REGGAE SUMFEST 2009: 19th July 2009 first previews
Reggae Lovers' most favored event will take place from the 19th of July. This year, the Reggae Sumfest will spoil you with very special features and Hopefully Tony Rankin will come around rootsreggaeclub.com to keep us up to date with what's going on behind the scenes. |
| aribPR Newswire, KINGSTON, Jamaica, Thurs. July 2, 2009: This year`s `world greatest show case` of reggae music will be dedicated to the memory of the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, Reggae Sumfest officials said this week. With just days to go before Sumfest 2009 gets underway in Jamaica, Chairman Robert Russell, at the Montego Bay Launch of Reggae Sumfest at Pier 1 on June 30th, announced that this year's staging will be dedicated to the `greatest entertainer in the world.` Jackson had actually visited and performed in Jamaica in 1975 as a member of the Jackson 5. The group was hosted then by former Prime Minister, Edward Seaga, at his home in Temple Meads, St Andrew. At the time, Seaga was opposition leader and head of the now ruling Jamaica Labor Party. The Jackson 5 was the opening act for Bob Marley and the Wailers at the outdoor National Stadium. Russell said it is important that the top reggae show be dedicated to the top musical star, as the world continues to mourn the famed singer. Jackson passed away on Thursday, June 25th in Los Angeles after reportedly suffering a cardiac arrest. He was 50. Caribbean fans have been among those joining millions around the world in mourning his sudden death. The 17th annual Reggae Sumfest will get underway this July with the annual beach party at Cornwall Beach, featuring the sounds of many of Jamaica`s more popular local deejays including Errol Lee & the Bare Essentials, Cameal Davis, Khalil, Timeka Marshall, ZJ Ice, DJ Mix Master Marvin and Crazy Nei, backed by Danger Zone Super Strong. But it is the Jagra Dancehall Night, July 23rd, that is sure to crank the heat of this resort haven up higher, as a slew of stars, including Beenie Man, Bounty Killer, Vybz Kartel, Mavado, Lady Saw, Elephant Man, Busy Signal, Spice, Kip Rich, Flippa Mafia and D`Angel take over the stage. On Friday, July 24th, American R&B stars Ne-Yo and Jazmine Sullivan are set to bring some smooth vibes to the festival while Morgan Heritage, Jah Cure, Coco T and Queen Ifrica are sure to thrill the conscious reggae followers. The curtains come down on Saturday, July 25th with performances from multi-Grammy-winning star, Toni Braxton, Nas, Damian `Jr Gong` Marley, Tarrus Riley, Etana and Da`Ville among others. Executive Director of Summerfest Productions, Johnny Gourzong, says air and hotels are going fast but can still be accessed through the site along with tickets, at www.reggaesumfest.com. The Festival has devoted a section of its website to accommodation and fans can view a list of hotels in Montego Bay, as well as read short reviews and other information on the properties. Organizers say they will continue to add more properties as the deals are finalized. Some of the hotel options available for patrons include the 5 star Fiesta Grand Palladium, which is a mere 25 minutes from the Sangster International Airport. This hotel boasts some 1,000 rooms, a fitness centre, a `club` for children, seven restaurants, and five swimming pools, and a spa. Sponsors for the 2009 event include the Jamaica Tourist Board, Digicel, Air Jamaica, Jamrock Magazine, Ocean Spray, Jagra, Appleton, Carib Beer and Mackeson among others. Reggae Sumfest brings in an estimated 5,000 visitors to the island, along with US$5 million in revenue to Jamaica, according to a survey done by the Jamaica Tourist Board. Reggae Sumfest is produced annually by Summerfest Productions. |
Toni Braxton, Neyo For Reggae Sumfest 2009 Singers Toni Braxton and Neyo are among the top performers added to `the world's greatest showcase of reggae music,` Reggae Sumfest promoters revealed at a packed New York launch last night. Executive Director, Johnny Gourzong, made the disclosure to the media and VIP guests gathered at a New York night club Thursday night for the annual Big Apple kick-off. Braxton has won six Grammy Awards and has sold over forty million records worldwide. They also revealed that the July 19th - 25th event will feature some of the who`s who of reggae and dance hall performers including Damian `Jr. Gong` Marley, the doctor, Beenie Man, Bounty Killer, Vybz Kartel, Mavado, Elephant Man, Lady Saw, Busy Signal, Spice, Kip Rich, D`Angel, Flippa Mafia, Morgan Heritage, Jah Cure, Coco T, Tarrus Riley, Etana, Da`ville, Rhaatid and Queen Ifrica as well as Nas and R&B star Jazmine Sullivan. “It's not a Nas performance, and it's not a Damian Marley performance, it's going to be a Nas and Damian Marley combination, specially for Reggae Sumfest,” says Johnny Gourzong, Executive Director of Summerfest Productions. Gourzong said that the pairing was the result of extensive thought by the Reggae Sumfest team as to how else to make this year's event special. He emphasized that this is the first time that Nas will be performing in Jamaica, and added that it “will be an even more special performance since he will be performing with one of our brightest stars in Reggae music, a son of the great Robert Nesta Marley, and on the stage of Reggae