It’s been a while since your reviewer was at a chutney show, and We Liming’s Guyana Baboo Party on Saturday 30 November quickly rekindled all those memories of good times and good company.
The start wasn’t so promising, though. The approach to the venue, Gill Banqueting Hall, brought back memories of trekking to soca fetes in dingy industrial estates. The ironically named Sunbeam Road in North Acton is as unprepossessing a neighbourhood as you’ll find in west London, but the hall itself is white, bright and smart – on a different planet from its surroundings.
By the time I arrived, at 8.45pm the hall was full and Junaid Malik was already on stage, and people were clearly in the mood to party. Half an hour later, the man himself, Terry Gajraj, was in front of us, resplendent in a bright pink jacket. He instantly had the well-dressed crowd – hailing from Trinidad & Tobago, Mauritius and India as well as Guyana – eating out of his hand with a mix of songs old and new, including, of course, Guyana Baboo. His engaging personality radiates out across the hall wherever and whenever he’s performing.
MC Coco P, resplendent in red and black, kept the floor entertained until Ravi B took the stage. Ravi B certainly worked hard for his keep and ensured that no one was likely to stay standing still for longer than it took to get a drink at the bar. We also enjoyed a set from Trini songstress Nisha B. Others noted on stage were Chalisa, who hosts a weekly show on Canada’s Tropical TV, and a nattily attired young gentleman named Christopher.
Sadly, I had no chance to sample the food from Taste D Vibes, but the empty plates told their own story, and there was Carib (for a while) from the reasonably efficient bar. DJ Emron, the face of south London’s finest, Easy Soundz, kept the show running smoothly.
The hall was still buzzing with energy when your reviewer left at midnight. Congratulations to the We Liming crew (looking festively sparkling and glamorous) for a great evening. The only downside – and a hard landing for several revellers – was the highly polished floor, which, when lubricated with a little spilled drink, made an excellent skating rink. Next time, I’m bringing my own bag of sawdust!
Here is a selection of pictures from the event.
