IN an effort to cash in on the massive influx of foreign music industry players expected in the island for Reggae Sumfest, the first annual Reggae Music Expo is being staged today and tomorrow at the Flamingo Beach, Trelawny.

The event, being staged by the Ras Astor Black-headed Jamaica Alliance Movement (JAM), is strategically located at the Diamond Hill Estate Villa, the site of the proposed Bob Marley School of the Arts at the border of St James and Trelawny.

With the dates coinciding with the country's premier summer music festival, the expo is designed for budding entertainers, who will be showing off their work, to lure record labels, distributors, agents and the press to their products. The gates will open between 10:00 am and 6:00 pm each day.

"Reggae Music Expo is to give emerging reggae artistes an opportunity to get their works exposed to the industry people who are here for Sumfest," convenor Astor Black told Splash, adding that the expo will take place at this time every year.

He pointed out that continous exposure will be provided on the internet at www.jamovement.org.

Black lamented the fact that he was unable to receive support for the project from JAMPRO when he approached that government agency.

Black also made mention of what he called the Bob Marley nationwide tour to different communities. This he says is to highlight and promote the philosophy of the maestro, and to keep him fresh in the minds of the people.

The tour, which will take place annually at the community level, is expected to kick off this year at a date to be announced.

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