Buju Banton finally takes to the stage at Grizzly’s Entertainment Complex in St. Ann on January 1 to show why live performances are rewarding again. Alongside Beres Hammond, the one night event dubbed Intimate marks Banton’s return to the live music scene after a two year hiatus.
Intimate is not alone, – between December 2022 and January 2023 the venue will house three marquee events, which is a lot of appearances for the few crowd pullers in Jamaica. The return of Sting on Boxing Night (December 26) will showcase talent for a younger set of concert goers and Rebel Salute which is also returning after a 2 year break, promises an immersive two night experience on January 20 and 21 according to Tony Rebel.
Beres, who didn’t show up for the launch of Intimate at the newly opened ROK Hotel Downtown Kingston is currently on tour across the US and the Caribbean. He however sent a message that he is looking forward to seeing his fans at the event.
As concerts are now back in demand in Jamaica, ticket prices have settled somewhere between US$100 and US$300. Devoted fans will pay top dollar to be ‘Intimate’ with Beres and Buju and Grizzly’s seem like the chosen profitable weekend home for the acts. “Togetherness in a sense of people who share common values as it relates to music in a wholesome way,” Banton explains at a post launch press conference.
The deejay who seems much happier than he was a year ago when he ranted on his instagram that “Music nah sell”, says Intimate is more than a one off event, it is the launch of what will be an annual festival.
“This is a concert that aims to be bigger, this is only our inception, we want to bring a festival in Jamaica, an annual festival that encapsulates some really interesting people that my people in Jamaica are not used to seeing perform,” The Grammy winner said.
“I do think we have something great to present locally but it’s just not appreciated like it should be and I am a big supporter of all things Jamaican,” he continued.
“It shall be a different event,” he says of the New Year’s Day event.
Banton’s last major hit was 2006 Driva from his Too Bad album. In 2010 he was convicted of a drug offense and spent 8 years at McRae Correctional Institution. Upon his return he staged the historic “Long Walk To Freedom” concert with record audience numbers at the National Stadium in Kingston. He then went on a stadium tour for most of 2019 in the Caribbean, parts of Europe and Africa.
His last project was the Island Records/Roc Nation release Upside Down 2020 which debuted at number 2 on the Reggae Billboard Chart after combined streaming and sales of over 2900 units, according to Nielsen/MRC Data.
The Stamina Daddy artist says he has been paying keen attention to the music industry and for the most part he is unimpressed with the longevity of the music that he has heard recently.
“Since I have been home I have heard so many songs but where are they now? I don’t even remember them and it wasn’t like that. Music is the only thing that is not supposed to die so when we come to a point where the music is dying you have to really evaluate what you are doing.”
Watch Buju Banton’s speech at the launch of Intimate below
