It’s the second weekend of Digicel Rising Stars and after seeing hundreds of contestants in May Pen and Portmore last weekend the Judges are headed to the north coast with the first stop in Montego Bay tomorrow. The Digicel Rising Stars team will be scouting talent at the Wexford Hotel between 8:00 am and 3:00 pm.

The second city has a rich tradition of success in the Digicel Rising Stars competition with last year’s winner Brown Sugar being the most successful. Other successful Rising Stars contestants from the second city include Season one’s runner up Renee, Susan Perkins who placed third in 2006, Inga Stewart who was also third in Season 4 in 2007 and Season five’s runners up, male group Kahlil. With its thriving tourism sector, Montego Bay is well known for its cabaret talent but residents in the second city are also quick to point out that Montego Bay is a melting pot for some of the best talent from western Jamaica.

Last year’s Digicel Rising Stars’ winner Brown Sugar is a proud Montegonian and she says the judges can expect a lot of talent when they make the trek out west. Brown Sugar says based on the fact that Montego Bay is Jamaica’s tourism mecca all the talents there come with their own flair.

“Everybody have dem own style. You can find a whole lot of singers and singjays. We have a lot of people down here who work in the hotel industry so they are exposed to different types of music,” she said.

Brown Sugar was discovered last year when she faced the Digicel Rising Stars’ judges in Montego Bay at the Wexford Hotel. Pointing to the fact that she was not successful in 2005 when she first auditioned for Season 2, Brown Sugar is encouraging this year’s contestants to put their best foot forward and never give up on their dreams even if they’re not selected after the first try.

Another former Digicel Rising Stars finalist from Montego Bay is Inga Stewart. Inga says she’s happy that the competition continues to make Montego Bay one of its many stops each year: “It’s a very good place, with lots and lots of talent so it’s very important that the Rising Stars team come down here.”

Inga who tasted some success when she entered the second time around is also encouraging contestants who show up at the Wexford Hotel on Saturday to give of their best. “Of course some of them will be intimidated by the judges but try not to be too nervous… sometimes its not just about how much of a good singer you are, it’s a package, it’s the look, it’s the personality and it’s also the talent.”

The third Digicel Rising Stars host hopeful will also be on show in Montego Bay.

Deidre James will be chatting up the judges and contestants while exploring the second city on Saturday. Despite growing up in Kingston, Deidre is no stranger to the north coast as she was born in St Ann. Deidre is probably best known for working as a presenter on Fame FM.

Deidre says she’s deeply humbled to have been chosen to host the Digicel Rising Stars’ audition in Montego Bay and she’ll definitely bring a whole lot of energy to the audition and of course her own bag of tricks.