Pandemonium draws 30 000 to the Gardens

Several local and regional musicians helped bring the National Botanical Gardens to life during the Republic Bank Pandemonium on Sunday. While it was estimated that about 15 000 people were at the venue just after its start time around 3 p.m., by the end of the night National Cultural Foundation (NCF) officials reported that about 30 000 were in attendance to witness the performances. During the early stages of the event, several pan groups such as Republic Bank Steel Band, BCC Pan Ensemble, Cave Hill Blackbird Steel, Iron Massive, Phoenix Steel and Exodus performed and set the tone. Later that night on the main stage, the Barbados National Youth Steel Orchestra, which was directed by Lowrey Worrell, impressed the crowd as they played a variety of tunes, including spouge, reggae, a medley of soca songs released for Crop Over 2023 and several of Rihanna’s hits. They were later joined by Red Plastic Bag who had the crowd wining to a slower version of Once Upon A Wine. Spice & Company’s lead singer Allan Sheppard joined the orchestra and sang The Guns and In De Congaline. Biggie Irie also performed the Splash Band classic Get Busy. Li’l Rick sang Blessing, Edwin Yearwood pulled out krosfyah’s Sak Passe, while Mr Blood  took the audience down memory lane by performing some of Square One’s classics. (TG)