BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – ORGANISERS of the St. Kitts Music Festival have announced the names of three artistes for the 2020 Music Festival as a first wave in their promotional push.
At a press conference held today (Dec 4) at the Ocean Terrace Inn, Head of the Artistes Selection Committee, Jonel Powell revealed that Jimmy Cliff, Wiz Kid and young Jamaican sensation Koffee are the three artistes.
Mikayla’ Koffee’ Simpson is a Reggae singer, songwriter, rapper, deejay and guitarist from Jamaica, who has been making waves with her 2018 release ‘Toast’ – a hit in St. Kitts and Nevis.
In 2019, she was nominated for a Grammy Award.
Jimmy Cliff, another Jamaican on the line-up and boasts over 60 years as an entertainer, is world renowned for his songs ‘I can see clearly now’ and ‘Reggae Night’.
The third artiste, Wiz Kid, has also been blazing the Federation’s airwaves with his ‘Ghetto Love’ and ‘Joro’ lyrics.
Next year’s event is slated for June 24-28 at the Kim Collins Stadium, and the organisers are promising to top the 2019 edition.
Chairman of the Planning Committee, Damion Hobson disclosed that there would be bigger and better performances next year.
“Twenty-twenty will see the addition of new genre and performances lasting up to an hour and a half. And will also feature artistes who cater to the fantasies of all festival goers – the young, the old, the mature and all others.”
Despite some of the challenges encountered at the Venue in 2019, the Chairman is promising “an even better layout” come 2020.
“Based on all the feedback in 2019, we are certain that the Kim Collins Stadium was the possible host location. We were able to adequately provide parking, security and general ease of moving through the venue. For 2020, more efforts would be made to ensure that no patrons are disadvantaged when it comes to their preferred style of viewing their performances.”
Another artiste would be selected during one of the local fetes slated for the 201/2020 Carnival celebration, Powell noted.
He also spoke about the selection process.
“The selection of the artistes is really down to…the availability, affordability and appeal to artistes. And that simply means who is available! Can we afford them and how will they be received by the patrons that come to the St. Kitts Music Festival? That is not an easy job, and it is particularly difficult when you’re trying to book an artiste this early in advance. Not many of them are prepared to commit themselves to almost three quarts of a year out.”
The full roster of artistes for the 2020 event will be released in January next year.
