By Andrew Clunis

The just-concluded holiday season turned the spotlight sharply on the state of the entertainment industry in Jamaica.

And in some corners, it projected long, dark, eerie shadows from a sector that revealed its deep systemic weaknesses and failing structure.

It was a season that promised a lot but missed the mark on numerous occasions in the quest to deliver international, professional entertainment.

There were three major events on the packed calendar.

The “Love Damini” Burna Boy concert at the National Stadium on December 18, Sting on December 26 at Grizzly’s Plantation in St. Ann and Intimate, starring Beres Hammond and Buju Banton on January 1, also at Grizzly’s.

All three events suffered terribly from logistical problems, some due to very poor technical planning and execution while others pointed squarely to Jamaica’s state of unreadiness for hosting such large entertainment events.

Of the three events, intimate was the hands down winner, It reflected whatever ember of hope there is for the live entertainment scene in Jamaica. It also buffered hopes for more aggressive marketing of the country as a live events destination.

Whatever Intimate lacked in logistics it overcompensated for in quality, presentation and entertainment value. From the stage, it was an above-par demonstration of what a one-night, star-studded show should be. The sound reinforcements, lighting and graphics design and stage management were spectacular.

The quality of the performances left the more-discerning Jamaican audience fully satisfied

It was classic Beres Hammond, mature but fierce Buju Banton and reflective and contemplative Marcia Griffiths. Tarrus Riley was his usual entertaining self while L.U.S.T. blew some complex and thrilling harmonies throughout their set. That group of singers is very important to reggae music’s future so they can’t afford to perform ordinary sets. All the members, Lukie D, Thriller U, Tony Curtis and Singing Melody are among Jamaica’s top vocalists so it is not unreasonable to expect that they should have been farther ahead than they are now. They need creative direction so they can put out more good quality original music. They urgently need a well-produced album worthy of Grammy consideration.

Beres Hammond had been on a roll throughout 2022 with a hugely successful North American tour and he began 2023 on the same trajectory. It would be reasonable to expect that an artiste with his magnetism may sometimes suffer from self-assuredness and complacency, but it was evident from the set that he went back to the drawing board with his band and crated a perfectly arranged set for the big performance.

Punctuated by a bellowing three-piece horn section, the Harmony House band offered some refreshing interpretations of the classic rhythms that laid the foundation for his stellar career.  For reggae music lovers the world over, that is the standard to be expected if the music is to grow and reclaim much of its ceded international acclaim.

It made one proud to be Jamaican just listening to the artistry of a perfect blend of talent and experience. It will take some effort to better that performance any time soon.

Of course, it is always magic whenever Buju Banton and Beres Hammond share a stage. The patrons got exactly what they shelled out big bucks for and perhaps even a bit more. Usually, over the years, one artiste does a cameo during the other’s performance. But this was a coordinated appearance worked out to the finest detail that ensured a seamless transition from one to the other on several occasions. So tight was the planning that many in the audience failed to realise that there was a band change between both sets. We need to see much more of that at Jamaican live events. Longsuffering patrons could do well with a reprieve in that area.

There is no question that every show promoter has good business intentions and wants to present the best circumstances and product for their paying patrons. But despite their best efforts they are often addled by things that are beyond their control. Things like the poor enabling environment and infrastructure required to get patrons to and from a venue with reasonable ease.

Wherever you go in the world there will be challenges with traffic for major events like those we saw over the season. But sitting in traffic for upwards of four hours to get into a venue, as was the case at Intimate, is a stretch too far.

Grizzly’s Plantation Cove is a world class entertainment venue; it is just geographically afflicted because of its proximity to the North Coast Highway which channels traffic between the east and west of the island. The people who live at Richmond and other communities in the vicinity of the showground must have had their fill by now with the inconvenience brought to bear when major events are held there. They can neither get to nor leave their homes in a timely manner and that must be a frightening thought when considering medical and other emergencies.

Grizzly’s is necessary, as is Catherine Hall in Montego Bay, Jamworld in Portmore and other select spots around the island for the full development of a live entertainment industry.

The Prime Minister and the Minister of Culture and Entertainment seem to be present at all of the major shows but with their police escorts  and fast-tracking they don’t suffer the challenges of regular patrons. But surely they would have been hearing the cries of the promoters and the attendees that much needs to be done to improve the infrastructure and logistics frameworks.

The shabbily handled matter of the introduction of Entertainment Zones needs to be brought into focus. This has been used as political spiel by both administrations and their efforts to date suggest that the time has come for it to move into private sector hands so that the country will see tangible results in the shortest order. The Minister of Tourism should triumph this if he wants to have a saleable live entertainment industry to market.

Jamaica has to transition to the point where we not only promote big reggae concerts but we can entice our neighbours to the North to include the island as a leg on their tours, so tourists can have a fulsome experience.

It is not insurmountable, it simply requires sharper minds and more targeted thinking.

With Rebel Salute the next big ticket item, promoter Tony Rebel must be ripping out his dreads to see how he can avoid a repeat of the traffic kerfuffle at Intimate. A repeat might prove to be just too much for patrons.

The Burna Boy concert was a flash of the moment production with very little lead time between announcement and execution. Hence the difficulties experienced might have been expected.

The National Stadium has proven to be many a production company’s graveyard as it is very difficult to treat acoustically. Whether it was a case of equipment misfiring on the night or less than rigorous testing, what ensued throughout the night was simply unacceptable. Patrons paid big bucks to see that show and it must have been frustrating for the audience which was largely comprised of younger people.

The Grand Stand was particularly badly affected and the crowd kept chanting “We Can’t Hear” throughout the night.

Of course, it was to Popcaan’s chagrin that his grand entrance went out like a damp squib because of the technical issues. He later unfortunately claimed he was sabotaged but there can hardly be any logic in a promoter undermining their own show.

Burna Boy demonstrated why he is top draw in the world as he persevered through the difficulties to complete a high-energy, professional set.

Solid Agency deserves a shellacking for the fiasco. They are one of the oldest entertainment agencies in Jamaica and much better is to be expected of them. They properly apologized to the public but they must go forth knowing there is no room for a repeat.

The third major event of the season, Sting, made a return after a six-year hiatus. Many are now saying Sting should have remained on leave. The overall turn of events was simply embarrassing and did further damage to dancehall’s flapping reputation. Isaiah Laing is a veteran promoter who some would say has given equal measures of good and bad to the industry over his decades-long career. Sting has provided the platform for the unearthing of the most young talent in Jamaica but over the years the show has been mired in violence, shenanigans and controversies that have now outlived their time. If he has any chance of reviving the brand, he needs to clear house of some of his dinosaurs and engage professional talents to present what could still be a very attractive and lucrative event by virtue of the difference it offers to the entertainment calendar.

Jamaica, like many developing countries has a long way to go in getting the entertainment industry right. A good place to start would be to examine how the Entertainment Advisory Boardl is appointed. It seems there needs to be a more devolved process that will factor in a wider range of considerations and personalities. At the moment it is very top heavy and hardly reflective of the wide spectrum of professionals who operate in the trade.

The government must have been pleased with the volume of activities during the season as its coffers would have benefitted greatly from the influx of visitors and taxation from increased spending. It should be a reminder that the time has come for proper integration of the entertainment sector into the country’s economic core

So, the entertainment bar for 2023 was set with Intimate. Here’s hoping that other promoters will apply the diligence necessary and maintain the standard throughout the year and beyond.