Golden year for Festival Song JCDC boss says he would not want to be a judge this year

Choosing a winner in this year’s Jamaica Festival Song Competition may be one of the toughest assignments in recent memory.

That is the view of Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) Executive Director Lenford Salmon, who believes this year’s competition features one of the strongest fields of finalists in decades, making it almost impossible to predict who will walk away with the title.

The remarkable depth of talent was on full display during the official Presentation Show over the weekend, where all nine finalists impressed patrons and officials alike. So high was the standard that Salmon admitted he was relieved not to be among those tasked with selecting the winner.

“I’ve been following the festival song from I was a child … and I do believe that this year is one of the years that we have the best crop of songs. I pity the judges because to choose a winner … they’re easily about six songs there in that lot that can easily win and nobody would complain,” Salmon told THE STAR.

The finalists represent a diverse cross-section of Jamaica’s entertainment industry. They include 2016 Digicel Rising Stars winner Elton Earlington; 77-year-old Brother C, last year’s runner-up; Ovando Levy of the award-winning sibling group Levy’s Heritage; and seasoned entertainer dBurnz, who recently completed a six-month run in the Bob Marley Hope Road production in Las Vegas.

Also competing for the coveted title is 22-year-old Trisstar, the 2023 Miss Hanover Festival Queen, who reached last year’s finals but was unable to perform at the grand finale.

Completing the lineup are Aba Jones, Latanya Song Bird Stamp, Christina ‘Lady Jazz’ Evans and Beverley ‘Bovia’ Henry.

This year’s competition is especially significant as it marks the 60th anniversary of the Jamaica Festival Song Competition. The winner will be crowned during the results show on July 25.

Salmon believes the competition has reached a level rarely seen in its history.

“I think it’s a first in a very long time that we find ourselves in such a good position. And the beauty about it as well is that it’s a diverse crop,” he said.

According to Salmon, the quality of this year’s entries is matched by the variety of performers and musical styles on offer.

“This year, we have elderly people, young people, middle-aged people …different kinds of music, reggae with a jazzy kind of sound, the mento sound is there … so it’s just wonderful,” he said.

Salmon noted, however, that the competition’s resurgence did not happen overnight. He recalled that several years ago the Festival Song Competition struggled with declining entry quality, but believes the tide began to turn when established entertainers threw their support behind it.

Reggae star Buju Banton captured the 2020 title with I Am A Jamaican. That same year, veterans Freddie McGregor, Toots and the Maytals, LUST and Papa Michigan also entered the competition.

“Buju decided that he’s going to make a contribution towards reviving it again. We had Toots Hibbert who entered … these are stalwarts … Toots won the first one 60 years ago. And for them to have entered, kind of sent a signal to other people ... ‘Hold on. If dem can enter…’ And that’s where the turn really happened.”

Salmon said that over the past five years, the JCDC has intensified its outreach efforts, travelling across the island to encourage more Jamaicans to submit entries.

“And it was just grown since then. The Festival Song Competition is back again! I’m proud to say that,” said Salmon, adding that it was “an honour” to be leading the organisation during the competition’s diamond anniversary.

Reflecting on his own journey with Jamaica’s national celebrations, Salmon said he feels privileged to have played key roles in two historic milestones.