The past two years have been uncertain for artistes like Etana whose touring schedules were curtailed by the onset of COVID-19. She hits the road in May for dates in the United States, to be followed by European shows.

Reggae Date Night, a gig she headlines with Da’Ville, is a pipe-opener. It takes place May 6 at The Garden in Fort Lauderdale.

The double-Grammy nominee is looking forward to getting back in the groove.

“The most frustrating thing is not being able to perform whether for safety purposes or due to COVID restrictions. I did a short run through the US in August 2021 but It was obvious that a lot of people were still very afraid of being close to each other which is understandable. But I am happy that for the most part, all the restrictions and mandates are behind us now,” she said in an interview with the Jamaica Observer.

The lifting of COVID restrictions is a major relief for the entertainment industry, one of the sectors hardest-hit by the pandemic.

Stephen Marley, Israel Vibration, and Burning Spear are some of the leading reggae acts who have announced tours of the US and Europe. Several European reggae festivals, which were forced to cancel their outdoor shows in 2020 and 2021, will return this summer.

The Garden event kicks off a series of shows for Etana next month in Florida, Louisiana, Texas, Colorado, North Carolina and Virginia. She is also down to perform at Upsala in Sweden and Reggae Jam in Germany, which will be held in late July.

A popular venue with Jamaican entertainers, The Garden is located in an area with a massive West Indian population. Etana, who lived for many years in South Florida, believes they are critical for maintaining ties with the diaspora.

“Venues like The Garden brings [an] up-close vibe that is different from a large stage at a festival. It’s a bar, it’s a restaurant, it’s a spot where Jamaican artistes display their art, and gives the audience a chance to be as close as they can get to their favourite artiste,” she explained. “It’s like storytime in the backyard.”