News: Fire Fete 2 Review @ Caribana

"Toronto was artistically set ablaze on Caribana Sunday night when the heavily advertised Fire Fete 2 concert came off at the Kool Haus near Lake Ontario in the south of the city. It was a follow-up concert to an event which was totally sold out in its first staging on May 23, so anticipation was understandably high.

There was controversy in the final two weeks preceding the July 31 Fire Fete 2 when KMC and his Red, White & Black Band were dropped from the bill. That entity was replaced by Joey Ng Wai and Imij & Co.

The venue was jam-packed as it is on show night and with little room to even shift around in the Kool Haus, the queues outside were stretched out, curling around the huge entertainment complex. Those fortunate on the inside were anticipating a treat and they got precisely that. From getting off the starting blocks, the action was fiery and formidable at Fire Fete 2.

Denise Belfon was her saucy self and wowed the audience into sigh and gasps of awe as she strutted her eye-popping live act to the total enticement of everyone, particularly the men-folk.

Imij & Co had themselves a long night and productive one at that. With former frontliner Russell Cadogan back in the group, Imij & Co not only showed their musical and vocal versatility, they also provided back-up music for all the live acts. The solo acts included Iwer George, the Hitman and Antiguan Wanski. Soon enough though, the proceedings got to star-time and as the curtains were drawn, the stage erupted with the appearance of the soca industry’s most compelling and energetic entertainer, Machel Montano.

Accompanied by his group Xtatik, Machel had the place like an inferno, typical of a bona fide Fire Fete 2. The capacity turnout, frenetically brandishing national flags of every Caribbean country one can imagine, got “mad” and beside itself with merriment. They were simply ecstatic!

Part of Machel’s plan seemed to make them get “madder than that” as Xtatik’s electric exhibition grew in intensity and excitement.

Xtatik’s repertoire was varied, and the group’s fans were just completely engaging their hearts, minds and time, similar to what occurred at the May 23 Fire Fete 1.

The capacity crowd had its fill of the stellar performers of the night, who very rarely fail to deliver. They most certainly didn’t fail on this occasion.

This writer was debarred from shooting photos on stage by strict security personnel when Xtatik began its live performance. "