Smurf, GBEMAA President and MC for the event, Joe Fox, and Who Dat
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FREEPORT, Grand Bahama Island - On February 22nd, Jokers Wild was alive and buzzing as more than thirty performers took to the stage showcasing local talent to Tourism representatives as well as business owners in the community.
In a tradeshow style presenting to the buyer [business owner] the goods [entertainers] available in hopes of signing up and securing future long running gigs in establishments throughout the Island.
All of this was part of the current push to bring live entertainment back to Grand Bahama.
The Grand Bahama Island Tourism Board, along with the Grand Bahama Entertainers, Artists, Musicians, and Entertainers Association (GBEMAA) have formed a partnership in taking progressive steps to enhance the islands night life, something that has been requested by tourists ever since the Island’s entertainment turned to recorded music.
This first showcase, a now historic event, was extremely successful.
There was great interest from prospective buyers. The acts performed one after the other for 5 hours straight.
The crowd in the room were many times at there feet dancing or singing along to Rake’n’Scrape, Calypso, Jazz, Rhythm & Blues, Rap, Contemporary, and Gospel Music. Lord Congo’s drum rhythms as well as the Tropical Fever dancers were also featured. What was most exciting was the amount of younger entertainers who came out to be heard.
Some of the many acts [not all] that performed were
Panache, Foxxfire Too, Unity Movement, Willy Love, Mango, Steven Colebrook, Alexis, Dry Bread, Smurf and Who Dat, Dudley Caprone, Raquel Oliver, DaeDawn Charlton, Navan Jandablood, Trent Carter, Jahnyne,
The Hinchman,
Brother Hepb, Brother Harry, Straight up and Down recording groups, and the Stallion Family.
Futures plans are to present a showcase twice a year to encourage business owners to come out and see what talent is available, thus encouraging other acts to be seen and hired. The continued result of this benefit the entertainers [young, new, amateur, or seasoned], the residents of the island, and of course Tourism.
The G.B.E.M.A.A. would like to thank the Grand Bahamas Island Promotion board for their support and encouragement.
If you have an act hiding behind the scenes, you are encouraged to join the G.B.E.M.A.A. and become involved.
The G.B.E.M.A.A. can be reached by email at gbemaa@yahoo.com or by contacting President Joe Fox at 533-0326.
All photos by Ruis Gibson
