A number of artiste and patrons are calling for a major concert to be boycotted because of the promoter’s “disrespectful” comments towards the local entertainment fraternity.
However, producer of Rise Barbados, Orlando Newton says his comments were misinterpreted and dismisses claims that he was “anti-Bajan” as “grossly false”.
Earlier yesterday, president of the Barbados Association of Creatives and Artists (BACA) Sean Apache Carter joined the voices of entertainers who spoke out against Newton’s initial statement made last Wednesday during Rise’s media launch at Kensington Oval.
“The statements that were made were very unfortunate and they’re disrespectful to the calibre of artistes that we have. There are guys who take their craft extremely seriously and they are very professional. You have Mikey, Marzville, Hypasounds . . . . These are guys that tour the world, and even before this generation, we had guys like Edwin Yearwood, Mr Blood, Alison Hinds and Square One who represented Barbados all over the world on some of the largest stages.
“So, I am in full solidarity with the artistes and if the clip that we saw is accurate and within the right context, I would fully agree with a boycott of the show as well,” Carter told the DAILY NATION.
Regional acts such as Trinidadian entertainers Kes The Band, Patrice Roberts, Lady Lava, Full Blown, Vincentian Skinny Fabulous
and 2025 Ultimate Soca champion Blaka Dan, who is a Grenadian, are scheduled to perform at the July 30 show.
Barbados’ Cultural Ambassador Alison Hinds and Tionne Hernandez are also set to perform.
A clip of Newton explaining why so many foreign artistes were on the ticket was widely circulated over the weekend.
“The reason why we may not have an entourage of local artistes is because we try to get the best, because we are looking at a stage that is a 40-foot stage; 40 by 40 most times and you have to be able to perform on it. That is the reason we added Lady Lava,” he said.
He, however, stated they were looking to add another local artiste to the line-up.
“We are still looking out for one more person and we are probably either going to come to you Barbados to actually vote for that person to be on Rise. If you don’t give us that information, we actually will travel to all the Sweet Limes, all the events,” he said.
After the public criticisms, Nouvelle Vie, the production company of Rise, issued a statement last night. “It is unfortunate that my comments were misconstrued.
My reference to the 40-foot by 40-foot stage was never a suggestion that Bajan artistes are unfit for it. Rather, it was posed as a challenge: Who will be the next emerging Barbadian act to command that stage, following the powerful rise of talents like Barbados’ Tionne Hernandez last year and Lady Lava in her own sphere,” Newton said in the statement. “It was a call to the audience and the wider public – who is the next big Barbadian act? I regret the confusion caused by an edited sound bite, but that challenge still stands.”
The release listed the numerous local acts that performed on the stage
since Rise’s inception in 2017, and spoke about their charitable efforts and work with university and college students.
It also noted that I Am Woman which they co-produced along with Patrice Roberts in May featured numerous local acts. Meanwhile, Carter suggested that booking local artistes on that type of stage should not be an afterthought. “I think that legislation can be passed where if it’s a certain type of show, then you as a promoter, you are legally bound to have a certain amount of local acts on the show,” he said. He also pointed out that there were many local shows headlined by local acts that still attracted large crowds. “There are guys that take their craft seriously. They invest time and money to step up their game and based on the resounding success of Mikey’s Reunion show, the first year was a success and last year it was sold out even before the day of the event.
“So if a promoter is going to say to me they need to bring in Trinidadian artistes, Vincy artistes or anyone else to get the Bajan public to come out, Mikey has proven that is not the case,” he added.
Following the press conference, several Barbadians, including artistes, were vocal on social media about Newton’s comments, with some calling for a boycott.
Former Sweet Soca Monarch and International Groovy Soca Monarch Geoffrey Biggie Irie Cordle was one of the artistes voicing his concerns.
“I was blown away when I heard his comments. I don’t think an apology would do anything. If he was sorry he would have apologised already,” he noted.
Biggie Irie said while they were an insult to veterans, who have performed on large stages, he questioned what type of impact those words could have on younger artistes.
“I have performed on stages all over the world that are bigger than 40 feet. I was on a stage in Trinidad as big as Bridgetown. Red Plastic Bag, Peter Ram, TC performed on the stage at Party Monarch at East Coast Road.
“And what does that say to Grateful Co, Bit Bit, Raanan and all of these young artistes coming up? It’s a slap in the face and it’s an insult to the artistes in Barbados,” he said.
He urged Barbadian artistes to unite. “I think the artistes in Barbados need to unite and send a strong message not only to that promoter, but to all other promoters that they can’t say things like that which are not true.” (TG)
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