Let's face it: the summer is coming to a close. Outdoor concerts are all but done for the next six or so months. If you were at Snorkel Park on Saturday night however, you would have found more than enough good vibes to hold you over until next spring.

The setting was magnificent, the weather was cool, the atmosphere casual, the crowd was appreciative, and the show was nothing short of spectacular. This was, in fact, one of the best live shows to hit these shores this year! Considering that the headliners for this concert are two of the most successful international reggae stars since the year turned to 2000, the quality of the entire package should come as no surprise.

The Rise and Shine concert opened with an impressive selection of local acts that entertained the crowd thoroughly, and set the stage well for the massive acts to follow. Clinarke Dill, Bobby Washington, Hype Type, Slanger, and the destined-for-international-acclaim Troy Anthony, serenaded the large crowd with skill and precision, heightening anticipation and generating excitement with each new note.

The Homegrown Band backed the local acts, and Juggling Jay hosted the local portion of the show, which ended a bit after midnight. What followed was perhaps the only damper of this entire event: an intermission that was scheduled for 15 minutes, but lasted considerably longer. The crowd (which had swelled to a tad over 2,000 by now) was entertained by the DJ, but restlessness definitely slipped in after a while.

Once the show restarted however, all was forgiven, and by the time Wayne Wonder took the stage – at some time around 1.30 a.m. – all was quite categorically forgotten!

Mr. Easy opened the international portion of the show with a nice, solid set which lasted for about 25 minutes and featured some of his best songs including the massive hit 'Driving me Crazy' – a fitting start to a dancehall extravaganza of such mammoth proportions.

Wayne Wonder exploded onto the stage next, and immediately unleashed a barrage of big tunes onto the more-than-receptive crowd of reggae revellers. Songs like the seminal 'Searching', the ominous 'My Enemies', the frenetic 'Bashment Girl' and the stunning 'I Still Believe' reminded us all that Wayne Wonder is a superstar!

The fellas nodded and the ladies swooned as Wayne held them in the palm of his hand, doing with them as he wished. He was a preacher, and they his congregation and what a revelation.

The sublime 'Love and Affection' was next, followed by the sentimental 'Bonafide Love', and 'Forever Young'. This portion of the show was specifically designed for the ladies, and smiles were affixed to every female face present while these songs emanated from the outstanding sound system. This was a moment of pure quality, when all that existed on earth was Wayne Wonder, his congregation, Snorkel Park, and the music.

The melancholy 'Saddest Day' was given a 'Lost Without You' remix just prior to the finale, and the crowd loved every minute of it. By now the Wayne Wonder set had already exceeded expectations, but there was still one small matter to be addressed.

The majestic 'No Letting Go' closed the set, leaving the crowd fully satisfied, and giving me my only gripe. Wayne Wonder's set was more than satisfying. It was, in fact, quite generous. I was looking for 'My Kind Of Lady' and was slightly disappointed that this transcendent tune was not included. My slight disappointment, however, does not detract from the undeniable quality of this set; bravo sir! Bravo indeed!

Baby Cham closed the event with a decidedly delightful set. Cham talked, joked, gyrated, invited friends to join him on stage, danced, jumped, chatted, and laughed his way into our hearts on Saturday night. I was actually quite surprised that this dancehall superstar was such a charismatic performer as well.

Ably backed by the Hard Drive Band, Cham delivered instantly recognisable hits like 'How Many Girls', the ecstatic 'Joyride' (with Wayne Wonder), and 'Strange' (with Mr. Easy). A lot of Cham's catalogue was distinctly adult content, but he infused humour, style, and flair into his performance.

Cham's generous set included a rendition of his 'This is Why I'm Hot' remix, an impromptu performance of the classic 'Stand By Me', and a stirring version of the international mega-hit 'Ghetto Story' during which he even attempted to sing Alicia Keys' remix verse.

This concert was nothing short of awesome, and would have been absolutely perfect if time-keeping issues had been handled better. In the end it was a job well done, a show well delivered, and at least two performances for the ages. If you know someone who was at this show and left unsatisfied, try to avoid them the next time you see them walking your way, because they are just too negative for words!