Reggae sumfest drops star-studded line-up

With the 32nd staging of Reggae Sumfest set to ignite Catherine Hall from July 13 to 19, the countdown has officially begun.

Dubbed 'The Greatest Reggae Show on Earth,' the festival previewed its upcoming celebration with a vibrant media launch on Wednesday at Iberostar Hotels and Resorts in Montego Bay, St James. Bringing together media practitioners, corporate sponsors, cultural stakeholders, and music insiders, the launch served as an energetic prelude to what promises to be a high-octane week of music, culture, and community -- transforming Montego Bay once again into Sumfest City.

"We're building something that can stand shoulder to shoulder with the biggest music festivals in the world," said Josef Bogdanovich, CEO of Downsound Entertainment, producers of Reggae Sumfest. "Coachella, Wireless, you name it. Sumfest is Jamaica's answer to global festival culture, and we've earned our place in that conversation by staying authentic and pushing boundaries year after year."

This year's line-up is already making international headlines, with Grammy-winning R&B superstar Toni Braxton set to grace the stage. She will be joined by a powerhouse cast of Jamaican hitmakers including Vybz Kartel, in his first Reggae Sumfest appearance since 2011, Masicka, Tarrus Riley, Protoje, Lila Ike, Tommy Lee Sparta and Skeng.

But the festival goes far beyond the stage. With seven days of curated events, the week will feature the annual Family Fun Day, the lively Street Dance, the signature All-White, the Blitz All-Black party, and the newly introduced Global Fete on July 17. All events will be held at the Catherine Hall Stadium, except for All-White, which will return to the scenic Pier 1, and the main festival nights, which will light up the Catherine Hall Entertainment Complex. Global Fete will spotlight the sounds of Afrobeats, hip hop, reggae, and dancehall, with performances from Ghana's Moliy, Trinidad's Yung Bredda, and Jamaica's Marcy Chin. The night also includes a sound clash showdown between Tony Matterhorn and 2024 clash champions Notorious Sound.

Donovan White, director of tourism, the Jamaica Tourist Board, emphasised the longstanding value and impact of the festival on Jamaica's global brand and tourism offerings.

"Our partnership with Sumfest is more than a partnership. It's 32 years, and when you get to that many years with a partnership, they become family. The Jamaica Tourist Board and Sumfest are one and the same. We are the brand custodians of Jamaica globally, and so our responsibility and remit is to ensure that we are always putting the best of Jamaica forward for travellers around the world to choose Jamaica as their destination of travel," he said.

"People travel for many reasons, and one of the reasons is of course, culture and entertainment. And there is no bigger culturally relevant event than Reggae Sumfest anywhere in this region - and probably anywhere in the world. Sumfest is more than a date on the calendar; it's our cultural North Star."

Sean Wallace, head of commerce at Red Stripe, the festival's official beer, said Reggae Sumfest isn't just about music, it's about movement.

"It's a heartbeat event and a cultural force. Just like Red Stripe, Sumfest is Jamaican to the core but loved around the world. That's why we continue to proudly support it," he said, adding that the event is a world-class festival that appeals to Jamaicans and non-Jamaicans alike.

"We still brew Red Stripe on Spanish Town Road for Jamaicans, but it's enjoyed globally, just like Sumfest. It's more than a concert. It's the spirit of the people, the heartbeat of a nation, and a platform for our superstars to shine."