Sumfest. I'm excited, they are working on a collaborative album, and the sounds of reggae with the beats of hip-hop should make for a great performance." Another confirmed international act that will be rocking the Reggae Sumfest stage will come in the form of R&B sensation Jazmine Sullivan on Friday, July 24. “We are arranging for other international performers, but we're not ready to release who we're considering. You'll just have to wait a little longer.” Gourzong teased. The Festival, which starts with a beach party on Sunday July 19 and then has three nights of pulsating live performances from Thursday July 23 to Saturday July 25, will also feature, Bounty Killer, Mavado, Etana, Tarrus Riley, Busy Signal, Charley Blacks, I-Octane and a host of other local talents. When Saturday July 25 rolls around, Summerfest Productions promises an exciting close to the highly anticipated Reggae Sumfest. Montego Bay will be on fire from July 19-25 with the 17th staging of the world's greatest reggae festival, so get ready to be infected by Reggae Sumfest fever. R&B sensation Jazmine Sullivan will be rocking the Sumfest stage come Friday, July 24 when Summerfest Productions takes over Catherine Hall in Montego Bay for the 17th staging of the ‘Greatest Reggae Show on Earth’, Reggae Sumfest. Johnny Gourzong, Executive Director of Summerfest Productions, says that he was excited that the 20-something year old songstress will be able to bring her flavour to spice up the Festival’s International Night I. “We are really pleased that we’ve been able to confirm Jazmine for the show. We have been pouring over a list of possible international acts, and she was one of those artistes that really jumped out at us. She’s been having a phenomenal year on the music scene internationally, and some of her songs are even reggae inspired,” said Gourzong. “We’re looking forward to seeing Jazmine in Montego Bay for Reggae Sumfest. We are gearing up to present an exciting show, a real entertainment explosion starting from the Beach Party on Sunday, and ending with International Night II on Saturday,” he continued. The Festival, which starts with a beach party on Sunday July 19 and then has three nights of pulsating live performances from Thursday July 23 to Saturday July 25, will also feature rap music luminary Nas and reggae royalty Damian ‘Jnr Gong’ Marley, as well as Bounty Killer, Mavado, Etana, Tarrus Riley, Busy Signal, and a host of other local talents. Jazmine Sullivan broke on the international scene with the help of rap and hip-hop icon Missy ‘Misdemeanor’ Elliot and has since enjoyed solid runs on charts, radio stations, and concert venues worldwide. She hit a note with music lovers when she released Bust Your Windows, and struck gold again when she followed up with Need You Bad and Lions, Tigers and Bears. Come Friday July 25, she’ll add the Reggae Sumfest stage to her growing repertoire of worldwide performances, and she’ll be ready to write her name in the annals of Reggae Sumfest history. Summerfest Productions will take over Montego Bay from July 19-25 for the 17th staging of the world’s greatest reggae festival - Reggae Sumfest, so get ready to be infected by Reggae Sumfest fever. More news to come soon
Her number-one single, `Un-break My Heart,` is the second biggest selling single by a female singer in Billboard history. Her most recent albums were More Than a Woman under the Arista label, and Libra, her first and only release on Blackground.
Braxton was involved in the 7th season of the reality show Dancing with the Stars.
Since his debut, Ne-Yo has five top ten songs on the Billboard Hot 100 as a lead artist and two number-one albums on the Billboard 200. Ne-Yo has also amassed a catalog of chart-topping songs that he has written for other artists.
Ne-Yo broke into the recording industry as a songwriter, penning the hit `Let Me Love You` for singer Mario. The single's successful release in the United States prompted an informal meeting between Ne-Yo and Def Jam label head to signing a recording contract. In 2006 he released his debut album, In My Own Words, which contained the US number one hit `So Sick.`
Last night, the Sumfest launch party featured two 2009 performing stars, Flippa Mafia and Spice who joined sponsors, The Jamaica Tourist Board represented by Minister Ed Bartlett, Air Jamaica, hosts Upscale Crowd and Vice Consul of the Jamaica Consulate in New York, Sharon Burrell Green, as well as several top New York media, community leaders and Sumfest executives Godfrey Dwyer, Walter Elmore, Stanley Reid and Hugh Thompson and marketing director, Marcia McDonnough.
For the third consecutive year, Hard Beat Communications coordinated the New York launch and presented the Sumfest team with a citation secured from the Office of the Mayor Of New York and the Commissioner of Immigrant Affairs, Guillermo Linares. And for yet another year, the event was emceed by Irwine Clare.
Gourzong along with Sumfest executive, Robert Russell, thanked the media, the sponsors and the many fans who have kept the annual event going strong for the past seventeen years.
Music lovers will be treated to a special performance come Saturday, July 25, when both reggae royalty Damian ‘Jnr Gong' Marley and rap luminary Nas take the stage together for International Night II at Reggae Sumfest.
