Photos by Cindy Palmer Photography

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Two hours until de gates open and you would think that the sky was falling, with all this hail and rain, bucket a drop!! Now about one hour to go and ah went to take another look outside and lemme tell ya... it was blazing hot with de heat of de sun and not a drop of rain or dark cloud, just a bright and clear sky. Ah guess we go have a nice day after all. OK so we ready to jump in de car to leave and yuh wouldn't believe wah happen next... here come de clouds again! Oh gosh man make up yuh mind!

Now we reach de fete or ah should say de "YAM JAM" and all we could think about is how de sky black-black and clouds looking heavy. Anyway nuff worrying bout dat, we still go have a good time.

There were stalls with a variety of knick knacks on sale, from rasta umbrella's to necklaces with different flags on dem - Trini to Jamaican. But wait, ah smellin sumting or ah should say alot of sumtings! Cow foot soup, goat head soup, manish water, roast corn, curry goat, patties, crab cakes sandwich (which happened to be really good), fresh juices, coconut's smoothies, and not forgetting de jerk chicken and festival just to name ah few! Wheeey, now yuh know dat making we rhel hungry, so many choices and we don't know which one to choose. We noticed a line by de stall for "Barry's Jerk Delight", well guess where we end up? Lemme tell yuh, dat was some good jerk and festival ... Barry good job ... YUMMM!!

Belly full, time to check out de scene back stage. Showtime at 3 o'clock and at 4 o'clock still no action. With all this rain coming down including lighting and thunder, ah don't give them wrong, if they don't want to come on stage and get shock (ah hear last year from one of de staff members, that some man get struck by lightning!)  Lawd!

Now we trying to open up de umbrella and would you believe it, de ting break!!! Oh gosh, check ya girl running over to de stall we saw earlier to buy an umbrella! Now mind you when ah pass before it was $5, now de rain coming down hard, ah get charge $10 ... inflation due to de rain!!!!

We tried to wait out the rain and by the time rain done it was about quarter to 6pm and the DJ started to run chunes! Now the crowd emerged from their respective hiding places and gathered in front de stages with umbrellas in tow (just in case)! Aiiight show time ... the DJ's from Irie Jam Radio, DJ Spread Love Bobby & Cali-B on stage hyping up the crowd and welcomed on stage "Livelect"  - an apparent crowd favorite judging by the their reaction. Great performance with songs like "Keep Praising" and "For Jah", this group had some good energy and vibes! Now next up is a favorite of mine, "Third World", singing songs like ... "Now That We Found Love", "96 Degrees In The Shade" and "Try Jah Love". Last but not least, the main attraction, Bryon Lee & the Dragonaires! I have to mention a special note on one of the lead singers Jumo Primo, who really mash up de stage - him and that gyrating waist of his, definitely driving them ladies wild with his moves and unique voice.

Now I also have to mention that the host of the night was Jamaican comedian Oliver Samuels (ohh gosh ah cyant stop laugh), but due to de thunderstorm his plane was delayed a bit, but he still made it in time to wrap up de night and shower de crowd with a bit of laughter!  All in all, it was a very eventful day, mixed with hail, thunderstorms, good island food, gyrating waistlines, amazing performances and a bit of the funnies! See ya next year, cause "Yam Jam on my calendar already, under the headline ... "Not to Miss Event"!

Later will be greater - One Love!
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