By Tracy Moore
From the very first steel pan strike and the commanding boom of the drums last Saturday evening, Liberty Business Fusions officially signalled the start that something good was about to happen. Held on the lush grounds of the illustrious Ilaro Court, this showcase was more than a concert—it was an anthem of rhythm, soul, and storytelling, echoing the very spirit of the festival.
Opening the show, Adrian Clarke commanded the stage with ease. He delivered Nice Time with a playful, free-style verse. Supported by a six-piece drum ensemble, Clarke’s call-and-response moments had the crowd’s hands raised high, locked into his every word.
Violinist Dwayne Gill joined powerhouse vocalist Nikita for a stunning duet of Everything Bless. She paused to honour the memory of Alvin “Soca Superman” Toppin—prompting both chills and applause.
Romaro Greaves on flute accompanied Ch’an whose vocal prowess soared through the evening air with their interpretation of Cultural Ambassador Mighty Gabby’s Bridgetown Morning—enhanced by a jazzy kaiso vibe. Romaro later switched flutes, deepening the arrangement with new layers of sound.
Ian Webb, alongside guitarist Willy Kerr, took the audience back in time delivering Gabby’s classic Calypso is My Weapon, while Jamal Slocombe continued that classic vibe with David Rudder’s Calypso Music, prompting hands waving and voices rising across the grounds.
Adding to the rich cultural texture, Chrystal Cummins-Beckles, accompanied by Nikita Vaughan on a grand piano, sang her 2012 vintage gem How Ya Tek Me Fuh Sandra.
Paula Hinds doing gospel like no other.
Then Paula Hinds, joined by saxophone maestros Elan Trotman, blended gospel and groove with Doxology. Despite a brief mic issue, her original R&B-gospel fusion God’s Love — backed by a six-member choir — was powerful and uplifting.
It was Shadia Marshall who gave Leadpipe x Jus-Jay’s Sometime a slow, jazzy makeover before picking up the pace and flipping it back to its soca roots. But the first half only reached its climax when Mikey Mercer and Izza Vybe stormed in from the rear of the venue, with megaphone in hand and the heavy intoxicating percussions lit up the crowd. He teased his new song People before diving into Feting Family and H.O.T.P. (Heart of the Party) capping off the first half with a joyful eruption of voices and vibes, providing great expectations for the second half of Fusions.
Cresha Dottin
After a short break, Cresha Dottin and Darien Bailey delivered a touching spouge rendition of Edwin Yearwood’s 1994 classic Voice in My Head. TC (Terrencia Coward) brought her soulful interpretation of Tyrone by Erykah Badu, before teaming up with Sunrokk for the comedic response to Who De Hell Is Kim. Her high-energy performance of Paradise got patrons out of their seats and dancing again.
Trotman and Greaves returned with the GP Horns for Running Hot—their fourth Billboard-topping hit. Musical director Dwain Antrobus worked the keyboards as they followed up with Carnival Fever, an exciting fusion of neo-soul and soca, earning thunderous applause.
Spinny Wuk Up work out.
Then came the unforgettable Spinny Workout Session: a wuk-up session that had even the shyest audience members moving their hips. From waistline drills to a bashment fitness test, Spinny’s segment was pure Crop Over fun.
Alison Hinds—the undisputed Caribbean Queen—took the stage alongside pannist ZigE. With drums and tuk rhythms echoing through the night, stilt walkers and costumed revelers created a visual spectacle before Alison’s powerful voice lifted Carnival Baby. The crowd became her choir during Iron Bazodee, with phones lighting the grounds like stars. ZigE’s masterful pan solo matched her intensity. Closing her set, Alison ended with Togetherness, drawing heartfelt applause and whispers of “wow” to her vocal range.
Leadpipe and Saddis kept the vibe going with Condense, Ben Up, and Tek Charge, the crowd singing along to every line. Magnet, Brain Freeze, and Ah Feeling sealed their explosive set. Then came Lil Rick—pure bashment royalty. From Guh Down, Bumper Inspector, and Glamour Girl Wine, to a tease of his 2025 single Call 911, he commanded the crowd with his infectious old-school dub and ever-present energy.
As the night drew to a close, Biggie Irie joined the fun with Get Behind the Truck and a dash of Splash Band reggae vibes. He was soon joined by Nikita, and the pair powered through Spice and Company classics including In De Congaline which led to a spontaneous conga line snaking across the front of the stage in celebration. This led to the grand finale which saw the rhythm section take center stage—percussionists, stilt walkers, and revelers uniting for one final explosion of Crop Over joy – that would be the tale of Fusions 2025.
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