Entertainers Against Crime and Violence this Sunday
Published:Wednesday | November 30, 2016 | 12:00 AMOkoye Henry
Jamaican entertainers across the island are hoping to ignite the fire of peace within the crime-riddled parish of St James, through the staging of a major humanitarian concert this weekend.
The inaugural concert, dubbed Entertainers Against Crime and Violence, is slated to be held this Sunday, December 4, at the Dump Up Beach in Montego Bay, with an invasion of over 50 reggae and dancehall entertainers to perform. It is to be scheduled to start at 3 p.m. and is a free concert for the entire family.
Musician and producer, Mackie Conscious, one of the core organisers of the event, told The Gleaner that everything is ready for the event.
The entertainer hopes the musical message will exert some level of positive influence over the people of the parish, which has so far, recorded more than 200 murders in 2016.
"Montego Bay is really going wayward as it relates to crime and violence. We, the entertainers, are prepared to stand up to this plague and say we are tired of it," Mackie Conscious explained.
INDUSTRY CRIPPLED
"Crime and violence is crippling not just society, but also the entertainment industry, because permits are not being issued and people are afraid to go out. So at the end of the day, we (entertainers) don't have anywhere to work. The crime is affecting everybody," he added.
Among the entertainers confirmed for the concert are Freddie McGregor, Everton Blender, Mutabaruka, Tony Rebel, Queen Ifrica, Nesbeth, Spice, Bushman, Mackie Conscious, Taddy P, I Wayne, Hezron, Nature Ellis, Persons of Interest, Live Wyya, Bung Guh Lung, Lt Stitchie and Paul Blake.
In addition, some 25 artistes from the Second City, such as songbird Karen Smith and King Chavez, will also be performing as a show of solidarity.
"Music is such a wonderful language that it can influence you to do good or bad, hence, we feel that if you can be influenced negatively, then you can also be influenced positively. So we come now with a set of positive music and upliftment, which we can use to see if we can make a difference in Jamaica," Mackie Conscious outlined.
He, along with Mark Clarke, Conroy Walker of the Persons of Interest band, Carl Edwards of Live Wyya, and George Thomas of the Bung Guh Lhung band, make up the core of the production team for the event.