Jamaica Jazz Festival Ready To Go

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica (JIS). All is in place for the 14th staging of the Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival from January 28 to 30, which, for the first time this year, will be held at the Greenfield Stadium in Trelawny.


Executive Producer of the festival, Walter Elmore, told JIS News that with the start of the festival just days away, preparations are well advanced.

“The sky boxes have gone up, the stage is already up, and the roof is going up, so we are well advanced and we are exactly on schedule with the preparations for this year,” he stated.

Elmore explained that based on numerous requests from overseas patrons, the 2010 festival has been expanded into a one-week affair, which will comprise several events in Kingston and Ocho Rios, before the three-day stage show in Trelawny.

Pre-show events will be held at the Pegasus Hotel in Kingston on January 24; Jamaica Grande Hotel in Ocho Rios on January 25; and the Riu and Iberostar hotels in Montego Bay on January 26 and 27, respectively.

Elmore is very upbeat about the facilities at the stadium, adding that they are a lot better than he expected. He said that there is ample parking.

“The venue has a wonderful ambience all by itself. The view from here is spectacular of the north coast of Jamaica, and Falmouth, and you can see them building the new cruise ship pier. We are creating a very similar ambience that we had at Rose Hall,” he stated, noting that patrons will use the field and not the stands.

Meanwhile, Mayor of Falmouth, Councillor Collin Gager, has expressed pleasure that the Jazz Festival will be held in Trelawny, adding that he is very happy and excited about the development.

He said that the nature of the event is one that will help to showcase the parish of Trelawny and the town of Falmouth to the world.

Councillor Gager stated that the staging of the event in Trelawny will add to the development thrust that is taking place across the parish.

In the meantime, Elmore said that the number of overseas visitors expected for the festival is growing by the day.
“I am happy that the support is coming from overseas. The support is also coming from the locals. My overseas ticket sales are very good this year, much stronger than last year,” he told JIS News, noting that overseas visitors have already started to arrive.