BLUE SKIES, sunshine, and irresistible beats. This was the stellar combination that greeted fans in Karongi district at the second roadshow of Primus GumaGuma Superstar Season 2. Between 18,000 and 20,000 music lovers, mostly children and young people, packed Rubengera field Saturday afternoon eager to dance and sing along to hits by their favourite artists. Many dedicated fans had been waiting since early morning in the scortchung sun to catch a glimpse of the PGGSS 2 contestants. At various moments before the show began, they could not contain their excitement and tried to push their way closer to the stage, almost breaking through the barrier that the police had erected. The fans’ patience, however, soon paid off, and they were rewarded with inspiring performances by the top nine artists in the country. Although PGGSS 2 launched with ten hopeful contestants, there were only nine in Karongi. Soulful crooner Emmy was absent, having abruptly left the country last week after the first roadshow in Rusizi, reportedly to pursue studies in the United States. "Emmy went but he didn’t call anyone, he didn’t tell anyone”, said Joseph Mushyoma, CEO of East African Promoters (EAP), the company partnering with Bralirwa to run PGGSS II, after the show. "He left on Sunday evening and it’s bad for us but we don’t have a choice. We have to accept it like that”. It was "really, really bad”, Mushyoma continued, as Emmy had started the whole campaign for PGGSS 2 and then dropped out suddenly without giving anyone notice, surely disappointing his fans in the process.When asked if another artiste will be joining the competition to replace Emmy, Mushyoma told The New Times that details will be revealed at a news conference on Monday, May 14. Despite this surprising turn of events, Emmy’s absence did not seem to bother concert goers. They were more than happy to watch the remaining nine artists strut their stuff on stage.After emcees Tino, Anita, and DJ Bissosso warmed up the crowd with their antics, rapper Bull Dog was the first to perform, backed by fellow rapper Fireman. "Customer Care” was the standout performance, with the talented artist freestyling for the crowd as they sang back the lyrics of the chorus to him.Young Grace took to the stage next, performing her songs "Hip Hop”, "Uri final”, and "Minzira”, followed by Just Family, who went through their repertoire clad in matching white shirts and jeans. It wasn’t until Jay Polly performed next, however, that the crowd really woke up. Waving home made signs declaring their support for the rapper and throwing their hands in the air to his hit "Akanyarirajisho” and new song "You and I” featuring Priscilla – with MC Anita playfully standing in for the female singer –his fans demonstrated their devotion, proving that Jay Polly was the one to beat in the competition. Yet the crowd wasn’t just interested in hip hop. Dream Boys stormed the stage next, wowing the audience with acapella versions of their songs before launching into full renditions. Alongside established fan favourites like "Itekan’iteka”, "Uzambarize mama”, and "Mumutashye” with Jay Polly, Dream Boys performed a new song,"No one like me”, a catchy collaboration with Ugandan artist Eddy Kenzo. The song went over big with the crowd, a reception that the group itself wasn’t expecting. "I’m really surprised”, Platini of Dream Boys commented after the show. "It’s a very new song, but people want it, they need us to sing the song. I thank my brother from Uganda, Eddy Kenzo, for giving us a collabo. I really appreciate what he did for us, and we promised him we’re going to do more good things together”. Dream Boys’ fans have a lot to look forward to in the coming weeks. Not only did the group release a new song, "Isezerano”, this weekend, a video for "Narashatse” will be coming out in the next few weeks, Platini confirmed to The New Times.Next up was fan favourite Riderman, who, as always, hyped up the crowd with his energetic dance steps and rapid-fire rhymes. His infectious "Bombori Bombori” was a highlight of the evening, making everyone in the crowd jump up and dance. As Olivier, a 13-year-old audience member from Karongi, explained it, "I love Riderman because I like to dance”. And, indeed, the teen couldn’t stop dancing throughout Riderman’s entire performance, pumping his arms and bending his knees along to the beats. "I’m very, very happy to be here listening to good music”, he exclaimed. When asked whom he thought would win PGGSS 2, Olivier was pragmatic, not letting his admiration for Riderman colour his answer. "Jay Polly”, he stated, "because he has a lot of fans”.Knowles proved that it wasn’t just the men who could get the crowd going. Opening with "Kuhinduka”, the poised singer worked the crowd, encouraging them to sing along to hits like "Byarakomeye”, "Adelphina”, and finished up by having Riderman join her onstage for "Bazavuga”.Hip hop artiste Danny, one of the youngest contestants of the PGGSS 2 crew, continued the show. Although still relatively new to the music industry, his energetic performance seemed to inspire the crowd, with an impressive number of fans singing and dancing along to his party anthem "Ikirori”. "The concert was so amazing because I saw many people put their hands up for me”, the rapper enthused after the show. "That was my objective. If you go in a concert, you need everyone to feel good because of you, and I did it. It was so wonderful for me”. Danny’s performance even caught the eye of a certain VIP in the audience. "The mayor of the district told me I was the best rapper”, Danny told The New Times. "It was so amazing for me. It gave me much encouragement”.The evening, however, was all about King James. When the RnB and Afrobeat singer burst onto the stage as the final act, fans went wild, singing along every lyric with him as he performed his hits "Ndakwizera”, "Narashize”, and "Birandenga”. He wisely saved the crowd-pleaser "Buhorobuhoro” for his finale. With everyone in the audience singing and dancing their heart out, it was a fitting end to a jam-packed day of music. While the first two roadshows in Rusizi and Karongi have been a success, PGGSS 2 is just warming up. According to MC Tino, audiences should expect a lot more in the coming months. "This is just the start”, the KFM deejay stated after the show. "They’re promoting the roadshows on the radio, so everyone can’t wait to see the stars in their own district. Every district is waiting. Rubavu is going to be on fire, Musanze regions – those are districts that really love music. Even the artistes, they’re promising the best. Each show that passes, everyone wants to give their best. So I expect great shows, great performances, great supporters, great fans – I know it’s going to be better as the roadshows go on”.