By Mel Cooke, Freelance WriterWESTERN BUREAU:
THE 2004 edition of 'Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest' was launched on Wednesday night with several elements of 'the real thing', slated for July 18 to 24.
There was music, naturally, recorded and performed live; there were food and refreshment booths; there was a suave MC in Paula-Ann Porter; there were a couple of giveaways and the buzz of chatter threatened to drown out the official words from the official people.
Next month, though, the Caribbean Sea that lapped at the fringes of the Morgan's Harbour Hotel, Port Royal, Kingston on Wednesday night will be rocking to reggae, a touch of soul and a splash of hip hop off the coast of Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest's Montego Bay home.
The main concert nights also start on a Wednesday, July 21, with a tribute to Clement 'Sir Coxone' Dodd at Club Inferno in Ironshore. The line-up, which includes Marcia Griffiths, Gregory Isaacs, Wailing Souls, Ken Boothe and Sugar Minott, signals a return of Sumfest's vintage night, after a few years absence. "I have always been uncomfortable that we have not been showcasing that part of our music. I am really happy that night is back with us," Johnny Gourzong of Summerfest Productions said.
On Thursday, July 22, Beenie Man, Elephant Man, Bounty Killer, Lady Saw, Vybz Kartel, Wayne Marshall, Stitchie, Assassin and Baby Cham will lead the dancehall charge at the festival's main Catherine Hall venue. The hip hop of Ludacris, the roots of Sizzla Kolonjie and the harmony of TOK will fuse on Friday, July 23 and 'Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest' closes the following night with the lovers' dream team of Lionel Richie and Beres Hammond, along with Tanto Metro & Devonte.
In the early going of Sumfest week Sman from Australia and The Fabulous Five, along with the Hard Copy models, Code Red and Coppershot discos, kick off the six-day party on the beach, with John Hype and the Guns & Roses Dancers taking charge of Dance Class II on Tuesday.
Sandwiched between those two events, as Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest keeps 'up to the time' with the street dance craze, there will be a free street party on the Montego Bay Hip Strip.
VIDEO MONTAGE
The impact of Lionel Richie was heralded at the launch, as a video montage of the festival from 1993 to a preview of the upcoming edition was shown. Clips of Diana King, Chevelle Franklyn, Billy Wilmot, Alicia Keyes, The Temptations, Destiny's Child, Burning Spear, Capleton, Elephant Man, Beenie Man and Bounty Killer passed with not much in the way of response from the large audience, but there were yelps of female delight when Lionel Richie said Hello.
It was a response that Richard Russell of Summerfest Productions remarked on when he did the official thank yous. "We tried to get Lionel Richie for the past three years," he said, noting that the former Commodore had always been on tour or otherwise engaged.
The persons who had not been too busy to make the party were Red Stripe, continuing a four-year title sponsorship that Russell described as a "marriage made at the bar counter".
It will also be made at the ticket booth as well, as on the main concert Sumfest nights the first 10,000 patrons will receive a free Red Stripe beer. In addition, on the penultimate night of Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest 2004 four airline tickets to the U.S. and the Caribbean will be raffled, while on the final night there will be a cash prize of US$1,000.
"In all Red Stripe will be giving away $250,000 in prizes throughout Sumfest," Red Stripe marketing director Wayne Lawrence said.
Patrick Gillings, senior vice-president of marketing at Cable & Wireless will be giving purchasers of $300 cell phone credit a chance to win a Sumfest ticket, as well as free credit and C&W Sumfest stools and visors.
In addition, they will be providing a service at Sumfest whereby people with C&W cell phones will be able to send text messages that will appear on the big screen at the venue.
A sip of the musical elixir that will be provided in Montego Bay, St. James from July 18 to 24 was provided by Voise Mail, Delly Ranks and Bogle, Natty King, Tami Chin, Macka Diamond, Kip Rich, Brick and Lace and Mackie Conscious.
