Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer
ISAACS
WESTERN BUREAU:
THE HEINEKEN Startime 17 show, 'Love Is Overdue', was launched on Tuesday night at the very place where it will happen on Saturday, June 25, the C&W Golf Academy in New Kingston.
On that night, the swing of clubs and the soaring of balls will be replaced by the swing of legs and arms and soaring of voices as Culture, George Nooks, Gregory Isaacs, U-Roy, Max Romeo, Derrick Morgan, Richie Mac (of the Chosen Few), Judi Emmanuel and Little, a special introduction direct from London, will perform with the support of Lloyd Parkes and We The People band.
Prince Junior from the Angel Sound in New York will provide the recorded music.
Little Roy is the original composer and singer of 'Tribal War', done over by John Holt and George Nooks, as well as 'Prophecy', done over by Freddie McGregor. He will be performing in Jamaica for the first time in quarter of a century.
However, although golf will be on hold that night, sports will still play a part in the concert. At the end of Tuesday night's launch, an agreement was signed between the organisers of Heineken Startime, MKB Productions, the Jamaica Netball Association (JNA) and the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF).
Under the agreement, the two sports governing bodies will market Startime tickets in return for a significant percentage of the proceeds. This goes not only for the June 25 show, but also the other six events that will comprise the 17th anniversary season.
Wykeham McNeill of the Ministry of Industry and Tourism emphasised the link between music and tourism, saying that "tourism and music are two products that we have an advantage in at the global level".
"Each of these sectors has enjoyed success in its own right, but so much more could have been achieved," he said.
And, continuing a number of firsts for the season, Heineken Startime will take to the skies and go back to earth in Europe, as on July 1 the 'Jamaica's World Famous Startime Showcase' will begin a three-week, seven country, 15-concert tour.
Lloyd Parkes and We The People will again provide the music for Uroy, Gregory Isaacs and Frankie Paul, who will perform in Norway, Sweden, Italy, Germany, France, Holland and Spain.
The significance was not lost on McNeill, who said that "the timing could not have been better from a tourism point of view"..
He noted that by 2007 - 2008, the Ministry intends to increase the European share of visitor arrivals from the current 17 per cent to 20 per cent. "There is a natural affinity in the UK and Europe for reggae, which has long worked to our advantage," he said.
TOURISM, ENTERTAINMENT
"The real synergy is between tourism, entertainment and sport," McNeill emphasised.
Headliners for three other shows in the upcoming Heineken Startime series have already been confirmed. Byron Lee and the Dragonaires, Eric Monty Morris and Ernie Smith are confirmed for October 1, while Leroy Sibbles, Fredlocks and Barrington Levy, performing with his band, are all set for December 3. On February 26, 2006, John Holt, Alton Ellis, The Tamlins and Horace Andy will be performing on the Heineken Startime bill.
Tickets for 'Love Is Overdue' are $800 presold and $900 at the gate. Tickets will be available at COK Credit Union Branches, Derrick Harriot's Record Store, Digicel Sovereign Centre, ICOWAL Texaco, Jamrock, LG Esso, Mall Pharmacy, Portmore Mall Pharmacy, Super Plus Pavillion Mall and Training Camp in Manor Park.
