Beache: Promotions are on schedule for the 2008 Blues and Rhythms festival

This country’s 2008 edition of the Blues and Rhythms Festival is expected to be the best ever, when it comes to quality, performance and attendance, despite what is perceived to be a late start in promotions.{{more}}

Hon. Glen Beache, Minister of Tourism, head of the institution responsible for the organizing and promotion of the event for the past nine years, said that promotions for the two day spectacular are right on schedule, adding that contract negotiations prevented earlier announcements of the line up.

“We would have loved to announce the line up as early as the beginning of January,” the Minister said at the February 14th press conference, which took place at the Ministry’s conference room.

“But we did not finish the negotiations with the artistes, and this takes time.”

The Minister said that advertising and promotions have been taking place regionally and internationally since late last year.

The Festival, slated for March 7th and 8th, will feature some of the top local, regional and international performers. The Country Relatives and the Band Touch are the locals scheduled to perform on the first night, along with David Rudder from Trinidad and Tobago, saxophonist Mike Phillips and Regina Belle from the United States.

On evening two, bands Axcess and Hottsand, along with Kyron Baptiste and Jamesy P, will represent the local acts, with Jamaican Shaggy and American Freddy Jackson being the overseas acts.

Member of the organizing committee Ashford Wood indicated that preparations are progressing smoothly, and patrons attending the event at the Emerald Valley Casino can expect the high standard of previous shows.

The Minister informed the press that overseas visitors to the annual event are being presented with packages that are expected to encourage travel, not only for this event but also for upcoming events.(JJ)