Garifuna All Stars head to Europe
People are always saying that it’s only a matter of time until Belizean music goes international…but precious few do anything to make that dream a reality. Today one group of action oriented musicians departed for Essen, Germany where they will participate in WOMEX, the annual European World Music Expo. News 5’s Marion Ali caught up with them on the way to the airport.
Marion Ali, Reporting
With sponsorship from the Government, BELTRAIDE, and the Social Security Board, the Garifuna All Star Band left Belize today. According to the band’s leader, Andy Palacio, while the group will have limited stage time, they’ll be heading that night’s show.
Andy Palacio, Band Leader
“For forty-five minutes we’ll have an opportunity to show the world what it is that Belize can offer in terms of music on stage. We’ll be performing some songs that are well-known to our Belizean audiences, as well as material from the upcoming All Star Band CD. So I think this one should go far in showing the press, concert promoters, festival organisers.”
Palacio says he is anticipating some concrete results from the tour.
Andy Palacio
“Hopefully, we’ll have a couple of contracts signed for future concerts in different parts of the world next year. The icing on the cake would be somebody would have expressed enough interest to want to buy the rights to the new Garifuna All Star Band CD and in so doing expressing an interest not only in our music as this group, but in the music of Belize and other Belizean artists as well.”
“I think one would be encouraged to continue to do even better work to convince the listener that this is not a one-hit wonder or a one-shot deal. This should be a very good life injection into Belize’s music industry. We’ve had the music forever, but the industry is only now creeping in and we want to make sure that we have our place within this industry.”
Also a part of the tour is legendary Parandero Paul Nabor from Punta Gorda, who says he’s surprised to be touring the world this late in his career.
Paul Nabor, Band Member, Garifuna All Stars
“Because I’ve been singing and playing my guitar for Christmas and I didn’t get an effort to go abroad. And in my seventy-four years I get the effort to move about, and thank the good Lord for it. I’m happy, I enjoy it.”
Marion Ali for News 5.
The nine-member group includes Ivan Duran of Stone Tree Records, who organized the trip. Duran will be in charge of a musical booth that will promote a variety of Belizean music.
