Byron Lee returns with Belizean singer
To some people, they are the pirates of the Caribbean, sampling songs from various musicians throughout the region to come up with catchy compilations. But to most Belizeans, September isn’t quite September unless they’re here. I’m talking about Bryon Lee and the Dragonaires of course. The Bryon and his band also arrived this morning at the Philip Goldson International Airport. And even though they haven’t been here for a couple years, they promise to make up for the lost time.
Oscar B, Vocalist, Bryon Lee and the Dragonaires
“It’s nice to be back in Belize. I don’t like coming to Belize; I love it. So that like is a little bit too tame, I love Belize. it’s nice to be back in Belize after a absence of, I think it’s two years, but we’re looking forward to it, looking forward to the show tomorrow night and Saturday night at the Civic. It’s gonna be a very exciting weekend, I know Belizeans haven’t seen us for a long time, so I know we’ll get the crowd in the numbers. And please, we don’t want the gate to be pushed down, don’t push down the gate, not this year. But it know we’re gonna come out and have some fun. We ready to go.”
Bryon Lee, Bandleader
“We have a big following of Belizeans all over the world. Why you not going to Belize this year? And we know they missed us. You missed us and we missed you so much. But things, we save the best for later and what we have brought this year is a tremendous package. It’s full of life, new faces, new tunes, new dances, new everything, new look.”
Janelle Chanona
“Any previews for tomorrow night?”
Byron Lee
“Well, we have Roger George from Xtatic, the big band Xtatic, he joined us about a year now. And he has something in store, like the jerk chicken, the Sponge Bob square dance. And then Lisa Pike is here, she’s young with the band, we’ll have to give her time, but she’s so beautiful and adds everything. and I tell you something, everywhere we play the Belizeans come out to hear like that’s our country.”
Lisa Pike, Vocalist, Bryon Lee and the Dragonaires
“I am so excited. I’m here all the time, hut this is the first time I’m coming in this capacity. So what to expect? I have no idea. I’m just going to savour every moment of this, because this is gonna be unlike any other trip for me.”
Silvana Woods, Concert Promoter
“It’s just going to be fantastic. Everything is becoming global, music is becoming global. So you’re seeing the rhythms. If you listen to some of the way Oscar B moves, that punta was started by osmosis getting into them. And so we had to have a Supa G there as well and we had to have a Lela. And of course we have Lisa Pike, fans who want to see Byron Lee and the Dragonaires at the shows of course, also autograph signing at the Eden nightclub tonight. Tomorrow in the morning at the Angelus Press they’ll be with the Telejammers in the carnival, the frontline group, and Lisa will debut here song there. Lloyd and Reckless, locals with the “Braced yuself” hit single. So it’s just the place to be, Bryon Lee.”
Bryon Lee
“Tomorrow at the Biltmore, everybody who comes out, the music will be softer and more warm and more going back into the classics. On Saturday night now, jam, jam, jam, jam Saturday night. Come out ladies, come out with your towels and come out with your flags, because when Roger George says, all the people from Belize put up your flags, it must have a sea of flags.”
You can show up with your flag on Friday night at the Biltmore Plaza. Tickets are selling for seventy-five dollars in advance, eighty at the door. Saturday’s show will be staged at the Belize City Centre and tickets are thirty-five in advance and forty-five at the gate.
