PATRONS attending this year’s Reggae Sumfest will not be allowed to enter the venue with vuvuzelas, the South African instrument that gained international popularity during the 2010 football World Cup in that country.

Reggae Sumfest is scheduled for Catherine Hall Sports Complex in Montego Bay, St James, from July 21 to 27.

Top:Johnny Gourgong. Bottom: A supporter of the Jamaican national football team blows a vuvuzela at a recent match at the National Stadium in Kingston.

Johnny Gourzong, a director of promoters Summerfest Productions, told the Jamaica Observer that the vuvuzela was a distraction at last year’s show, drawing considerable criticism from fans.

“We got a number of complaints from patrons who found it a huge intrusion. They could not listen to the music and it took away from the artist’s performance,” Gourzong said.

American acts, rapper Flo Rida and Grammy-winning soul singer Miguel, are among this year’s headliners.

Jamaican artists Lady Saw, I-Octane, Bounty Killer, Damion ‘Junior Gong’ Marley, Beres Hammond, Beenie Man and Barrington Levy are also slated to perform.

The vuvuzela was a feature of the World Cup three years ago, but its blaring sound has been an annoyance to fans at sporting events. Football club Manchester United and the New York Yankees baseball team have banned the instrument from their stadiums.

Over the years, international artistes including American R&B superstar R Kelly, Trey Songz and dancehall legend Shabba Ranks have graced Reggae Sumfest’s stage.