Off Tha Wall explosion in MoBay tonight

Adrian Frater, News Editor

WESTERN BUREAU:The Pier One Complex, in Montego Bay, should be a bubbling cauldron of excitement this Saturday night when the venue plays host to the second of the twice-yearly 'Off Tha Wall Retro Party', which has been dubbed the premier oldies get-together in western Jamaica.

"As usual, the excitement is at fever pitch as our loyal fans are gearing up to come out and explode," said promoter Nash Lawson, the CEO of After 10 Promotions, the promoters of the biannual party. "This is now a marked event on the calendar of partygoers, so we are expecting the usual good turnout."

Coming off the hype created by first of the 2013 staging held last May, which was dubbed the 'Music Trance Edition', the upcoming event, which is being staged under the theme, 'The Stay Alive Edition', promises to be an absolute blast under the expected barrage of '70s, '80s and '90s music.

YOUTH RECAPTURED

"This is almost a case of Stella getting her groove back, because this is where the party fans of 25 and 30 years ago come twice a year to recapture their youth," said Sandra Williams, who has never missed a single edition since the event move to the Pier One Complex from the Upstream Bar in Irwin five years ago.

"Sometimes I wonder where the energy comes from as you see perspiration-soaked people in their '50s and '60s dancing non-stop from midnight to daylight," said Williams.

While Off Tha Wall was conceptualised primarily to cater to the older folks, who are not necessarily enthused with the modern party circuit, the event has been attracting more and more youngsters each year and promoter Lawson welcomes their presence.

"This is a good way of giving the youngsters an idea of what we used to have back in the days when we used to party all night long without any fear of fights and quarrels among patrons," said Lawson. "It is really nice to see the youngsters fitting in and adding to the excitement."

As per tradition, the Off Tha Wall tradition promoter, Lawson, who operated as a top-flight sound system disc jockey in the '80s and '90s under the moniker DJ Turbo, has secured the services of two of Jamaica's most-celebrated disc jockeys to share the turntables with him. This time around, he will partner with DJ Marvin and DJ Collin Hines, of Fame FM.

In addition to Pier One Complex, the list of sponsors includes Stones Ginger Wine, Wray & Nephew, Car Smart, Wata, Di Foto Shoppe, Ward Power Tool, Altamont Court West, Troupe and John Swaby Promotion and Paradise Real Estate.