IT has been a tough year for dancehall music, with some of the genre’s leading lights ending up on the wrong side of the law. Poor sales in key overseas markets suggest the strides it made internationally 15 years ago have shortened.

But GT Taylor thinks differently. For the 15th anniversary of his Reggae Christmas Extravaganza this year, the affable disc jockey/promoter is banking on dancehall’s young turks to bring in the crowd.

The annual show returns to Independence Park in Black River, St Elizabeth on Christmas Day.

“Some people have a lot of negatives to say about dancehall but I have faith in the youth, because there’s a whole heap of talent out there. We just have to expose them,” Taylor told the Jamaica Observer.

Deejays Kalado and Gage, who had a strong 2014, head the youth brigade. Deejay Rhyme Minister out of Montego Bay, singer Ikaya, deejays Konfydence and Venjahnce are some of the other emerging artistes on the card.

“I’m particularly impressed with Kalado. With the right guidance I think he can go places,” said Taylor.

Kalado is one of the artistes who made headlines in October for the wrong reasons. He was detained by immigration authorities at Miami International Airport two weeks ago, but was freed after nearly two weeks.

Personally and Good Good Bring Life are two of the songs that announced Kalado as one to watch in 2015.

Several of the acts who have helped make Taylor’s show a fixture are again on the bill. They include Beenie Man, Bounty Killer, Sizzla, Busy Signal, Cocoa Tea and Admiral Tibet.

Singer George Nooks and deejays Peter Metro and Professor Nuts will fill the popular veterans slot. There will be a tribute to another veteran, rocksteady legend John Holt, who died October 20 in London.

Taylor, a disc jockey at Irie FM, started the Christmas Reggae Extravaganza as a dance at Hendricks Wharf in Black River, St Elizabeth, in 2000.

— Howard Campbell