle of fisticuffs and kicks in Vybz Kartel versus Ninja Man.

Buju Banton's performance in 2006, driven by Driver, made for a huge year as well.

That year, the Gargamel performed early - by dancehall standards - coming on stage before 2 a.m. Supreme is again employing the 'early' performance formula to get the crowds out, scheduling the 'Gully God' for 1:45 a.m.

"Wi a go party before di war. That's why wi bring Mavado so early," Heavy D said. He is slated to do about 45 minutes.

"The main thing is that is not just clash. Is raving. We have the two hottest artistes in the dancehall, Popcaan and Mavado," Heavy D said.

Post Mavado, the non-clashing performers include Elephant Man, Tommy Lee, Jahvinchi, Ryno and Spice, with I-Octane, Khago, Popcaan and Aidonia leading into Bounty Killer.

Lyrical battles set

On the clash side, KipRich and Merciless top off the four scheduled lyrical battles, Matterhorn taking on Twin of Twins, Iyara tackling Deva Bratt, and Specialist and Hurricane picking up where they left off on this year's Magnum Kings and Queens of Dancehall reality television show.

'Magnum Kings and Queens' is one of several TV shows in which the outright clash is transferred from dancehall, or the competitive element is employed although there are no toe-to-toe battles. Among the others are the 'Guinness Sounds of Greatness' sound clash competition and 'Digicel Rising Stars'.

The Supreme team is quick to differentiate Sting-style clashes from the televised ones.

"They are clashes, but they are clashes in different ways. People don't get to express themselves in the way they really want to," Laing said. And Heavy D said, "Magnum is one song. That a no clash". He compares it to a boxing match where the bout does not get to develop.

"One thump nah go nowhere," he said.

Laing is counting on several lyrical blows to make the night's final clash between Merciless and KipRich all the more exciting.

"That is why Merciless is so good in the clashes. The longer he goes the stronger him get. KipRich is the sharpshooter. Him going to come with some sharp lyrics. If you can't stand up, you fall. I think Merciless going to take some licks, but he is hard to fall," Laing said. "Merciless against KipRich is hard to call."

They expect the Matterhorn and Twins of Twins encounter to be very lyrical, pointing out that Matterhorn has the clash experience from being a selector as well. And Heavy D said, "Deva Bratt and Iyara is a young clash, but it is a serious clash". "Anyone wins will be big next year," Laing said.

Vybz Kartel, currently facing murder and other charges, is scheduled for yet another bail hearing on Monday, December 19, having already been granted bail on one charge. In a fantasy scenario he would be able to come out and perform at Sting before an adoring crowd. That would be similar to last year's Dancehall Night at Reggae Sumfest, where he was detained as a person of interest in the aftermath of the Tivoli incursion, but was released in time to turn up in a bright orange 'prison suit' and be symbolically released from handcuffs at Catherine Hall, Montego Bay.

It seems unlikely that there will be a rerun of that dramatic sequence, but the Supreme duo is not concerned about a Kartel absence, as he is simply not available.

"The thing with Jamaicans, if Kartel out there and wi don't have him, they will say wi should have him," Heavy D said.

If he was out of lock-up, then most likely there would have been yet another clash.

"Him did sey him was going to do Sting and there was going to be a clash with Aidonia. And if him come out now, there is a chance that it is still on," Heavy D said.

As it stands, though, with "no Kartel" there is "no effect" on Sting.

Other absences

There are other absences which Laing and Heavy D say will have a positive effect on Sting. A number of the major annual deejay-dominated stage shows have not been on this year, among them the end-of-summer Champions in Action at Jamworld, the Christmas Eve Island Explosion in May Pen, Clarendon, and Teensplash in Discovery Bay, St Ann.

In addition, last year's major sponsor, telecommunications firm LIME, did not have a series of free shows in Portmore high schools as it did in 2010. Last year also, LIME and Digicel hosted a series of free islandwide concerts, featuring many of Sting's big draws. Laing said that in analysing last year's disappointing turnout "that was one of the main factors why we did not have any crowd".

Heavy D puts it colourfully, that there were free shows "all 'bout, from Portmore to Goatmore. The main thing, you nuh have nuh free show a keep all 'bout again".

The general election is on 48 hours after Sting 2011 ends on the morning of Tuesday, December 27, but with the generally jocular rivalry being displayed by the Jamaica Labour Party and People's National Party it is not expected to cause people to stay away from Sting.

This year's main sponsor is Rum Fire and there is a special Sting accommodation fee at the Wyndham Kingston hotel, New Kingston, from December 23-30.

Buses will be coming in from Savanna-la-Mar, Santa Cruz, Montego Bay, Falmouth, Ocho Rios, Oracabessa, Port Antonio, Yallahs and May Pen on Sting night. Before Sting, there is a series of bar party stops and there is a party series built around Sting 2012.

With all these elements in place, along with an admission fee reduced by $500 "because of the economy" to $1,800 presold, $2,000 at the gate and $5,000 VIP, Supreme is very optimistic about rebounding from last year's dismal turnout.

"We are the monster promoter in Jamaica and nobody can oppose it. We alone carry 30,000 people in one venue," Heavy D said. And, harking back to the glory clash year of Ninja Man against Shabba Ranks, Laing said, "we sell 42,000 tickets for National Stadium in 1991".