Press
Revised Schedule for SummerFest 2006
Wednesday June 14, 2006
Simpson Bay, St. Maarten - The St. Maarten Festival Foundation announces a revised schedule for the St. Maarten / St. Martin SummerFest 2006, due to financial constraints this year and in an effort to maintain the credibility of the festival. “We have been doing substantial promotion throughout the United States on Urban Radio Network and through Dr. Bobby Jones’ Network, as well as throughout the Caribbean on radio and in magazines. To cancel the festival will definitely have a negative effect on St. Maarten as a tourist destination, and in order to avoid this we have decided to revise the schedule,” said President Mr. Clarence Derby. The Foundation has canceled two of the events, which are the Soca/Comedy Night and the Latin/Kompa Night which were to be held on July 21st, and 22nd respectively.
The new schedule is as follows. The Beer Fest will be held on July 21st in the vicinity of the Boardwalk, the Jazz & Wine Fest on July 22nd in Bellevue on the French Side, and the last three nights, the Reggae Night on July 28th, the R&B/HipHop Night on July 29th and the Gospel Night on July 30th, will all be held at the A.C. Wathey Cruise Facilities.
The President also stated that the Foundation has secured all of the artists with the exception of one major artist to complete its roster. Artists contracted are Strings originally from Haiti and based in Miami; Andy Narell the artist responsible for making steel pan popular in jazz music; Norman Brown a two time jazz Grammy award winning artist; Connis Vanterpool our own up and coming recording artist; Leverne Henry who is no stranger to us, singing jazz that is specialized in classical music; Dr. Bobby Jones, world renowned evangelist television and radio host; Kirk Franklin Grammy award winning gospel artist with his 26 member choir; Gyptian, well known for his number one hit “Serious Times;” Ne-Yo, the international song-writer-turned-artist with his new hit “So Sick;” Akon, whom St. Maarten has been waiting for for a long time, with his international number one hit song “Lonely;” as well as Youth Waves and a host of other young local artists.
The Foundation is asking everyone to support this Festival; in only three short years the St. Maarten/St. Martin SummerFest has already developed into a well known and well respected festival in the Caribbean, as is evidenced from the many hits they have received on their website, and the amount of emails they have received from around the world. “We have a unique product that can be developed into a first class Caribbean summer event. In order to do so it requires the support of everyone,” stated Mr. Derby. Tickets for the festival will be available the 1st of July.
