No Bounty, No problem! - Skatta confident Reggae Sumfest will sparkle despite Warlord’s withdrawal

Despite having to scrap the 'Tribute to Bounty Killer' segment, Downsound Entertainment's executive Cordel 'Skatta' Burrell is confident that Reggae Sumfest 2024 will offer fans an exceptional music festival based on the impressive line-up.

"The onus is on us to put on an exceptional show. Even before the announcement of Bounty Killer not being on the show, people were still celebrating the line-up," said Burrell, who plays an integral role in the recruitment of artistes.

He said Downsound Entertainment is fully committed to booking and presenting the best available local and international acts as part of its obligation to please the thousands of fans who support the festival annually.

"You have a Beres Hammond, you have a Babyface, and we are keeping it real and organic, so you have a Luciano and an Anthony B, which is awesome," said Burrell.

"Anthony B works all over the globe ... Jamaica does not know what this man has to offer and how great he is. There is a generation that does not know Anthony B's greatness because he is so busy spreading the music of reggae all over the globe."

While the established stars will naturally serve as the main drawing cards, Burrell also opined that the emerging stars who see Reggae Sumfest as the ideal launching pad, will also be seeking to attract global attention.

"When you look at the Friday night package (Night One, July 19), it has a lot of young artistes and a lot of stalwarts. We cannot separate the two because that is how the young artistes learn, and that is how the stalwarts give back. You can't criticise and not show them how it is done," said Burrell. "So putting both entities on the stage on the same night is a way of bringing a form of unity and let everybody learn from each other and support each other as well. That is what we are looking to accomplish."

Night One, the first of the two major stage show performances at the Catherine Hall Entertainment Centre, will feature acts such as Pablo YG, Kraff, 450, Munga, Turbulence, Jada Kingdom, Valiant, YG Marley, Dexta Daps, Aidonia, Capleton and Teejay. Night Two will showcase Sevana, Norris Man, D'Yani, Ras I, Ngiy Boy, Luciano, Anthony B, Beres Hammond and Babyface. The festival will kick off with a family fun day on Sunday, July 14 at Catherine Hall in Montego Bay, St James.

The St James Municipal Corporation, which is fully endorsing the July 14-20 festival, has declared Montego Bay 'Reggae Sumfest City' for the duration of the event.