Sumfest organisers confident in 2013 line-up
BARRINGTON LEVY
The organisers of Reggae Sumfest 2013, which takes place in Montego Bay, St James, next month, have announced the first round of artistes billed for the show. These include headliners Miguel, Beres Hammond, Damian ‘Jr Gong’ Marley, I-Octane, and Barrington Levy. More acts are to be announced, as Summerfest Productions has not yet revealed the full line-up.
The Catherine Hall Entertainment Complex comes alive on Dancehall Night, Thursday, July 25, with Beenie Man, Lady Saw with her heels on, hard-hitting deejay Aidonia, dancehall diva Tifa, Bounty Killer, Popcaan, Spice, Kiprich, RDX, Macka Diamond, Tommy Lee, Flippa Moggela, Blade Scheemaz, DI and Baby Tash. Dancehall powerhouse I-Octane will blaze the stage to close the show.
International Night 1, Friday, July 26, is expected to hit a high note with the sounds of Beres Hammond, Barrington Levy (who has not performed in Jamaica for some time), Tarrus Riley, Iba Mahr, Chalice, Nature and Droop Lion slated to take the event to another level.
On closing night, Saturday, July 27, Reggae Sumfest unleashes the highly anticipated international R&B singer Miguel for the grand finale. The Kaleidoscope Dream entertainer is expected to Adorn the crowd with his hits like Sure Thing, Quickie and Girl Like You. Damian Marley will Set Up Shop onstage on the same night and is set to “mash up the place, turn up the bass and have some fun”. Jamaican favourites Romain Virgo, Chronixx and Zinc Fence Redemption, and No-Maddz will share the spotlight.
ONE OF THE BEST LINE-UPS
Johnny Gourzong, executive director of Summerfest Productions, is confident this is one of the best line-ups in the festival’s history. “I am really pleased with the line-up this year. Last year, I-Octane put on a scintillating performance and we felt the time is now for him to take on that role (of closing the show). Friday is certainly a strong singers’ night. Barrington Levy, who we don’t see a lot of, is back on the Sumfest stage and I am really looking forward to that,” he said.
Reggae Sumfest has created a reputation for producing star-studded events over its 21-year history. The catalogue of past performers includes Usher, Chris Brown, Trey Songz, R Kelly, Ne-Yo, Kanye West, T-Pain, Jay-Z, Akon, Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, Lionel Richie, Bounty Killer, Sizzla, Sean Paul, Dennis Brown, Shabba Ranks, Shaggy, Buju Banton and The Temptations.
The 2013 festival kicks off with the Beach Party on July 21 and continues with Dancehall Night and International Nights 1 and 2 from July 25 to 27. Reggae Sumfest 2013 is sponsored by Digicel, Iberostar Hotels & Resorts, Secrets Resorts, Red Stripe, Pepsi, the Jamaica Tourist Board, Courts, Grand Palladum, Half Moon, Holiday Inn and Round Hill Hotel.
