Dancehall powerhouses rock the National Botanical Gardens

A fierce clash of dancehall titans unfolded on Night Two of the Barbados Reggae Weekend 2025. Dominating the Showdown stage were popular Jamaican artistes Skeng and Mavado who ignited the audience with high-octane performances at the National Botanical Gardens on Saturday night.

Local talent opened the show just after 9pm. Despite a modest crowd at the outset, the artistes delivered performances worthy of a packed house. Brutal Crankstar kicked things off, warming up with familiar tunes like Gone My Friend and Progress before handing over to Idea the Artist. He was joined by Marley for their collaboration Struggle.

Chiief Diin, pleased with Tek Way Myself and his new release Snake, along with a strong selection of his popular hits before Lone Realness stormed the stage with Chargie and Private Zess to name a few. They all tag-teamed their way through a set of their best-known hits until just after 10 p.m., when patrons were still streaming into the venue.

Skeng, part of the Jamaican contingent, unleashed a high voltage set, bursting onto the stage with an intensity that had fans surging closer. He was clearly among the night’s most anticipated acts. Backed by a trio of dynamic dancers, Skeng maintained his momentum throughout his entire set. By the end, he had discarded all his jewelry, his jacket and even his shirt, cooling himself between songs with bottled water as he drove the crowd into a frenzy.

Eager fans flocked to see their favourite performers.

The night culminated with a powerhouse performance from Mavado. Though known for his hard-hitting ‘war tunes’ the performer took a moment to appeal to the youth of Barbados, reminding them that while music is a form of expression, the rising crime and violence must be ended.  With a full backing band, the Gully God delivered an hour of fan favorites, including I’m on the Rock, Money Changer, Overcome, Pepper, and Beat and Teach. He also catered to his female fans with Come into My Room and Big Bumpa Gal.  The night climaxed with his delivery of his many more monster hits.

The evening’s lineup included Intence, whose performance faced a brief interruption when he was cautioned about the explicit lyrics in popular tunes Like U and SHH. Forced to adapt on the spot, Intence’s initial stint was brief, but he later returned during Kraff’s segment. Kraff also made a strong impression, getting an immediate reaction with his popular track White Rum, Behaviour, IKATION, and thrilling fans further with favorites like Nursery Rhymes.

The DJs kept the momentum alive between live sets, with appearances by Legacy Team, DJ Ras, Sheldon Papp and Chasey, Jagwa De Champ, and Surf Rat and Menace.  The latter introduced a refreshing twist with a rap segment during their session, adding a new dimension to the evening’s entertainment.

Fashion choices for the night ran the gamut from conservative to risqué, with lace and leather proving especially popular. Many patrons opted for the VIP experience, enjoying culinary creations from some of Barbados’ top chefs, including Adrian and Dane Saddler. However, navigating the food stations became increasingly challenging as the crowd thickened.

An attendee, who preferred to remain anonymous said, “The highlight of the night was the cast. The Bajan acts delivered the best performance together that I have seen from them in a long time. They outdid some of the international acts. Skeng and Mavado were top tier. I had no issues getting food or drink.”

Not all patrons were left satisfied. Dre, one VIP ticket holder, expressed his disappointment. “I have attended numerous events both locally and regionally in the VIP area,” he said. “The advertised Luxe experience was quite disappointing. VIP sections are expected to have personalised, high-touch experience for a limited number of attendees.”

He cited overcrowding, limited drink options, and poor layout as major issues.

“There was very little room to move freely without bumping into other people,” Dre noted. “I’m appalled that after charging USD $150-$200 for a ticket, patrons were still expected to purchase drinks. The inclusive drinks were limited to rum, vodka, and beer — it didn’t feel exclusive at all.”

Navigating the food court was also a challenge, with Dre describing it as “weaving through many persons just to reach from one end to the other.” He added, “I hope this is not a trend other promoters intend to adopt, as it does not offer true value for money.

Anticipation is mounting for the final day of the festival, which will cater to the entire family.  Among the featured artistes are local band Rite Side of Red and Jamaican stars Shabba Ranks, Busy Signal, Maxi Priest, Beenie Man, Etana and Moily of Shake It to the Max fame. (Simone Tull)