EFFORTS are being made to increase awareness about this year’s annual Festival Song Competition.

The Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), which organises the event, is taking the show into the streets with a series of live shows and performances aimed at getting Jamaicans more in tune with the songs. It is hoped that the winning song will drive the celebrations in August.

Director of marketing at the JCDC, Stephen Davidson, told the Jamaica Observer that since the 10 finalists were selected, they have been on a number of these ‘roadshows’.

“The thinking behind this has been twofold. We wanted to give exposure to the finalists and their talent and, secondly, to ensure that the public becomes more familiar with the songs, which will make it much easier for them to vote for their choice for festival song 2015.”

Already there have been such roadshows in Ocho Rios, Port Antonio, St Elizabeth, Half-Way-Tree and Keesing Live showcase in the Corporate Area. The contestants are also scheduled for Live Music Thursday on Chelsea Avenue in St Andrew.

According to Davidson, these events will feed into the finals, which has been brought forward.

“This year, the national finals will be held on July 4 at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre in St Andrew,” he related.

This date change marks a departure from the norm, which primarily saw the festival song being selected during the week of celebrations, starting

with Emancipation day on August 1 to Independence day on August 6.

Davidson said that over the years the radical shifts in the musical landscape have defined what the festival song should sound like, and the JCDC has allowed entrants to be more creative.

“Over the years, we have put the Festival Song in a box based on what it should sound like. However, we are allowing the entries to be drawn from all musical segments, whether it is that old sound or modern, a mento rhythm or pop beat. We are not limiting it to a certain sound.”

In addition to lyrical content and musicianship, Davidson said performance on the night of the finals will be factored in selecting the winner.