Friday night's staging of Sizzla's fundraiser, The Occasion, was another case of 'all night till daylight' as it was nearly 4:00 am before any major act made it to the stage.

The event with proceeds going towards facilitating skills training, empowerment and peace in the Mountain View, Rockfort and surrounding communities of east Kingston, never got underway until 11:25 pm.

 The music blazed from the speakers for until 1:42 am before selector Caveman announced that the stage show was to begin. Minutes later dancehall artiste Fantan Mojah took centerstage singing Most High Jah as some male patrons waved rags and flags and raised their hands in approval. Mojah always in a no nonsense mood, chanted and danced while 'bunning a fire' on Babylon. His popular tracks Jah Love, Give Thanks and Praise, Stronger and Hungry were among his 20-minute performance.

Mojah's performance was followed by a string of 'fresh' acts --Equip, Andy Frass, Triple Threes, Congoman, Stainless Mob, KGD, Empress Thunda Rass, Classical and Baby Trish all took to the stage hoping for a 'buss'.

Although the show was dedicated to the youths, several persons were heard talking among themselves in regards to why at minutes to two Saturday morning Baby Trish who appeared no older than nine years old was centerstage performing for an adult audience. "Da likkle girl de shoulda de at har bed bout dem have har on stage a deejay like she a big woman," a female patron uttered.

The vibe inside the Eastern Peace Centre soon took a twist for the better as Determine, Major Mackerel, Andrew and Wada Blood brought some life to the venue.

Assassin was next and he a gave an unforgettable 30-minute performance. Hurling hit after hit, the artiste could do no wrong as he performed A di same ting again, Talk How Mi Feel, Jah Guide and Protect Mi, Boring Gal were just a few of from his strings of hits which he used to captivate his audience undivided attention.

The dawning of a new day saw the entrance of Sizzla Kalonji to centerstage and the venue was like an inferno with whistles, hoots and screams as the man from Judgement Yard took to the east Kingston stage.

The hits just rang out: Thank You Mama, Give Me a Chance, Rise to The Occasion, Just One of Those Days, Be Strong, Solid as a Rock to name a few. "This is for the empowerment of our youths as they are they are our future leaders," he says between performance. Halfway through his set Sizzla was joined on stage by the 'Fireman' Capelton. "The place nuh good again" shouted an excited rastaman in the audience. The union of the two onstage was magical enough to keep the Flags Waving and the torch Blazing. Jah Jah City, Slew Dem, That Day Will Come, Babylon A Use Dem Brain all raised the excitement levels.

The Observer caught up with EPC promoter Orlando Hamilton who said the late start was due to an unfortunate motor vehicle that involved members of Sizzla's team hence the changing of the sound system at last minute. "I do apologise to the patrons and thank them for their patience" he said.

— Simone Morgan