Festival Song finals set for today

Ten finalists in the 2011 Jamaica Festival Song Competition will vie for prizes and awards at the finals scheduled to take place on Friday, July 29 at the National Arena, Kingston, beginning at 8:00 p.m. Persons vying for the prizes are Andy Livingston, Kellis Quashie, Raine Davis, Christopher Rose, Marshell Hylton, Mojo Herb, Tinga Stewart, Joel ‘Bunny’ Brown, Christopher Anderson, and Everton David Pessoa.

In addition to receiving $1 million,  donated by telecommunications  company, Claro, the winner of the competition will drive away with a brand new 2011 Nissan Tiida motor car, courtesy of Fidelity Motors Limited.

Festival Song Co-ordinator of the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), David Reid told JIS News that the 10 finalists have been involved in the production of an album under the theme: ‘The Journey continues…’, featuring the evolution of music in Jamaica starting from our African ancestors to the present. Each finalist was also assigned a top Jamaican Director to produce a music video for each song.

“The ten finalists represent all genre of the Jamaican music and it will be interesting to see them at the finals when they perform live to make Jamaica get a song that will rock the nation come August 6,” he said.

Mr. Reid said the winner of the competition and other artistes will be making appearances at Independence street shows across the island and at the Independence Grand Gala on August 6, at the National Stadium.

“Persons love their performances, persons love their personalities and we know that this year we will be able to book them for many of the shows after Independence,” he added.

Meanwhile, Mr. Reid said plans for the 2012 Festival Song Competition are well underway.

“We want to get that song out from as early as January, so that persons will be able to rock the entire year on the Festival song, or Jamaica 50 songs as we are looking forward to call it,” he added.

Mr. Reid said that after the finals, the JCDC will begin hosting several workshops for entrants to expose them to the characteristics of a good song and the music industry. After the workshops, participants will be invited to submit songs for the competition, he said.

Tickets for the Festival Song finals are on sale at the head office of the JCDC located at 3-5 Phoenix Avenue, Kingston, Portmore Mall Pharmacy and Music Mart at Twin Gates Plaza.

Via – JIS