BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - AT a press conference and sponsorship presentation held earlier this morning (June 8) at the St. Kitts Marriott Hotel, members of the St. Kitts Music Festival Committee revealed the official 14th Annual St. Kitts Music Festival line up, complete with nine local artistes and 11 international acts.
The three-night event kicks off from June 24 to 26 with each night beginning at 8:00. The committee also announced that tickets for the event has been reduced from EC$135 or US$50 to EC$100 or US$40, due to the global economic downturn and the festival’s keen interest in having patrons being able to afford a ticket for each night.
The Thursday night will see Third World, King StarSheild, King Ellie Matt, Grand Masters Band, Capleton and Bunji Garlin and Faye-Ann Lyons.
On Friday US rapper Fabolous will hit the stage along with local rapping sensation SMI, Tarrus Riley, Jah Fire, Kymani Marley and French bands Fethi Tabet and Stevy Mahy.
Sizzla, Baby Face, Infamus, Rolhensha, C-Money and Peper Ranks will bring the curtains down on the Saturday night.
Tito Jackson, who was announced earlier as one of the artistes scheduled to perform, had to be cancelled at the last minute because he was booked for another show in Rome with the Jackson Five.
Faron Lawrence, Chairman of the St. Kitts Music Festival, gave the opening remarks at the press conference. He stated that while it is no secret that the economic crisis does have an impact on the festival, the BET Awards would also be held during the same week-end of the event, which made it difficult on the committee’s first choice of artistes.
He said members of the committee recognised that they could not achieve putting on a good festival without partnering with the private sector; an initiative for which they are very grateful.
Lawrence added that the committee is excited about the blend of culture, and noted that during the changeover periods steel pan, big drums, masquerades and more would be on display. “We are looking forward to welcoming everyone as we are confident you will enjoy it,” he said.
Also present was David Lake, Country Manager of LIME, who presented a cheque for US$125 000. “It is a great pleasure to be a partner with such an event, and we at LIME value our relationship with the Music Festival Committee. We also are heartened with some of the new developments such as the addition of so many local artistes and the cultural presentations that will be displayed,” he said.
Mark Wilkin of Carib Brewery also made a donation, as well as Nick Menon of TDC and an official from Air and Seaport Authority. Other major sponsors include St. Kitts Marriott, Liat and Aquavita.
The committee stressed that patrons should go to the nightly concerts as early as possible, so as not to miss out on their favorite acts; for some of the major acts would perform first.
Others present at the conference included Saju N’galla, who chaired the press conference; Adrian Lam, Director of Production, who presented the lineup; and Allister Williams, Executive Director of the festival, who gave the closing remarks.
