Jamaica Festival Live Music Tuesdays Gets Underway

Jamaica Festival will this evening roll into the parishes of St. Mary, Portland and St. Ann as Live Music Tuesdays gets into high gear.

As part of the redesigned Jamaica Festival programme, Live Music Tuesdays aims to develop live band music across the island, through the unearthing and showcasing of what is popularly known as ‘duppy bands’.    ‘Duppy bands’ typically perform at wakes or ‘nine-nights’ where they play a variety of music.

The Live Music programme, a joint venture between the Ministry of Youth and Culture and the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association (JaRIA), will expand and improve the bands performance repertoire through development workshops.    Among the trainers are Michael ‘Ibo’ Cooper, chairman of JARIA and multi-instrumentalist, Errol Wray-horns man while Rev. Don McDowell will focus on music technology and Sarina Constantine on vocal development.  The bands will also receive training in Ska.

Sponsored by the Tourism Enhancement Fund, a total of ten shows are slated islandwide with tonight’s performances scheduled for the Neville Antonio Park in Portland, the Claremont Bus Park in St. Ann and the Claude Stewart Park in St. Mary.  Remaining shows include:

August 5, 2014: St. Catherine, Clarendon, St. Elizabeth, Kingston

August 12: St. James, Hanover, Trelawny

Three bands will be selected to perform at the Heart of Ska Festival on August 2, at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Center.