All Set for Sumfest
DYER… we started our planning way in advance and that has eased the pressure
BY RICHARD JOHNSON Observer senior reporter
The organisers of Reggae Sumfest are pleased with the way plans are unfolding for the event which takes place in Montego Bay from July 13-19.
Godfrey Dyer, chairman of Summerfest Productions which has staged the reggae festival for the past 21 years, notes that a head start in the planning process has helped his organisation.
“We are well underway for next week. This year we started our planning way in advance and that has eased the pressure which usually mounts as the festival draws closer. In the past at this time we would be scrambling to sort out certain matters, but because of the head start we gave ourselves all those things are tied up and out of the way…that really eases the pressure,” he told the Jamaica Observer last night.
He noted that at this time the team is meeting with engineers and suppliers and just a general fine-tuning is taking place.
The Catherine Hall Entertainment Complex, home to the festival since its inception, is not yet ready, but Dyer Stated that the park is at the stage in keeping with the schedule set out by Summerfest and assured that it will be ready when the first acts take to the stage on dancehall night next Thursday July 17.
Having staged the event on 21 previous occasion Dyer explains that certain aspect become easier with time.
” The more often you do something the easier it becomes. However, Everything related to the staging of the festival comes with its own set of challenges, so something that wasn’t a factor last year could be a challenge this year. But Everything is on stream.”
The festival opens on Sunday, July 13 with the Sumfest Beach Party at the Aquasol Beach Park and features turntable technicians DJ Nico, ZJ Sparks, Coppershot and Crazy Neil.
The action moves to the Pier One Complex for the all-white party. The music for this event will be provided by Bambino, DJ Kentucky and DJ Smoke.
Things move to the Catherine Hall venue on Thursday through to Saturday with the likes of Bounty Killer, I-Octane, Popcaan, Alkaline, Tifa, Tessane Chin, Jah Cure, Jesse Royal, Chronixx, Sean Paul and Sanchez taking to the stage.
This year the international line-up comprises, Jason Derulo, Future and Whiz Kahlifa.
