Sounds Montego Bay, billed as the ultimate reggae and dancehall experience, is set to light up Jarrett Park on Friday, July 31, with five powerhouse sounds which includes Sound Trooper, New Levels, King Rhyno, Tony Matterhorn and Krazy Dawg in a one-night celebration of Jamaican music and sound system culture.

According to promoter Chris McCurdy, the event is a deliberate response to a gap in Montego Bay’s live-music calendar created when Reggae Sumfest moved its staging away from the city.

“There was a vacuum in the entertainment space this year with the exit of Sumfest. Montego Bay helped birth the island’s festival culture — Reggae Sunsplash started here at Jarrett Park — so it’s only fitting that the city shouldn’t be without a major reggae and dancehall event,” McCurdy stated.

“This is a revival and an event that we’re looking to stage annually, a return to the seaside city’s festival roots while building a yearly showcase that will expand in scope. Our goal is to make this an annual fixture and grow the line-up with more top sounds each year,” McCurdy said, while noting plans to broaden the roster and enhance production in future editions.

Jarrett Park will host an open-air programme that organisers say is family-friendly and festival-style, with food vendors, security and early-evening gates to accommodate warm-up sets. The night’s roster brings together veteran selectors known for clash energy and crowd control including Tony Matterhorn and Ricky Trooper alongside sounds such as King Rhyno from Jamaica, New Levels from the United States and Montego Bay’s own Krazy Dawg.

Showtime starts at 8:00 pm and admission is free.