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Janet Silvera

STAR Writer

At an event that was lukewarm nearly three hours after its scheduled start time, it was the DJs, armed with rhythm, instinct, and crowd-reading precision, who saved Reggae Sumfest's Blitz All-Black on Wednesday night at the Catherine Hall Stadium grounds.

With the crowd slow to arrive and energy lagging between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m., DJs Ashile and Bloodline Franco had their work cut out for them. But both proved their mettle, and perhaps justified every dollar of their booking, as they dug deep into their crates and pulled the night to life before headliner Stalk Ashley hit the stage.

"I had to balance the vibe," said DJ Ashile, who opened the night. "When I looked into the crowd, it wasn't full. But I knew people needed time to settle in, get a drink, find their spot. So I started slow and read the room (park), picked at it bit by bit, until I could feed them what they were ready for."

Ashile's set pulled from dancehall staples like Vybz Kartel, Mavado and Masicka, injecting energy gradually into a reluctant audience.

"This is Jamaica. This is dancehall," he said. "Somebody had to set the playfield, and in that early time slot, it had to be done right."

Then came Bloodline Franco, a Trinidadian DJ who not only synchronised perfectly with the Jamaican crowd but also made it personal. Without neglecting his soca roots, he moved effortlessly through Jamaican hits, crossing genres and generations. His energy was contagious. At one point, he dived into the crowd and nearly had a woman dancing on her head top. His spontaneity, crowd work, and high-level artistry brought the party people to their feet, injecting laughter, movement, and coherence when the event needed it most.

The audience, which by then had swelled with locals and overseas fans, was more than ready.

Tasha Hunt, originally from Port Royal and now living in New York, wasn't about to let muscular dystrophy keep her from the music she loves. Dressed in the latest dancehall fashion and radiating joy, she was pushed into the venue in her wheelchair by close friends.

"Sumfest is a part of me. I've been coming for years, and it brings me life," she shared. For Hunt, attending this year was non-negotiable, with Vybz Kartel set to perform live on the festival's main stage on Friday night. Hunt made it clear she had to be there for what many are calling the crowning of dancehall's new king.

"I came for the energy, the excitement, and the celebration of our culture. Nothing can stop me from being part of this."

Christine Nurse, a first-time attendee who flew in from Tampa, Florida, said she has visited Jamaica for years but had never experienced Reggae Sumfest.

"I just wanted to feel the vibe," she said. "I'm here for the music. I'm especially looking forward to Toni Braxton on Saturday." Tameka Thomas, a New Yorker originally from St Elizabeth, has been attending Reggae Sumfest since 2007.

"This year, I had to be here," she said. "Kartel's appearance changed everything."

Garfield Williams, a St James native who currently resides in Europe, rented out a section of the venue for himself and his partner Tammy Randolph.

"Dancing is energy burning," he laughed, as they moved together through the night. "Every chance I get, I come home for this." And for Randolph, who resides in Las Vegas, Nevada in the US, it was the DJs who sealed the deal.

"My expectations were exceeded. The way they held the crowd, wow."

The event was the fourth in Reggae Sumfest's seven-night celebration under the theme 'Seven Days, Seven Nights, One Festival.' On Wednesday night, though the crowd took its time, the DJs sparked the fire, laying the groundwork for Stalk Ashley to storm the stage and seal the deal.