GRAND TURK, Turks and Caicos Islands -The fifth annual Turks and Caicos Music and Cultural Festival (TCMCF), is set to take place July 28th through August 4th, will bring the some of the world’s most popular artists to the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI).
The annual Festival will electrify residents of the Turks and Caicos Islands and the thousands of visitors that come every year to be entertained by a world-class music and cultural event.
Honourable Wayne Garland, Executive Chairman of The Turks and Caicos Tourist Board, knows that when the world’s best artists are excited about performing live in the TCI, then it inures a spectacular event. “When you have international and legendary performers like Lionel Richie, LL Cool J and Anita Baker as part of this year’s lineup, then it only enhances our reputation as being the most fabulous destinations in the world.”
He then added that: “If TCI residents are excited by these artists, then I am confident that thousands of visitors to the Turks and Caicos Islands will be equally enthralled and will look to make their vacation travel plans around our Festival.”
The 2008 Music and Cultural Festival will expose the world to the unique culture and heritage of the Turks and Caicos Islands, and brings the panache of some of the world’s biggest musical stars to help promote cross-cultural experiences and makes the Festival the biggest and best special event in the TCI.
The 2008 lineup will be the best one ever as it brings together international superstars, top performers from TCI, and musical legends from across the Caribbean; thus insuring that there is something for everyone.
The line up of performers for the festival are as follows:
Lionel Richie
LL Cool J
Anita Baker
JT Taylor (Kool & The Gang’s Former Lead Singer)
Ne-Yo
Russell Thompkins & The New Stylistics
Lou Gramm
T-Pain
A Night of Comedy (Including Bruce Bruce, Rickey Smiley and Pale Face)
Each and every year the Tourist Board has worked hard to attract international superstars from a wide genre of music to come and perform at this year’s Festival. And, when you include the immense cultural schedule of events, including The 2008 Miss Turks and Caicos pageant, it becomes the must attend event of the year in Turks and Caicos and, perhaps more importantly, becomes the anchor event in promoting Turks and Caicos as the premiere destination for international travelers.
Ralph Higgs, Director of Tourism at the Turks and Caicos Tourist Board, is pleased with the diverse range of entertainers set to perform at this year’s festival. “When you mix musical legends like with the talents of today’s superstars, it further showcases the rich diversity of music and culture in our Festival, which, of course, corresponds to the tenets of our Music and Cultural Festival.”
“There is definitely something for everyone on every night, and we are projecting record numbers of attendance for this year’s festival,” said Mr. Higgs.
He went on to add that he impressed with the success of last year’s comedy night, which brought together comedians and storytellers from around the world to Providenciales; that became a new addition, differentiating the TCI festival from others in the region. “We know the TCI is unique and with the wide range of performers at the festival, then it further cements our brand positioning as a unique place to visit in the international marketplace,” surmised the Tourism Director.
Now in its 5th year, the Annual Music and Cultural Festival is seen as the largest and most popular entertainment event of the year in the TCI, the scheduled line up includes four nights of great live music and concerts, a boat regatta and cultural events that make it a week long series of events that is sure to please even the most discerning tastes.
For the second year in a row, this year’s festival is being produced by TurnKey Productions. Walter Elmore, the President of TurnKey productions, said: “I love the TCI! This is one of the world’s most stunning places to be and by bringing in musical superstars to experience the charm and beauty of the islands brings tremendous publicity and international attention for the country.”
Mr. Elmore disclosed that, “TurnKey Productions has produced some of the world’s biggest live music events in the world. It is obvious that the Turks and Caicos Music and Cultural Festival is now one of the top five Festivals in the entire world, and I am excited in producing a world-class event in a fabulous world-class destination”!
He also recognizes that this event could never be produced without a great partnership with a world-class tourist board that keeps everything running smoothly and helps to oversee all of the details. “To produce a great show, one that everyone enjoys and takes pride and ownership in, is the end result of working with a world-class Tourist Board,” noted Mr. Elmore.
The Annual Music and Cultural Festival, hosted by the Turks and Caicos Tourist Board, is staged in the stunning Turtle Cove Marina in Providenciales, as it provides a breath-taking backdrop for the event. Attracting well over 10,000 patrons to the festival, previous festivals has seen luminary artists perform such as Alicia Keys, John Legend, Kenny Rogers, Michael Bolton, T.I., Shaggy, Steel Pulse, Ludacris, Maxi Priest, Chaka Khan, Boyz II Men, Fantasia, and James Ingram to name a few.
