The extremely popular Startime vintage concert series will make its highly-anticipated return to the parish of Clarendon at the Juici Patties Verandah on Saturday July 2. The 27 year old series returns to Clarendon for the first time since 2000, courtesy of promoters Michael Barnett and Charles Simms, Juici Patties and the Verandah in association with Kool 97FM, Jamaica Observer, Sparkles Production, Singer, TVJ, Seals & Engravables, Irie FM, On Stage TV, CPTC, Christar Villas Hotel, A & E Ambulance, Kingston Hireage, Happy Ice, Interlinc Communications – host of the startime.com.jm website, Securipro and Knutsford Express.
Startime is still something of a phenomenon in Jamaica’s music history, in that it grew from a small after-work event in the Old Spanish Town Bar at the now defunct Oceana Hotel downtown Kingston (beginning June 1988), into a massive, internationally reknowned concert which has outgrown several venues.
Michael Barnett is very happy to be presenting the event on the Reggae Day weekend (July 1), as a tribute to Jamaica’s 52 anniversary of the birth of Rock Steady, considered Jamaica’s most creative music era since 1960. “A number of the vintage artists who helped to create the rock steady genre like Marcia Griffiths, Freddie McGregor, Leroy “Heptones” Sibbles, Errol Dunkley, Derrick Morgan, the Clarendonians and Lloyd Parks are fittingly on the Startime line up, to recreate the sound and the vibes; and the Startime massive will once again get the opportunity to turn back the clock to arguably one of the best times musically in Jamaica,” Barnett explained. The Startime line up is completed by 70s reggae superstars Johnny Clarke, Horace Andy, the Mighty Diamonds and DJ Dillinger plus 80s giant Frankie Paul all backed by the Startime Orchestra – Lloyd Parks & We The People.
Charles Simms is ecstatic about Startime’s visit to Clarendon at this time, as he said there has been numerous requests from fans around Jamaica to take the show on the road, and Clarendon right now is the most appropriate location, considering the parish’s great music tradition – being the birthplace of the likes of Startime stars Freddie McGregor, Derrick Morgan, Peter Austin and Ernest Wilson of the Clarendonians; along with Millie Small, Toots Hibbert, Barrington Levy and Coco Tea who readily come to mind; plus the fact that it is basically in the middle of Jamaica, easily accessible to all, what with the new highways and Knutsford Express who will be shuttling patrons from all their locations.
“We are taking it to Clarendon for the very same reason it was started …. keeping our musical heritage alive, and the demand of patrons everywhere who can’t seem to get enough of Jamaica’s foundation music stars. I can hardly walk the street without someone asking me where next?” said Simms.
“We also want to thank the Juici Patties family who shared our vision of bringing top quality entertainment to central Jamaica …. and here we are !!” he continued.
Since its inception in 1988 Startime has been staged across several venues and parishes in Jamaica including St. James, St. Ann, Kingston, Clarendon, Manchester, St. Elizabeth and Westmoreland; has been on a 17 city European tour in 2005, and has enjoyed performances from Jamaica’s best, and international artistes such as Dorothy Moore, the Persuaders, Tavares and Gene Chandler.
Remember Startime fans, if you don’t wish to drive to and from Clarendon Park, you can take the comfortable Startime Knutsford Express shuttle to the Verandah from any Knutsford Express location across Jamaica –
Montego Bay, Falmouth, Ocho Rios, Kingston, Mandeville, Luana, Gutters, Savlamar and Negril. Just call Knutsford Express at 971-1822, book your trip and your Startime ticket early …. and leave the driving to Knutsford Express.
If you prefer to drive then you can purchase your ticket(s) at any of the 62 Juici Patties Restaurants across Jamaica; in Mandeville at Manchester Golf Club; in Kingston at Kool 97FM, Mary Brown’s Corner Texaco Grab ‘N’ Go, Derrick Harriott Twin Gates Plaza, Devon Bourne’s Rubis HWT and in Portmore at Portmore Mall Pharmacy.
Website : startime.com.jm
Facebook : The Original Startime Vintage Series
Contact : Michael Barnett – 845-9024 / 544-3324
Charles Simms – 564-7720
