Janet Silvera, Gleaner Writer
Last-minute preparations being put in place yesterday at the Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival venue at Cinnamon Hill, Montego Bay, St. James. - CONTRIBUTED
WESTERN BUREAU:
AT 4:30 p.m. yesterday 80 per cent of the preparations were in place for the 2006 Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival which kicks off in Montego Bay today.
The multimillion dollar 4,224 square foot state-of-the-art stage was already installed, preliminary sound tests were being done, vendors had started to move into the Cinnamon Hill venue, and the corporate sky boxes were almost complete.
"Everything is in high gear," remarked Turn Key Productions' Walter Elmore, the events' executive director. He said 2006 will possibly be the best year for the festival.
"The feedback has been phenomenal and ticket sales are brisk," Mr. Elmore added."
The jazz gates will open at 4:00 p.m. and Elmore's assistant, Richard Lue, has cautioned patrons to be early for the 6:00 p.m. start. Performers on the Ocean Spray Stage will sing the blues from as early as 4:30 p.m.
"There is not one bad act slated to perform tonight, the line up is really an excellent one, so to miss the first performers will be a loss," said Mr. Lue. He stressed that it was not a concert but a festival.
Mr. Lue said adequate parking space would be in place for patrons and 15 shuttle buses would be running all night to transport fans to and from their cars. Outlining the parking logistics, he said persons coming from Kingston should pay attention to the parking signs.
"The park area is on the right at the soccer field located at the Rose Hall Resort and Country Club (Wyndham Rose Hall) lands, a quarter of a mile from the main entrance.
He added: "Whilst the people coming from Montego Bay are to park at the lot on the left just after the Palms."
In the meantime security has been beefed up in the tourism capital and Superintendent in charge of St. James, Warren Clarke, said the city is getting assistance from the adjoining parishes. Though he would not disclose the number of officers to be deployed, he said specific attention would be given to the traffic along the Rose Hall main road.
"The southern lane along the main road will be dedicated to the festival," Supt. Clarke explained.
