BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – EIGHT local acts will now have an opportunity to showcase their talents at the upcoming Music Festival as they signed their contracts at a reveal ceremony held at the Marriott Resort and Beach Hotel.
The event, which was held yesterday morning (May 28), saw the big reveal of artistes such as Fantastic Thunda, the reigning Groovy Soca Monarch Delly Ranks, Meeko, rising Dancehall/Reggae artiste Hi-Light, Ashkenaz; AZ’ 1 Band, Hip Hop and Rap sensation SMI and the reigning Road March champion and returning act, the Small Axe Band.
A new addition to the Music Festival line-up is American Grammy-nominated R&B singer, songwriter, actor, author, television producer and former fashion model Tyrese Darnell Gibson.
In announcing the local acts, Head of the Production and Artiste Selection Committees, Adrian Lamb said that the latter Committee, this year, as always, selected the artistes based on their abilities to ‘bring in patrons’.
“On Facebook they have been many comments about a number of things. We held back the local artiste until this event because of a number of reasons. We wanted to present the local acts to the public through a press conference,” Lamb said.
He further noted that the a number of people were also enquiring about the participation of the local acts, adding that whenever a Music Festival is held in St. Kitts there would always be a local presentation.
“I think in the Caribbean we have the highest amount of local acts taking part in our named festival stage. In the other islands you would find people performing but not on the festival stage. This is an achievement not only for the Committee but also the local acts,” Lamb explained.
In his brief remarks after signing his contract, Fantastic Thunda said he is overwhelmed with joy to be a part of this year’s Music Festival line-up.
“I decided to get out of social commentary (Calypso) and start singing Soca, and a lot of people told me don’t do it. I said to myself that I needed to get into something that had a little more life,” Thunda said.
Another ecstatic performer, Tesean James, also known by his performing name ‘Hi-Light’, said that the opportunity to be a part of this year’s Festival is a great opportunity for him, especially in this part of his music career.
“It’s a special moment for me because the first time I ever sang in front of a crowd was with ‘Beenie Man’ when he was here for Carnival. It is also great because I remember when I shared the stage with Kronixx and he gave me some advice and I use it in all my songs.”
On Thursday June 26, called ‘Jump’ up Night, patrons are asked to wear their short pants while being entertained by musicians such as American-born Puerto Rican Grammy and Latin Grammy Award-winning Merengue singer Elvis Crespo, calypsonian Winston ‘Explainer’ Henry out of Trinidad and Tobago, Soca sensation Destra Garcia also from the twin-island Republic and Gamal ‘Skinny Fabulus’ Doyle out of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Headlining Thursday night’s acts will be the reigning International Soca Monarch Machel Montana out of Trinidad and Tobago.
Friday night, the Reggae and Dancehall Night, will take off with Jamar ‘Chronixx’ McNaughton, Omar ‘Taurus Riley’ Riley, Anthony ‘Beenie Man’ Davis and Clifton ‘Capleton’ Bailey III, all out of Jamaican.
On Saturday night, attendees are asked to wear black for the night of R&B and Soul.
Performing on that night will be Deniece Williams, Bobby Kimball, Bill Chapman, Paul Peress Project of the United States, Freddie Mc Gregor, The Voice Winner Tessanne Chin out of Jamaica, former Destiny’s Child Singer Kelly Rowland and the Fast and Furious star Tyrese Gibson.
