The lead promoter for the recently concluded STING 2011 stage show feels that the popular Dancehall event lacked support for the second year running.
The 28th edition of STING tookplace at Jamworld in Portmore, St. Catherine on Monday night. Looking to make up for a lacklustre 2010 show, this year’s staging of STING, tagged with the Rumours of War theme, promised several clashes and superstars galore that fans demanded after last year’s event shifted from its usual nature.
However, considering the notable absences of prominent Dancehall singjays such as Mavado and I-Octane, STING’s lead promoter, Isaiah Laing expressed his dissatisfaction with the crowd turnout for his show during a radio interview in Wednesday.
“We neva have dat big pull dis year still, even though we had clashes. Maybe those clashes were not clashes what people really wanted to see or maybe because of the elections vibes…or people generally don’t have funds this year,” Laing implied.
Meanwhile, Laing offered explanations as to why Mavado and I-Octane were no-shows at the event. According to Laing, Mavado did not show up to the Jamworld venue for his scheduled performance at around 1:45 a.m.; thus prompting STING promoters to move up the clash between Kiprich and Merciless. Once the clashes started, Laing intimated that Mavado opted not to perform at the show but the self-professed “Gully Gaad” promised to make this up to STING fans.
As for I-Octane, Laing refused to detail the root of the disagreement between himself and the internationally-acclaimed singjay; claiming that a misunderstanding occurred between them. According to Laing, the two will meet in the near future to settle their differences.
Established Dancehall superstar, Beenie Man, who STING sponsors said would clash long-time rival, Bounty Killer during the show, arrived at the event following his performance at an event in Montserrat. However, Laing intimated that fans of the self-professed “King of the Dancehall” discouraged him from engaging in a lyrical battle with the “War Lord.”
“Beenie Man was there, almost entered (the) stage and his fans discouraged him from entering…because they thought that Bounty Killer was in a very mean mood out there and that he wouldn’t be able to handle Bounty…it just never happen,” he said.
Beenie Man clashed Bounty Killer at the Diamond Splash event in Negril; a lyrical battle that many fans and industry players deemed the “Grung Gaad” the clear cut winner.
No comments