BY RICHARD JOHNSON—
A MONTH before the start of Kingston Music Week, organiser, the RJR Group, is putting all the pieces together to ensure the event is as successful as the past three stagings.
The week-long festival will boast 19 events and is scheduled to run from December 1-7. Kingston Music Week Project Coordinator Goldy Rodriques said the events are coming together nicely as most acts have already confirmed.
“This is year four and this time we have some very exciting events as well as new venues going into making Kingston Music Week the great celebration of live music in the city that it has come to be known since inception. Interestingly, we kick off on December 1 with a seminar and panel discussion on what it really means for Kingston to be designated a creative city. With the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) designation, we really want to draw on the thoughts, opinions and ideas of industry players and see how well this can be developed further.”
The opening day’s events also include a listening party featuring the works of a number of local producers. This event, Rodriques explained, is being staged to take a look at the minds behind the music and examine what goes on behind the scenes before we hear a recording. There is also a feature live music jam session at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts in Kingston.
“Day two will see the staging of the JAVAA Music Festival staged by the Jamaica Association of Vintage Artistes and Affiliates. This will be held at the Fab 5 headquarters in St Andrew. Already confirmed for this show is The Mighty Diamonds, Tinga Stewart and Fab 5. The third day — December 3 — will see a concert to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Bob Marley’s Smile Jamaica Concert. Stephen Marley is set to headline this event at the Bob Marley Museum in Kingston. Day three will also play host to Hello Again, a jazz jam featuring pianist Harold Davis and friends. This will be held at the Wine Shop in Southdale Plaza.”
The Bonner Brothers — Richie Spice, Snatcha, Spanner Banner and Pliers — are back this year with an event for Kingston Music Week. On December 4 they will take over the LIME Golf Academy in New Kingston for the All Spice Food and Music Festival. The brothers — along with Ce’Cile, Chris Martin and Agent Sasco (Assassin) — will provide the live entertainment. The day’s other events are the Carol Service at the Edna Manley College and the official launch of Kingston as a creative city by the entertainment and culture ministry.
There are two events scheduled for December 5: RETV Unplugged and Stone’s Throw Live, which will be staged at Stone’s Throw, one of the new venues being utilised for Music Week located in the Manning’s Hill Road area of St Andrew. The following day will host three events. Tuesdaze Live at Jacob’s has a full roster headlined by crooner Boris Gardiner. Other acts are Charmaine Lemonius, Ian Andrews, Emmanuel Chin, Lance Whittaker and Andrew Shepherd. Lovers of alternative sounds can head to Nanook Enterprises for Upness: Nothing Else Matters, a hip hop and Afrobeats party featuring music by Iset Sankofa, Deadline and Inztinkz. Jojo’s Jerk Pit will also have a live event on that day.
Rodriques noted that Kingston Music Week officially closes on December 7 with four events. These are Triple Century Live at the popular sports bar in New Kingston. There will also be Level Up at another new venue, Level 96 on Hope Road. The popular weekly event Weddy Weddy Live will be held at Stone Love headquarters on Burlington Avenue. Also on the calendar is Conscious Reggae Party The Acoustic Edition at the Ashanti Vegetarian Restaurant. This event will feature Isha Blenda and her father Everton Blenda, Kabaka Pyramid, and Warrior King among other acts.
Rodriques said she was happy to extend this year’s staging of Kingston Music Week; to include one other event on Saturday, December 10.
“We were approached by the Scotiabank Foundation as they were planning a major gospel concert and wanted it to fall within Kingston Music Week, we could not say no. So they are hosting Liberation: The Rasta and Worship Edition at Jamaica College featuring Papa San,” she added.
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