WITH weeks to go before 2015 ends, the Jamaica Observer reaches out in this tri-weekly slot to entertainment personalities for their views on what the year meant to them.

SPENDING the bulk of their summer on the road, it will be much of the same for veteran band Inner Circle come next year.

“We’ll be performing at the Raggamuffin Music Festival in Australia on February 20, alongside the great Sly and Robbie and the great Maxi Priest,” said Roger Lewis, guitarist and founding member of the band.

Dubbed the biggest reggae and urban festival in the southern hemisphere, the festival’s line-up also includes Eddy Grant, Junior Marvin’s Wailers and UB40.

Inner Circle are planning a festival with Chronixx in July as well as an American tour.

Last summer, they performed at several major events including Rototom Sunsplash in Spain, Retro Festival in Norway, Sea Splash in Croatia, and Serwood Festival in Italy.

Lewis said the group continuously re-invents itself to remain relevant. That strategy appears to be paying off as the band copped two awards in October.

They won Most Outstanding Show Band at the International Reggae and World Music Awards (IRAWMA) in Florida as well as a Distinguished Alumnus Award from their alma mater Jamaica College (JC) in New York.

“That was a good feeling… the IRAWMA was pleasant surprise, but the JC one was special. Especially to share the occasion with jazz legend Monty Alexander and a great musician like Ibo (Cooper),” said bass player Ian Lewis, younger brother of Roger and also a founding member.

Roger Lewis compared the JC award to winning the Grammy.

“It make mi head swell…Mi love JC. There’s nothing like being lauded by your peers,” he said.

The band said they will continue to press until their former lead singer, Jacob Miller, is bestowed with an Order of Distinction by the Jamaican government.

“Him deserve it… He was the people’s singer,” said Ian Lewis.

Miller died in an automobile crash in March 1980. The 27-year-old was known for hits including Tenement Yard, Natty Christmas and Chapter A Day.

The band also plans to release a single, Girl Power, at the end of January. It will be the first single from their upcoming album, tentatively named Kingston 21.

Formed in 1968, Inner Circle achieved success with Miller during the 1970s. After his death, they disbanded and the Lewis brothers migrated to Florida. The band reformed in 1986 and is known globally for the hit songs Bad Boys and Sweat (A La La La La Long).

Brian Bonitto