The Apollo Series, the open stage and artist showcase which has made its mark on Kingston’s live music scene over the past two years, has now partnered with the Jamaica Music Conference (JMC), which seeks to connect music professionals. The JMC team will be present at The Apollo Series on February 8 at The Haven to interact with artistes while the conference, which takes place February 13 – 16, will feature The Apollo Showcase on its opening night at Dub Garden, 10A West King’s House Road, Kingston 10.
The Apollo Showcase will serve as a welcome of sorts for JMC’s special guest of honour, DJ Kool Herc, the Jamaica-born man credited as Hip Hop’s forefather. In appropriate fashion, The Apollo Series has curated a 30-minute showcase that will highlight some of the best local Hip Hop talent to have graced its stage. Five Steez, The Sickest Drama and Inztinkz of the Kingston and New York-based collective The Council is slated to appear, with a feature from Dizzy the Ill One.
“We see the JMC as an essential forum, filling the gap of formal knowledge sharing in the country’s music landscape,” says organiser of The Apollo Series and head of A.C.T.I.O.N. Jamaica, Simon the Writer. “We feel there is a perfect synergy between our two events and this is further strengthened by the proximity in our dates and our mutual affiliation with Reggae Month.”
Simon the Writer said when presented with the opportunity to curate a showcase, The Apollo Series team could not pass up on the opportunity. “We feature all kinds of talent on our platform and that includes local Hip Hop artistes, so it was a no-brainer for us to present a set suitable for a guest of honour such as DJ Kool Herc.”
JMC Chief Executive Officer Kwasi Bonsu says, “We’re elated to have The Apollo Showcase as a part of our conference. They have been doing a lot of groundwork in exposing artistes and I know they will have a strong and unique presentation for our audience.”
The Apollo Showcase is scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. after the official welcome event on Thursday, February 13. The conference, which will continue through to Saturday at the Courtleigh Hotel, will feature other showcases, panels and events geared towards sharing best practices in the music industry. The JMC closes on Sunday, February 16, with the Itopia Life Beach Day at Wickie Wackie Beach.
