Financial constraints force
SummerFest line-up change
St. Maarten--Financial constraints faced by St. Maarten Festival Foundation have forced organisers to cancel two shows and revise the schedule for SummerFest 2006.
The foundation opted to cancel the Soca/Comedy Night and the Latin/Kompa night slated for July 21 and July 22.
Foundation President Clarence Derby said Wednesday that rather than cancel SummerFest, it had been decided to revise the schedule.
The foundation promoted the event throughout the United States on Urban Radio Network, on Dr. Bobby Jones’ Network and on radio and in magazines throughout the Caribbean, Derby said.
Under the new schedule, the Beer Fest will be held on the Great Bay beach promenade on July 21. The Jazz and Wine Fest will convene in Bellevue in French St. Martin on July 22. Reggae night will be on July 28 and R&B Night on July 29. Gospel Night is set for July 30 at Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise Facility.
Derby said the foundation had secured most of its artists with the exception of one major artist for SummerFest 2006. The artists contracted to perform this year include “Strings,” a Miami based Haitian band; jazz steel pan artist Andy Narell; two time jazz Grammy Award winner Norman Brown; local jazz artists Cornis Vanterpool and La Vaune Henry; evangelist television and radio host Dr. Bobby Jones; Grammy Award-winning gospel singer Kirk Franklin and his 26 member choir; reggae artist Gyptian, who this year released “Serious times”; international song writer Ne-Yo, who turned singer with a new hit “So Sick”; and Akon, whom “St. Maarten has been waiting a long time to see live in concert,” according to Derby.
Several young local artists and the band Youth Waves will also perform.
Derby said that, based on the numbers of “hits” on the SummerFest Website and the many e-mails received from around the world, St. Maarten’s SummerFest had become a well-known and well-respected festival in the Caribbean.
Derby asked that the public and businesses support the three-year-old event. “We have a unique product that can be developed into a first class Caribbean summer event,” he said. “It requires the support of everyone.”
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