2 weeks ago
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For the approximately 300,000 people who are expected to ring in the new year at the Urban Development Corporation-staged ‘Fireworks on the Waterfront’, the promise from the organisers is that “it will be the biggest ever”.
And with a drone show added to the mix, that will be another layer of excitement for patrons to the event which unfolds on the same night as Vybz Kartel’s much-touted Freedom Street spectacle over at the National Stadium.
“One festival, three locations with digital interactivity among all three locations,” chief organiser and general counsel at UDC, Ewan Simpson, told The Gleaner. The three locations are the Kingston Waterfront; Ocho Rios Bay Beach in Ocho Rios, St Ann; and Harmony Beach Park in Montego Bay, St James.
Now in its 21st staging, the dazzling show with fireworks and performances from some of the top reggae and dancehall acts unfolds on December 31, and Simpson is confident that there is absolutely nothing in the street that can compare to it.
Quizzed if he anticipated that Freedom Street will grab a chunk of his Kingston faithfuls, Simpson was largely non-committal.
“Apart from the small percentage of patrons who we can accommodate in an elevated, food-inclusive VIP lounge for roughly $15,000, the majority of our patrons get to enjoy a great family-friendly festival for free. There are very few venues with the charm of the Kingston Waterfront, and, as such, the patrons are free to make value judgements of their own,” the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association (JaRIA) chairman told The Gleaner.
He added, “This year we will add to the usual kiddies village, a wellness lounge at each location and a skills expo. [And] we will blend a drone show with the fireworks at midnight.”
The artiste line-up, he shared, will be rolled out in a matter of days as he and his team are now finalising contracts.
One artiste who is confirmed for the event is Gramps Morgan and he is excited. He will be performing on the St. Ann leg of the New Year’s Eve gala at Ocho Rios Bay Beach.
“There’s nothing like the holidays in Jamaica. It’s one of the best time ... the people are all in good spirit, with or without money,” said Gramps, who has a successful solo career and is a member of the Grammy Award-winning sibling group, Morgan Heritage.
“I don’t care where you are in the world, it’s a time when family and friends get together and enjoy each other’s presence. And it is giving me a chance to be back home, spend time with family and celebrate with the people of Jamaica. It’s been a good year for me and I want to thank my team of Contractor Music Marketing in Jamaica and Dada Son Entertainment in America,” the singer, instrumentalist, producer and entrepreneur told The Gleaner.
Three decades ago, five children of reggae legend, Denroy Morgan, formed the group Morgan Heritage, with Gramps on keyboards and sharing lead vocals with his late brother, Peter. Several songs and albums later, the group scored big when their critically acclaimed album, Strictly Roots, won the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album in 2016.
The group’s bio on caribbeanentertainment.com noted that Morgan Heritage also received Grammy nominations for their 2017 album, Avrakedabra rand for their feature on Shaggy and Sting’s album titled 44/876.
The group took a hiatus in 2009 and Gramps worked on his début solo project, 2 Sides of My Heart, Vol. 1 . The poignant Wash the Tears and the sensuous Come Back to Bed were two of the standout tracks. His 2020 song, People Like You, was a blockbuster hit for the artiste.
“Gramps represents the inspirational side of reggae while maintaining very high entertainment value . He represents reggae royalty that blends regal with a soulful message that resonates with locals and visitors alike. He is the perfect messenger for bringing hope for a new year,” Sean ‘Contractor’ Edwards of Contractor Marketing told The Gleaner.
As a successful solo artiste, Gramps has toured with big names such as India.Arie, John Legend, Kymani Marley and Buju Banton, with whom he just wrapped up a US tour.
The UDC fireworks festival will be a made-for-television event, which will use cameras to create a connected experience among all three locations .
“Patrons online or on TV will be able to experience the festival through the lenses of the cameras across all three locations, even as patrons at each venue will experience the vibe in the others venues,” Simpson further explained.
The UDC and JaRIA have also formed a partnership to produce events such as the talent showcase, Reggae Wednesdays JaMz, in the run-up to the annual Fireworks Festival. These events are held every second Wednesday at Coral Cliff in Montego Bay and every fourth Wednesday at Festival Marketplace on the Kingston Waterfront.
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