Punch Fest 2016 - A New Platform For Rising Stars
Published:Thursday | March 17, 2016 | 12:00 AMDave Rodney
Punch Fest 2016 is a first time event on the Jamaican Easter calendar. It's not only a reggae extravaganza that will feature an icon, but the event will also be a live performance platform for a kaleidoscope of reggae's rising stars. Punch Fest takes place on Saturday, March 26 at the V Club in Independence City, Portmore.
This year's inaugural featured icon is reggae's hit machine Sizzla Kalonji, who is currently enjoying success on Billboard Magazine's Top Reggae Albums chart, with his critically acclaimed album, 876. Sizzla brings to the table an impressive catalogue of hit singles and albums, and his output of nearly six dozen albums is considered prodigious by even the most seasoned industry insiders and producers. At Punch Fest, Sizzla will perform his classic hit songs alongside newer cuts from the 876 album.
reggae rising
On the main stage will be a carefully hand-picked lineup of reggae rising stars from both Jamaica and the United States. The lineup includes Jade, an extraordinarily talented female artist from Old Harbour, St Catherine, who was recently signed to Punch This Records in New York. United States-based reggae sensation Dadre, flies in for the show, and others billed to perform are Tiana, Lavish, I Vision, Jarie, Fire Ash, D Medz, Rapper Slo Mo, Alien, Dilligence, Diamond Chip, Kritixx and Emmanuel Stain. Many of the performing talent are from all across the island, not just from the Kingston metro area.
"Jamaica and the Jamaican Diaspora is like an organic fresh farm for reggae talent, and I wanted to create an event where I could present a current legend alongside the next generation of stars", Nikimo Palache, founder of Punch Fest told The Gleaner. "There is just too much awesome talent out there that never gets seen nor heard due to all kinds of issues, so I wanted to create an entertaining performance opportunity for the best of this new talent," he continued.
Palache, is credited for being one of the producers who first discovered the talent of Gully Bop and he is also the president of the New York-based label Punch This Records. Gates for the event open at 8 p.m., and show time is 10 p.m.