Post by dawyked on Sept 5, 2006 1:28:11 GMT 1
Web Posted - Sat Sep 02 2006
By David Hinkson
AS Dominica's World Creole Music Festival marks its tenth anniversary, its organisers would like to see more patrons coming from the English-speaking Caribbean to enjoy the three-day event.
Marketing Officer with the National Development Corporation of Dominica, Patricia Linton, said some 80 per cent of the visitors that came to the island for the event hailed from the French territories of Martinique and Guadeloupe. She said this year that Jamaican dub artist Shaggy, as well as US-based artist Wyclef Jean were included in an effort to generate interest from the English-speaking islands, and a few years ago Trinidadian band Atlantik also formed part of the package.
She stated that one of the key objectives of the festival was to highlight different artists from different territories every single year, noting that while the focus was mainly on creole groups from Haiti, at times groups from Cuba and other Spanish-speaking countries were the main headline acts.
Linton added that the festival also acted as a showcase for up and coming Dominican acts, as well as popular acts from the English speaking islands that were not well-known in the French market. She made the point that the French territories served as a gateway to the European market, and Europeans were always interested in finding out more about different musical genres and highlighting them.
This year's festival runs from October 27 to 29, and apart from Shaggy and Wyclef Jean, featured artists include WCK, Triple Kay, Impromptu Band and Swinging Stars from Dominica. Dominica's reigning Calypso King Dice, and former Calypso King, Hunter, are also expected to perform. Also appearing are Haitian groups Djakout, T-Vice, Tabou Combo, and Carimi, the legendary Byron Lee and the Dragonaires of Jamaica, Admiral T and Zouk Flam from Guadeloupe, Royalty Band from the USA and Sakis from Africa.
By David Hinkson
AS Dominica's World Creole Music Festival marks its tenth anniversary, its organisers would like to see more patrons coming from the English-speaking Caribbean to enjoy the three-day event.
Marketing Officer with the National Development Corporation of Dominica, Patricia Linton, said some 80 per cent of the visitors that came to the island for the event hailed from the French territories of Martinique and Guadeloupe. She said this year that Jamaican dub artist Shaggy, as well as US-based artist Wyclef Jean were included in an effort to generate interest from the English-speaking islands, and a few years ago Trinidadian band Atlantik also formed part of the package.
She stated that one of the key objectives of the festival was to highlight different artists from different territories every single year, noting that while the focus was mainly on creole groups from Haiti, at times groups from Cuba and other Spanish-speaking countries were the main headline acts.
Linton added that the festival also acted as a showcase for up and coming Dominican acts, as well as popular acts from the English speaking islands that were not well-known in the French market. She made the point that the French territories served as a gateway to the European market, and Europeans were always interested in finding out more about different musical genres and highlighting them.
This year's festival runs from October 27 to 29, and apart from Shaggy and Wyclef Jean, featured artists include WCK, Triple Kay, Impromptu Band and Swinging Stars from Dominica. Dominica's reigning Calypso King Dice, and former Calypso King, Hunter, are also expected to perform. Also appearing are Haitian groups Djakout, T-Vice, Tabou Combo, and Carimi, the legendary Byron Lee and the Dragonaires of Jamaica, Admiral T and Zouk Flam from Guadeloupe, Royalty Band from the USA and Sakis from Africa.