Many women missed the 11 pm cut-off time for free admission to 'Funky Town' but the party was not a total bust. Right: This couple made the most of the party and danced all night. - winston sill photos

If Saturday night's 'Funky Town', held at Mas Camp, Oxford Road, New Kingston, was to be assessed solely on crowd support, it would be written off as a miserable failure.

But, when the music from Mix Master Marvin and Collin Hinds was factored, there would have to be a readjustment of the scoresheet, as the pair structured the music to keep the few in the party rocking (and leaping at points for Pocomania Day and One Dance) while holding back the 'woman dem time' of '90s dancehall.

It came after a hilarious give-away time, going up to 3:00 a.m., hosted by Professor Nuts, freebies from Cooyah, Durex and Red Bull handed out for funny stuff, ranging from a man coming up in a mismatched pair of women's shoes, to a woman with "a G-string yu can jus' blow off".

Two ladies came, showing their strings, the red one on a chunky lady winning. And, when a further call was made for a man to come up with a woman's G-string one ran up with a red one, flapping it out.

Rocked with laughter

Mas Camp rocked with laughter as Nuts said that the underwear looked familiar.

He also 'whispered' a couple hilarious lyrics, after the competition to stay on the mechanical bull ended with all comers being flung and four being rewarded for their efforts, transforming into drunken alter ego Jimmy Bascombe for a derriere kissing joke.

Just after 11:00 p.m., the cut-off point for women to enter 'Funky Town' free, the lack of women, who missed the deadline clustered outside Mas Camp was an ominous sign. The oodles of open space inside confirmed the lack of crowd support, although some party people turned up later to save 'Funky Town' from total embarrassment, enough to groove with that togetherness feeling.

Princess Black was among the selections going up to midnight, when the beat was changed to the disco of Rockin' Soul and Rock the Boat. Bunny Wailer's Ballroom Floor and UB40's version of Red Red Wine were among the selections that got extended play, Admiral Bailey getting repeat selections with NFAP Man and Jump Up, as the songs were played for shorter periods and the party's tempo picked up.

The party's title song was played at 1:30 a.m., the party hopping to the disco beat and continuing to celebrate with Kool and the Gang. The mix of the night was an ultra-smooth shift from disco to the soca of Tiney Winey, many a man doing a 'dagga dagga' to Dollar Wine.

And, after the extended giveaway section, during which a few people left, it was 90s dancehall and the 'girl dem time', the Showtime rhythm juggling carrying 'Funky Town' into wining land.

A patron rides the mechanical bull at 'Funky Town', held at Mas Camp, Oxford Road, New Kingston, on Saturday. - winston sill