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Saturday night's showers had little effect on the scores of die-hard reggae fans who attended the second night of Reggae Sunsplash '93.

They swayed to the harmonies of the eight-man Jamaican confederacy , who chanted rapid lyrics with the precision of an M-16. Interspersed among the sounds of simulated gunfire was an aggressive social and political commentary. Beres Hammond sang about the way the system conspires to keep his black bretheren down but he declared that they must continue to resist these forces. Friday night belonged to Hammond, Buju Banton and promising local reggae songsters Corvin Melody and Troyan. Hammond played the audience like a fiddle giving them a sample of his hit song and then withdrawing it while Banton, who came onstage in a multi-coloured, striped outfit, fanned the flames of controversy surrounding the gay-bashing song Boom Bye Bye. Banton craftily avoided singing the now-famous hit by humming it instead. The crowd sang the lyrics as the teenage dynamo, beads of sweat dripping from his forehead, removed his shirt revealing his slim frame and a black undervest.

From the way he danced about the stage, there was no indication that he had injured his left ankle earlier that day. Beres Hammond, the bespectacled black prince of reggae, let nothing stand in his way by singing old and new hits.

But the crowd reserved its loudest screams for his latest hit -- Putting Up a Resistance. With the ancestral resonances of the call and response they sang along with arms outstretched.

Local acts Corvin Melody and Troyan showed what hard work, perseverance and natural talent can accomplish when given an opportunity. Melody, 22, whose pristine tenor voice pleased the crowd from the beginning, was ably supported by local band Conscious. Melody pranced about with deft purpose under the steady gaze of black political and musical leaders Marcus Garvey, Dr. E.F.

Gordon and Bob Marley, whose enlarged pictures were the stage backdrop. "I'm taking these concerts as learning experiences,'' Melody said afterwards. "I felt good about the way the crowd responded to me. Conscious did a good job backing me up.'' Troyan, who mixed reggae with gospel in a few songs, was impressive. He worked the crowd into a passionate frenzy with a dance-hall version of A Little More Oil in My Lamp. Other Bermudian artists who graced the stage on Friday night were Shorter Ranks and Daddy Culture. A host of locals who also showed their talents were Blacka, Justice and True Colours played alongside Cutty Ranks, Little Lenny, Cocoa-Tea and Papa San. Carolann Williams and Terrylynn Wilkinson opened Saturday night's show with a half-hour of soulful pro-woman tunes that whetted the crowd's appetite for more. But the night was made for the energetic and electrifying performance of Junior C (Carlton Welch). The 19-year-old, who lives in Bailey's Bay, will soon release his first album. The accompanying musical video will be featured on Black Entertainment Television in the United States. He mesmerised the crowd. So captivated was the audience, that they asked for -- and were given --three encores. He was the only artist to receive that honour that night. Mr. Welch, who leaves the island at the end of August to study Business Management at Allen University in North Carolina, has worked with internationally known reggae star Yellowman. One recording he made on his debut album called Murderer, with Yellowman is the song Catch Me If You Can. "This is my first Sunsplash at home but it won't be my last,''said an elated Welch after his performance. JOHN BURCHALL.