For the second time, London-based artiste Cameron Pierre, who was raised in Dominica, will form part of the main stage line up for the 7th Annual Jazz ‘n Creole Festival to be held at the Cabrits National Park in Portsmouth on May 15.
The artiste first performed at the Jazz ‘n Creole Festival in 2012.
That information was announced during the launching ceremony of the event held at the Fort Young Hotel on Thursday.
The other artistes include the band ‘Soft’ of Guadeloupe and “Élan Parle’ of Trinidad & Tobago who will form part of that event for the first time.
Pierre taught himself to play the guitar at age 16 and over the years have worked with artistes like Barrington Levy, Wayne Marshall among other artistes. He released his first solo album in 1997 and in 2011 released his latest album ‘Radio Jumbo’ .
‘Soft’ was formed in Guadeloupe in 2000 and brings a new kind of musical experience, a humane and harmonious experience. The band is said to be a mixture of everything Caribbean. The group have performed at many concerts around the world with sold-out concerts and has represented the French Caribbean on several occasions in Europe.
‘Élan Parle’ Band features blends of Caribbean Rhythms with global blends of musical instruments to create Caribbean world fusion. The band brings a contemporary Jazz perspective to the musical and cultural traditions of their homeland Trinidad & Tobago.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Discover Dominic Authority Colin Piper, who was addressing the event, said the DDA has activated a marketing plan geared at attracting patrons at this year’s event.
“We will leverage partnership with regional media agencies in St Lucia, Barbados, St Maarten and the French West Indies to promote through print, through online, through radio, through broadcast…” he noted.
According to him, partners in the marketing plan include the OECS News Link, Caribbean360.com, Caribbean Journal, CMC among others.
He stated also that DDA will also leverage partnerships with local media.
Piper indicated that from inception in 2010 to 2015 the festival has generated much interest and its attendance has more than doubled.
“In 2010, just over 600 patrons attended and in 2015 over 1,900 patrons attended,” he stated.
He said the objectives of the Jazz ‘n Creole Festival is, “to develop and stage a key festival tourism product which receives primarily local and some regional media coverage to increase local tourism activities by movements of people to generate economic activity, to stimulate economic activity through increase local occupancy and participation at fringe events and to support the staycation initiative of DDA and DHTA, and to increase ticket sales in the main staged event.”
According to him the strategies to achieve these objectives are, “to utilize the Creole aspect of Dominica’s culture, to differentiate this event under the Jazz genre and from the other Jazz events in the Caribbean, to build strong local and regional support for the event, in essence to build Jazz network, to empower young musicians to improve their musical skills…”
Furthermore, he said a series of Fringe Events,’ which highlights regional and local acts, will be staged from May 8th to May 15.
Meantime, Marketing Manager of Digicel, Gold sponsor of the event, Nathalie Walsh said Digicel is keeping with its promise to help foster and sustain cultural development in Dominica.
with everything in Dominica, we start at one price and as the years pass by it increases. This started at $40 and went up. I suggest since the increase in patrons and such a success story of the event why not give a discounted price of $40 for atleast two weeks then ur normal $50 in advance and whatever at the gates?? that would be great. Consider it Mr Piper and Miss Natalie.
Thanks in advance.
#what?? a girl can wish
Looking forward to see Cameron Pierre onstage again. He is an excellent guitarist and true Son of the Soil.
& Black Roots of Soufriere, St Marks. Go for it Rizo!!
Wish Grandma was still around to dance to your music. Much success!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How can you not mention Cameron’s days with Courtney Pine, Joe Cocker and Dennis Brown
Because whoever writes this stuff is obviously limitted in their listening music. Thinking that the artists mentioned are the most known. Smh. At least they could have done a bit more research.