IT was an evening of powerful performances at the ‘Resurge’ charity concert, last Friday, even though there was a poor turnout of patrons inside the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre.

The show was a fund-raiser for the construction of a health and wellness centre at the Golden Age Home in Kingston. But it seemed that was lost on the public, who did not turn out for organisers to raise the required money.

Nevertheless, the artistes gave it their all. Veteran singer Freddy McGregor lived up to his billing as headliner, performing as if he was before a packed house.

Queen Ifrica has been in the headlines recently. She is the latest Jamaican artiste to be targeted by gay rights lobbyists overseas. But this has not silenced her.

Referring to a recent report in this newspaper that a male jogger was gang-raped by men in Queen Hill, St Andrew, last week, she stayed clear of any anti-gay comments, but stressed:

“When I said at the Grand Gala that I am straight and big up straight people, you hear all kind of condemnation, but when yuh hear seh a man get rape yuh don’t hear nothing,” she said before going into her Freedom Of Speech.

Ifrica also scored with Below The Waist, Daddy Don’t Touch Me There, and Brown Skin.

Jah Bouks did a clean, well-choreographed set highlighted by his smash hit Call Angola, while Ikaya is blessed with a resonant voice and boundless talent.

Cherine was in the pink of form. She called up residents of the Golden Age Home to join her on stage and ‘shake a leg’. The move went over well and endeared her to the audience.

The Uprising Roots Band set the pace for an evening of quality performances with another solid showing.