Portmore Music Fest eyes international standards

Despite being only a few years old, Portmore Music Fest (PMF) has risen at such a rate that it is impossible to ignore.

Its entertainment line-ups over the past three years have included up-and-coming talents and an equal list of headline names, including Beenie Man, Wayne Wonder, Bounty Killer and Queen Ifrica.

Now, its organisers are taking a step further to transform the one-night event into a festival boasting two nights of activities.

"We can officially call ourselves a festival that promises the people two nights of great musical experiences coupled with sound systems, fashion, food, and live performances," said Steve Billings, director of the event.

The festival, which is executed during the busy Christmas period, is scheduled for Friday, December 28, and Saturday, December 29, at the UDC car park in Portmore.

When THE WEEKEND STAR asked Billings if he saw PMF growing beyond two nights in the next five years, he said, "PMF is platformed to meet international standards of festivals with outstanding showcases, and we are ideally looking to export the festival to get more international patrons throughout the next three to five years not going beyond its current offering."

Night one features the Ultimate Sound System Sound Off - not to be confused with a sound clash, which he says "would eliminate the value of the offering" - and is followed by a fashion show, dance exhibitions, and a live show on night two.

The organisers are determined to challenge events being held in Kingston during the Christmas period and to focus on entertainment developing within Portmore.

Some of the entertainers coming out of Portmore who have performed in previous years are Maestro Don, Clymaxx, I-Octane and I-Wayne, but the list of names for this year's Portmore-based talents has not yet been released.

This year, the patrons will be entertained by a mix of artistes, including Spragga Benz, Baby Cham and Bushman, among others, backed by popular bands Ruff Kutt and Tower, as well as sound systems Swatch International, Cosmic Movements, Yumi Hi-Power, and Sound Trooper.

The festival maintains its charity focus, with the Portmore Self-Help Disability Organization being this year's beneficiary.