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2012 Emancipation Festival to focus on VI’s best

- Fewer international artistes to perform
More local artistes will be performing at the 2012 Emancipation Festival.
Barrington Levy is likely to be included in this year’s line-up.
Barrington Levy is likely to be included in this year’s line-up.
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – The new Festival and Fairs Committee is aggressively pushing to have the best of Virgin Islands’ local artistes to share the spotlight at this year’s Emancipation Festival.

This is according to Rhodni Skelton, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Committee, in an interview with this news agency.

“We want to have more local bands/artistes that we will marry with international artistes,” Skelton stated, which is an indication that fewer international artistes will be performing at this year’s festival.

When asked if it’s a good idea to full the slots with local talent since over the years patrons do not fully lend their support to local acts, the PRO replied, “Not anybody and everybody will be selected. It’s going to be the best of the best.”

He made reference to the Virgin Islands’ own Showtime and Extreme bands, and added that Blue Essence is a strong jazz band.

The PRO also disclosed that some of the legendary artistes will be approached to participate.

“We also have the older bands like Prime Time and Caribbean Ecstasy and in the USVI Imagination Brass and we are looking to have a Jam Band reunion,” he added.

And in an effort to push the local artistes, the Committee is looking at organizing band clashes, tramps and other events to drum up the interest of residents leading up to Festival, which begins in late July and wraps up in August.

Regarding the international and regional artistes, the PRO hinted that the Committee is eyeing Barrington Levy, Kassav and some reggae performers out of Jamaica.

The theme for this year’s Festival is “Bringing back our Cultural past, let’s celebrate BVI Festival with Class!”

Furthermore, a meeting regarding the plans for the 2012 Emancipation Festival will be held today March 15, 2012 at 5:30 p.m. at the Division of Youth Affairs & Sports’ conference room located in the Ward's Building across from the Labour Department in Road Town, and is opened to the public.

16 Responses to “2012 Emancipation Festival to focus on VI’s best ”

  • mistake (15/03/2012, 07:33) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Why dey hell ayo do not tell dey truth that ayo aint got no big budget for international artiste from up and down tryin to lie and fool we like ayo supporting local entertainers when in fact tis far from dey truth. Pure ndp spin and dey usual perception management....ayo aint care ah ting bout locals deman
    • hollowee (15/03/2012, 10:03) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      my yute me agree wid "mistake" let's see if dem pay locals the 40 and 50 gs dem pay the overseas artiste dem! dat will be dey test if dem care bout locals or we gettin played for politricks...well sah show time and extreeme ayo better deman big $$$$$$ and do not sit on ayo laurels dis time.
  • Janet Williams (15/03/2012, 07:40) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    why we do not consider privatizing the festivals??? just my two cents.
    • persia (15/03/2012, 14:48) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      for what reason?? remeber it was in private hands beofre and it was a mess...think back to the 70s and 80s!!!
  • Like (15/03/2012, 08:17) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    KASSAV!!!!!!!!
  • REAL DEAL (15/03/2012, 09:27) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    The festival committee should be responsible for the cultural events such as calypso competition, queen show, ect.... private promoters should deal with the bigger shows and dances. who want to bring outside artists can do so at their own expense. time we look around and see how its done in other places. it makes more sense.
  • COMMON SENSE (15/03/2012, 09:33) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    LETS STOP THIS REUNION CRAP!!! JAM BAND WID NO FRIDAY IS NO REUNION. AND WE HAD ENUFF, LET SLEEPING DOGS REST MAN.....
  • rat tail (15/03/2012, 14:28) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    local artiste only!!!! Myron and MB got to be crazy sorry for the booth people dem dem aint going mek a dime!
  • sweet (15/03/2012, 14:52) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Zo brown is so sexy!
  • Hmmmmm (15/03/2012, 16:19) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    We want to have more local bands/artistes that we will marry with international artistes. Ayo ain see they say they still bringing international artists? Can't please people meson. MB keep doing what you doing. Rep for the local and other regional artists that helped to build up the carnival in the first place. I would love to hear imagination brass and Ecstacy going on bad again on the stage! VI 2 de Bone!
  • insider (15/03/2012, 23:29) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    any one has the scoop on what wen down in the festival meeting????
  • fan (16/03/2012, 10:08) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    if Aaron Da Jedi, Razor Bladez, B'More and Ritical aint performing as local acts WE AINT SUPPORTING NO FESTIVAL. Yall neglect our own to give shine to outsiders and that is why the festival sucks cause yall aint embracing ya own.
  • Well sah! (16/03/2012, 14:30) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    They could leave Imagi and Jam Band in St. Thomas. Not even the St. Thomians go out for those bands! That no better than bringing Prime Time!!!!!!!!
  • Peter (18/03/2012, 22:17) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Emancipation from slavery, which slavery physical or Economical? Cause I know slavery is very much in existance, in the BVI, in the Caribbean and the rest of the world.


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