The annual Festival Song Competition, one of the highlights of Jamaica’s Emancipation and Independence celebrations, will return in 2018.
Culture and Entertainment Minister Olivia Grange, made the announcement indicating that in the absence of this year’s staging, the ministry is producing a commemorative album featuring a compilation of past entries not making it to the winners’ enclosure.
Additionally, Grange said the album will also include new songs that have been commissioned from local producers.
Meanwhile, Grange advised that in a bid to improve on the quality of the songs submitted, beginning next year, workshops will be held islandwide for prospective entrants prior to selections being made.
She explained that this is intended to assist budding artistes to improve their stagecraft, writing of lyrics and composition of melodies, as well as learning the basics in music theory, adding that established performers will also be encouraged to participate.
Grange pointed out that this year’s competition was suspended as the entries “were not (deemed) of a quality that we felt represented the fantastic talent we have as Jamaicans.”
In this regard, Grange said individuals who submitted entries this year will be also invited to participate in the workshops.
The inaugural Festival Song Competition was held in 1966, with the group, Toots and The Maytals, copping the honors with their seminal composition titled ‘Bam Bam’.
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