Buju, Beres on show today
Ronnie Tomlinson, CEO of Destine Media, says all is set for Sunday’s Intimate concert at Grizzly’s Plantation Cove in St Ann.
“It’s just the final touches, and sound check aspects, but everything else is in place,” she told the Jamaica Observer.
The highly anticipated event will be headlined by Buju Banton and Beres Hammond. It will also feature Marcia Griffiths, D’Yani, MitchDiSinga, Tarrus Riley, and Sampaloo.
Sound engineer Cegrica “Soljie” Hamilton, who was slated to work at the event, passed away on December 24 at age 69. Tomlinson said despite the tragedy, they have still pulled out all the stops to make the event successful.
“He has a long history with them [Buju and Beres] and we say rest in peace to him. He had designated a support team that are well equipped and able to execute everything, so his death will not affect the show,” she explained.
Tomlinson further said that children under 12 are allowed free entry, and the event promises to be a treat.
“Fans can expect great performances; just overall great entertainment from start to finish. It’s called ‘Intimate’ so they can expect conversations and engagement from the artistes. Expect something very special,” she said.
At the launch of the event in September, he said that he was looking forward to performing for the fans.
“What do we do at the beginning of the year in Jamaica? On new year’s night we used to go to Grand Market; they cut out that. We haven’t had a Grand Market in three years. We used to light off couple ‘clappaz’ [firecrackers] an’ we cyaa do dat no more ’cause Babylon think a shot di people dem a fyah. So come we sing some song, nuh! And celebrate wid music and upliftment,” Buju Banton, whose given name is Mark Myrie, told the Observer.
Buju Banton won the Best Reggae Album Grammy for Beyond the Dawn, released in 2010. His other previous Grammy nominations were Friends for Life (2004), Too Bad (2007), and 2010’s Rasta Got Soul.
Born in St Mary, Beres Hammond remains at the forefront of lovers rock music. With a career spanning nearly three decades, his hit songs includes One Step Ahead, I Feel Good, Putting Up Resistance, What One Dance Can Do, Rockaway, and Sweet Lies.
Hammond was conferred with the Order of Jamaica in 2013 by the Jamaican Government for his contribution to music.
