Copeland Forbes laments cancellation of reggae shows around the world

Copeland Forbes, artist manager, author and music historian, deplores a multitude of cancellations of major reggae festivals around the world.

In a Facebook In an article published on Tuesday, Forbes raised concerns that cancellations of usually busy festivals are ironically also happening in Jamaica.

“Reggae concerts and festivals are canceled everywhere, even in its native country, Jamaica. After a failed and failed return from the big Sachie (Sashi) concert in Jamaica with the no-show of two major artists like Keyshia Cole and Busta Rhymes,” the message begins.

He then listed the shutdown of other popular concerts across the island and around the world, comparing it to a domino effect. “Then, just over two weeks, another proposed festival, ‘Reggae Jam’, a must-see event in Europe for many years, canceled three days before the planned opening date, June 14, 2024, of its premiere representation in Trelawny, Jamaica.”

On June 12, Reggae Jam organizers announced that the event had been postponed until December 2024 due to “adverse weather conditions in the park,” according to Reggaeville.

“Less than a week after the cancellation of ‘Reggae Jam’ in Trelawny, Jamaica, another major reggae festival, the ‘Sierra Nevada World Music festival,’ a festival concept created by my good friend the late Warren Smith, announced its cancellation due to low numbers of pre-sold tickets for the June 21 start of a 3-day event with one of the strongest queues.