So I get up in the place at about 10.30 p.m. (which is pretty early for me!) to find Satin on stage charming the substantial crowd with his satiny sweet stylings.

I really did try to get there in time to catch the local acts this time, but hey, who would've thought the show would run so darn efficiently? Anyway, I missed most of the local acts, but heard good things again...well done peeps.

Satin was good again, as he dropped hits from Beres Hammond (`Rock Away'), Boyz II Men (`Water Runs Dry') and his exceptional encore, Gregory Isaacs' `Night Nurse' directly onto our Reggae longings.

The crowd loved him too... always good to see love given to local talent ain't it?!

Right around 11.00 p.m., there was a relatively swift band change and soon the brilliant Junior Kelly was jumping across the stage and delivering boom shots in quick succession.

By this time I was pretty sure someone had read my request for a more succinct show and was pressing to make this show the one. My ego aside, Junior Kelly put on a really good show.

He opened with the mercurial `Rise' and rode through `What Will It Take,' the stunning `Boom Draw,' the outstanding `Love So Nice' and the big tune `Juvenile' on his way to winning our undying devotion. Stirring renditions of Bob Marley's `Rebel Music (3 O'clock Road Block)' and Dennis Brown's `Silhouette' were also included in this highly impressive (if slightly too long) set. Less recognisable hits like `Sunshine' and the beautiful `Well Runs Dry' were also delivered with considerable style and flair.

Junior Kelly hit the bull's-eye on his second go-round (the rain put paid to his first shot, May 24, I know you remembered, I said it for the ones who didn't (wink-wink), and I'm sure he'll be back more than a few times over the next decade or so.

The kid's set to be the next mainstay on the cultural reggae scene (I know you knew, I said it for the ones who didn't).

Roughly an hour later, there was another band change, can we get one band playing for the entire show? Can we do that? We used to be able to do that. Whiny things aside, the show went on quite smoothly from then on.

Mikey General came on after the Far East Singers delivered a quite nice rendition of the Marcia Griffiths' hit `Steppin' Outta Babylon', and did a very nice, very brief set that consisted of just the right mix of big tunes and sweet melodies. `Higher Ground' and the glorious `Sinners' were the moments that we'll all remember from Mikey's solid set. So now it's 1.00 a.m. and the main act is about to hit the stage and I'm standing in Number One Shed dumb-founded because this show has been as on point as any I've covered all year and the main headliner is coming on exactly when he is supposed to! Wow! You realise I haven't even seen Luciano yet and this show is already making me say wow?

Luciano was off the hook! Well, what else can be expected? This man is perhaps the best showman in reggae music today.

The only other artists I've seen do a show that can be compared to a Luciano show are Beres (he always raises the roof - even if the concert is outside!) and Beenieman (the guy introduced his boot to the crowd up at Culture Shock back in the mid-nineties - you can't beat that for showmanship), with Capleton getting an honourable mention due solely to his astronomical energy.

The Messenger opened with the soul-stirring `No Night In Zion' and pushed through `Sweet Mama Africa', the heartical `Ulterior Motive', the inspirational `Sweep Over My Soul', and the sweet `Jah Is My Friend' before he dropped the timeless Tosh classic `Legalise It' to the roars of the now 900-strong crowd. Lighters raised, flags waved, lick-shots flew into the sky and throngs of Bermudian countrymen pledged their eternal support to the cause that Luciano fought for through song.

This man controlled the crowd like he was an ancient sage who had come down from the hills to deliver his prophecy, and we all sat at his feet and listened like our lives depended on it.

`Imagine (Your World And Mine)', `One Way Ticket', the magnificent `It's Me Again Jah' and the practically perfect encore `Lord Give Me Strength' rounded out the hit parade, and I was in my car by 2.30 a.m. - what a ting!

This was a really good show all around, I mean, even the sound was pretty good (and that's not easy to do in Number One Shed). A big well done to the entire Kolours Productions crew. This is the show I was talking about when I asked for a more succinct show (very impressive!).

Vejay Steede