The Star (Jamaica)

MAGNUM XPLOSION ENDS WITH A BANG IN ST LUCIA

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Magnum Tonic Wine closed its Magnum Xplosion stage show series on the Eastern Caribbean island of St Lucia last weekend.

The show, which capped months of stirring performanc­es across the region from some of the Caribbean’s biggest stars, spared no expense as it mounted a massive execution from the island’s historic Pigeon Island National Park.

The Magnum Xplosion series began in Guyana on April 2, and saw performanc­es from Bunji Garlin, Ding Dong, Aidonia, Shenseea, I-Octane, Sizzla Kalonji, Capleton, and Busy Signal.

Making stops in Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and The Bahamas, the event came to a dazzling close on the 44-acre islet of Gros Islet.

St Lucia’s staging brought a mammoth crowd as spectators filled the large venue to witness performanc­es from Ding Dong, Aidonia, and headliner Busy Signal.

Despite an early onset of showers, the crowd of faithfuls waited through performanc­es from St Lucian acts Kripple, A1 Jugglers, and Litchie Sounds before Magnum Tonic Wine’s regional brand ambassador Ding Dong took to the stage a little after 11 p.m.

Without most of his Ravers Clavers team in tow, Ding Dong delivered arguably the performanc­e of his career with hype man Bravo and the young Christoph Ravers.

Ding Dong moved the St Lucian audience through his catalogue of catchy dance anthems before introducin­g new moves Cha Cha Boy and Mayweather to much applause.

PICTURE OF CLASS

Aidonia also delivered well, donning a custom Carlton Brown black-and-white ensemble. The Yeah Yeah artiste was a picture of class as he eloquently delivered line after to an adoring audience.

The pull of the crowd proved too much for him as he jumped from the stage to perform the remainder of his set deep in the general admission area.

However, the night’s show-stopping performanc­e came from Busy Signal. In an almost deliberate display of workmanshi­p, the artiste was able to stir an hour-long sing-along session as he performed mega hits such as One More Night, Night Shift and Brighter Days, along with recent releases One Way and Stay So.

The St Lucian audience had much to scream about as the DJ freestyled to their native dennery (a sub-genre of soca) beats, leaving several memorable punchlines.

The Magnum Xplosion series is expected to return next year with stops in several new

markets.

 ??  ?? Dancehall artiste Aidonia. Ding Dong performs at the Magnum Xplosion event in St Lucia.
Dancehall artiste Aidonia. Ding Dong performs at the Magnum Xplosion event in St Lucia.
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 ?? CONTRIBUTE­D PHOTOS ?? Campari Caribbean’s commercial director Michelle Brown and regional brand marketing manager Kamal Powell (right) are all smiles with Busy Signal following an epic performanc­e at Magnum Xplosion’s grand finale.
CONTRIBUTE­D PHOTOS Campari Caribbean’s commercial director Michelle Brown and regional brand marketing manager Kamal Powell (right) are all smiles with Busy Signal following an epic performanc­e at Magnum Xplosion’s grand finale.
 ??  ?? Easy does it! Peter Marshall finds a comfortabl­e spot in the VIP area to watch the performanc­es.
Easy does it! Peter Marshall finds a comfortabl­e spot in the VIP area to watch the performanc­es.

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