Cup Match fest could be annual

The Marley brothers, Machel Montano and a Tribute to the King of Pop — Michael Jackson could all be on the line-up for next year’s Cup Match Summer Splash if the event can successfully go ahead. 

The Bermuda Sun broke the news online yesterday that 441 Productions and Veterans in Action joined forces with City of Hamilton to introduce a new four-day festival in the run up to Cup Match. This year’s event will feature reggae veteran Beres Hammond, Collie Buddz’s band New Kingston and U2 tribute act Elevation (see bermudasun.bm). And organizers told us that if this year’s event goes well, they hope to make it an annual fixture in the Cup Match calendar with bigger and better acts.

Declan Harris of Veterans In Action told the Bermuda Sun: “We are working to get one of the top soca acts in the world — Machel Montano as well as the best of any reggae acts that are available and certainly those with a long history in reggae — Damien and Steven Marley.

“We would also aim to bring a tribute to the ‘King of Pop’ Michael Jackson, (future dancehall group) Major Lazer as well as a mid to top range R&B and/or hip hop act.”

This year’s festival will take place in Par-La-Ville Park with a break out event in Snorkel Park Beach, Dockyard. Par-La-Ville will be transformed into a full festival set up with main stage, concessions and VIP area.

Andrew Holmes of 441 Productions told us: “We would love to make this an annual event and it is very likely. City of Hamilton is thrilled to be able to welcome Cup Match in the City. It is a big deal for them. Cup Match is our big signature cultural event but it is always isolated to the East End or West End of the island so this way we can have a mutual territory to welcome in the event where everyone can get involved. Having the Friday night as a free event it is all about getting as many people as possible down there to support it. 

“The idea and the goal is really to expand the scope of Cup Match. We all know that Bermudians start partying the weekend before so this is warming up to that. We are not trying to interfere with the events that are already going on — Cup Match Eve is our last show. We are looking to build on it. The Department of Tourism has dubbed it the Cup Match Summer Splash that encompasses all these events — BeachFest, Reggae v Soca, The Non Mariners Race and then of course the Annual Cup Match
Classic.”

Cup Match Summer Splash 2013 line-up:

Friday July 26: (City of Hamilton Music Festival at Par-La-Ville-Park). Will feature the best of Bermudian talent in a variety of musical genres. 

This event will provide local performers the opportunity to shine in front of a large audience on a festival size stage with world class production. There would be an audition for the City Music Festival, providing an opportunity for all genres of music to try out for their chance to be a part of this epic event.”

Saturday July 27: (Rock’n De Rock at Par-La-Ville-Park). Features music from the Rock and Roll genre. Opening the evening will be Bermuda’s own the Kennel Boys, followed by Message in a Bottle with a tribute to The Police. The headliner will be Elevation, the international U2 tribute show, back to Bermuda by popular demand.

Sunday July 28: (Vibe 103 FM Beach BBQ at Snorkel Park Beach). The event will move to Snorkel Park Beach in Dockyard for a fun early evening BBQ. Headlining the Sunday event will be Soca DJ Back 2 Basics from Trinidad to complement the VIBE 103 family of DJs from Bermuda and overseas, mixing all genres of music.

Wednesday July 31: (Cup Match Eve’s One Love One Life concert at Par-La-Ville Park) is the main event. Local talent is none other than Uzimon. “Uzi” opened for Ziggy Marley in the 2010 music festival and most recently shared the stage with the stars at the Lennon Bermuda show.

Returning for Cup Match are the young veterans, New Kingston. Known for their work with Bermudian international reggae superstar Collie Buddz, New Kingston will bring their original style of pop, R&B and reggae. Beres Hammond, the festival headliner, is Jamaica’s legendary singer and a favourite reggae artist in Bermuda. Often referred to as the “King of Lovers Rock” and “Jamaica’s equivalent to Marvin Gaye”, Beres Hammond’s return to Bermuda, has been eagerly anticipated.

“Bermuda is one of my favorite places to visit and perform”, he has said.