Massive crowds turned up at the annual Mardi Gras party, hosted by Kaibo restaurant on Wednesday, 21 February. Two local groups kicked off the entertainment at around 3:00 pm and the party continued long into the night, with DJs picking up where the bands left off.

People continued to fill the beach at Kaibo, and more and more revelers arrived as the day progressed. Partygoers from countless nations were in attendance - tourists and residents, young and old - all brought together in one location to enjoy themselves.

Everyone who made the journey to Kaibo seemed intent on having a good time, and the atmosphere was jovial and friendly throughout the day. One of the organisers behind the event was Douglas Cameron, better known on the Island as JR. 

“Mardi Gras is the time when everyone just gets to let go and have fun,” said JR. “It’s an amazing day.”

Local band Ratskyn was the first to take the stage and had the early crowd rocking on the beach at Kaibo. The Cayman band thumped out countless rock classics with a style and delivery that made every song their own.

The group has been in existence since 1981, and though there have been several changes over the years, the three original members still remain, David Arch, Dwight Merren and Mark Taggart. David, known as Big D, plays base for the four-piece, while the drums and backing vocals are provided by Mark. On lead guitar is the final founder member Dwight, whose nickname ‘Ratskyn,” was adopted as the band’s name towards the end of the eighties.

Completing the current line-up, and the only non-Caymanian in the band, is lead vocalist and guitarist Zachary Averill who joined in 2002. The band has true rock pedigree, having shared a stage with the likes of Bon Jovi and Motley Crue in the past. A tight and cohesive unit, the band can perform any style of rock and do so with a style and professionalism that only comes from experience. 

Normally found playing acoustic rock anthems at their regular gig at Bed Restaurant, the band was given the opportunity to play louder rock music at Mardi Gras, to the delight of the crowd. The receptive audience was treated to an additional dose of rock when the band returned to the stage to play a second set as dusk settled on the beach.

Notch, one of the Island’s best known vocalists, followed Ratskyn’s first set and turned the tunes tropical with some reggae numbers. The crowd, continually increasing as more and more people arrived on ferries from across the North Sound, thoroughly enjoyed Notch and his band Local Motion.

As darkness descended on the beach, the guitars stopped and the turntables started to spin as the DJs took over entertainment duties. Next Level resident Johnny Mack was joined by Rob Perrie, all the way from London, as the party continued into the night.

andy@caymannetnews.com