THIS year’s staging of the major gospel festival Genesis was held, as usual, on New Year’s Day at the National Stadium Car Park.

As has been the case in recent years, the organisers of the event ensured that there was entertainment for all age groups. However, this year’s staging seemed to lack something extra.

With what seemed to be a much scaled-down line-up — missing were established gospel heavyweights DJ Nicholas, Ryan Mark, Goddy Goddy and Prodigal Son, among others — it would be easy to point to this as the major problem.

Nevertheless, those who were on the line-up did put on a good show. From TEENage’s point of view the major problem lay in the way the organisers put the show together.

Despite the absence of the top acts, the show had enough quality performers to ensure a smooth flow and an enjoyable experience. This was not what occurred however, as the show fluctuated in intensity.

Too many times, the show moved from a lively, contemporary set to one which was slower or more traditional. Also, the time allotted to the various artistes was questionable. Several of the more established acts such as Chevelle Franklyn, Kevin Downswell and Jermaine Edwards enjoyed lengthy half-hour sets, which saw the crowd worshipping in true Jamaican style. They were unfortunately followed by acts who performed at lower energy levels.

Omari, Lubert Levy and the Rev Stevenson Samuels-led Birthright got very good responses from the crowd — with the latter getting requests for an encore.

At around one in the morning, the emcees announced a segment they dubbed as the ‘Power Hour’, in which the organisers brought on stage because of the time constraints, a plethora of artistes in quick succession. The likes of Timothy, Katalys Crew, Mr Gallimore, Sons of the Shepherd, St Matthew, Zeela Mac, Craig C and show closers SOP all graced the stage in that segment.

In TEENage’s view, it would have been better to bring all the artistes on stage at once and have them share the microphone. In that way they would have ensured that show had a memorable final hour instead of merely fizzling away.