Sound Fest will spotlight local artists
Earlier we pointed out the relative ease with which local musicians can now bring their talent to the public. But improvements in technology can cut two ways. With sixty-four channel cable TV, music on the internet and ten dollar pirated CD’s available on every corner, today it’s harder than ever for a local artist to grab the attention of a public that literally has the world at its fingertips. Today, News 5’s Jacqueline Woods sat down with the promoters of a concert on Wednesday night that will showcase the best of Belizean talent.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
It’s the first time that such a large number of Belizean artists will perform under one roof. Belizean Sound Fest 2002 is an initiative by the artists themselves to celebrate the twenty-first anniversary of Belize’s Independence.
Jacqueline Woods
“Tony, you have been described as a champion of local music, so this really must be something huge for you, I would imagine it’s a dream come through for you, this Sound Fest.”
Tony Wright, Organiser, Sound Fest 2002
“You could say that in a way because over the years, the last seven years and I’ve been on the radio where I have a show where I promote the Belizean artist. And I was always saying that September da fu we, and over the last five years or so, we focus on “give we back wi September”. But it seems like nobody mi di pay we much mind.”
Tony Wright says he was surprised to find out that the celebrations calendar featured very few local artists. So, five weeks ago, Wright and a number of musicians got together and organised Belizean Sound Fest 2002.
Emmerson Guild, Organiser, Sound Fest 2002
“I have to say stars after stars after stars will be performing. And because I don’t want to leave nobody’s name out, what I could say right off we have J Rockers, we have Santino’s Messengers, we have Andy Palacio, we have Sam Hamilton, Shirley Ferguson and a whole lot of stars.”
Jacqueline Woods
“I notice on the programme as well that there will be other special attractions.”
Emmerson Guild
“Yes, we have ten beauty queens; one coming out of the United States, some from the Belize City area. We also have Ms. Y, [Shirley Ferguson] our senior queen in beauty pageants here in Belize. She will be singing and, I think, also serenading our visitors to the stage, the young queens that night.”
Emmerson Guild believes that the event is just what Belizeans need to improve things on the entertainment scene.
Emmerson Guild
“I don’t think we have developed our local market with our artists very well. I don’t think we’ve done enough events to highlight our artists in a way that the public will generate interest. So I believe those incentives are lacking in our arts and culture formats right now.”
Tony Wright
“We are putting together a top of the line show weh dah just like is you go see one of the foreign artists. We want people come out and see what the Belizean artist really, really have to offer when they get the proper equipment to work with. So that was one of our main thing to get that first.”
“And as a matter of fact that’s why we don’t even have reserve seats. Seven dollars for adults; you go in, you stand up basically in front of the stage, just like when you goh dah Byron Lee or whatever and three dollars for kids. We noh plan fi have nobody sit down and this and that because all of those bands have a hype weh they want people just get front ah deh and just go off. So even the solo artists, they noh want nobody di sit down when deh di sing. So it’s a complete, different package, it’s a new package and every single body weh go dah Civic Centre, I could guarantee then that they wah have a time ah deh life with Belizean artist. First time they will hear Belizean artists at their best like this.”
Sound Fest 2002 starts at 8:00 p.m. sharp on Wednesday night at the Belize City Centre. Reporting for News 5, Jacqueline Woods.
Tickets are on sale at record stores for seven dollars adults and three dollars for children. Tickets will also be sold on Wednesday night at the Belize City Centre.
