Calypso Spektakula 1997, National Stadium, Saturday, June 14.

A half-moon shone over the field of the National Stadium onto a crowd of music-crazed revellers during the Calypso Spektakula on Saturday.

The humid air brought beads of sweat onto the brows of the thousands of concert-goers.

The crowd slowly began to undulate to the steady bass line as air horns blared and a Trinidadian flag was hoisted.

Unlike many of the reggae concerts that attract a particular segment of the population, soca concerts traditionally appeal to a huge cross-section of the Bermudian community.

True to form, everyone from grandfathers in fishing caps, to teenage girls in fluorescent bikinis and knee-high boots, could be seen jumping about in the crowd. The only thing that unified the audience was the badge of the hard-core calypso fan; a towel ... and a sturdy pair of sneakers.

Local band Jahstice opened the show promptly at 8.30. The group has made strides and is beginning to develop a polished sound. Garnett Silk's influence suffuses their music and it is fitting that they performed one of his numbers.

Crazy launched the soca portion of the show with a high-energy performance.

He's been in the business for more than 25 years. He belted out popular tunes such as "Dis Is How Dem Wine'' while whipping around his bushy mane.

Reigning Calypso Monarch Gypsy came out adorned in a white suit with gold patches. He treated fans to some of the slower, more politically conscious calypso lyrics with songs such as "Little Black Boy''.

But the nighttime fire came from musical heavy-hitters Nigel and Marvin Lewis, Iwer George, Superblue, Tony Prescott and Ronnie McIntosh. The Lewis brothers, best known for their 1996 mega-hit "Movin To The Left'', followed this year with "Follow The Leader''.

This year's joint Soca Monarch Ronnie McIntosh, with the name of his popular tune "Ent'' emblazoned on the back of his shirt, taught the "Ent'' to the crowd.

Denise Belfon was a hit with the male members of the audience with a provocative performance. Ms Belfon "the Lady Raw of soca music,'' and she treated the audience to some hip gyrations that left the men speechless. One brave Bermudian man went on stage to "try an' test'' Ms Belfon in a wining competition, but she demolished him.

Respect to MC Tommy Joseph, billed as "the funniest man in the Caribbean''.

Soca music often has a natural built-in comic element, and Mr. Joseph's antics fed into the outrageous performances by some of the artists. One of the most notable examples of this was his attempt to "ride the bicycle'' with Denise Belfon ... if you were not at the show, you cannot imagine. It was simply one of those things that defies description.

One of the most memorable performances of the evening came from Michael Jackson impersonator Andy Stephenson. Imagine Jackson's twin brother, separated at birth, and raised in Trinidad.

Clad in the pop-icon's signature red jacket and black shiny pants, Stephenson expertly mimicked his namesake's every gesture and expression.

The Roy Cape All Stars gave a spectacular finale to an already spektakula show. Billed as "The Number One Soca Band in the World'', these three honey-voiced men stripped down to Spandex shorts and sequined bikini briefs for their final act. These gorgeous fellows' rich voices blended exquisitely, bringing a sweet harmony to even the most party-oriented rhythms.

Spektakula Promotions and Choy Aming Productions have once again provided a high-quality show with the highest calibre of performers. After witnessing so many local productions plagued by delays and general problems, I especially appreciated the level of professionalism consistently exhibited in this show.

After more than four hours of jumping and waving, Calypso Spektakula 1997 left me exhausted ... and eagerly anticipating next year's show.

---- Kim Dismont Robinson CALYPSO CRAZY! Superblue in top form Saturday HOT TIME -- Ronnie McIntosh greets the crowd