LUCIANO GIVES THE THUMPS-UP TO THE REVAMPED REGGAE SUMFEST!

REGGAE singer Luciano is a giving thumbs up to the revamped Reggae Sumfest, which will, for the first time, feature an all-Jamaican line-up.

The event, which is part sponsored by the Jamaica Tourist Board, is scheduled for Catherine Hall in Montego Bay, St James, from July 17-23.

“It’s a great way to attract tourists and nationals alike. It’s like a new light, a vision. Honestly, nuff props to Mr Joe,” said the singer.

‘Mr Joe’ refers to Downsound Records CEO Josef Bogdanovich, who assumed chairman of Summerfest Promotions — producers of the event in March.

 In addition to an all-Jamaican cast, Bogdanovich also condensed the festival’s live performance segment from three nights to two — discarding International Night.Luciano contends the revamp will allow people to experience not just the music but also Jamaican cuisine and the people of “reggae country”.

At the festival’s launch recently, deejay Bounty Killer, who, while praising the festival, called for the resumption of International Night.

“This year, they say it is going to be different. They say no International Night. I want to know why, because we have a lot of international artists in Jamaica. Mi nuh have no problem with the foreign artiste dem, but we have some great international artists from Jamaica who can make International Night more international. So, I suggest that you get a group of international reggae and dancehall artistes. So mi seh get the international artistes who make it from Jamaica to the international shores. We have OMI, who a go on great; we have Sean Paul; we have Steel Pulse; we have Shaggy; we Have Jimmy Cliff … we have all these great international, Jamaican reggae and dancehall artists, so we need an International Reggae/Dancehall Night as well.

“This year is a new direction and we have to leave room to ‘teethe’, so mi nuh want everyone gwaan like it nah go work. It started with we Jamaicans, so mi nuh want nuh bad mouth ting. So, jus want the people fi come out and support. We not giving the music the real exposure what it must get in Jamaica,” said Bounty Killer, real name Rodney Price.

First held in 1993, Reggae Sumfest has rostered dancehall’s elite including Beenie Man, Buju Banton, Lady Saw and Capleton. High-profile pop acts, including rappers TI, Common, Usher, Chris Brown, Snoop Dogg, R Kelly, Ne-Yo, Mary J Blige, and Alicia Keys have also performed at the festival.