To the delight of thousands of Buju Banton fans in Jamaica, and elsewhere, the entertainers much awaited first show since his release from a US correctional center earlier this montn will be held in Kingston, Jamaica on March 16, next year.
Upon his return to Jamaica, the Grammy Award entertainer albums began to soar in sales. Within 24 hours after of his return home he had 10 albums on the top 30 U.S, reggae itunes charts, held the #1 spot on the Reggae album itunes chart in U.S, U.K and various European countries as well as reached over half a million Instagram fans. To say the momentum for his return was ‘big’ may be an understatement, with many saying it was historic.
National Stadium, Kingston
The enthusiasm for Buju’s release and return fueled the anticipation for his first concert. On Wednesday Gargamel Music & Boom Energy in collaboration with Solid Agency and Rockers Island Entertainment announced they’ll present the concert billed as the ‘Long Walk to Freedom’ on Saturday, March 16 at the National Stadium in Kingston.
The concert will mark Buju’s first performance on his “Long Walk to Freedom Tour.” This will also mark the return of the Buju’s ‘Shiloh’ band, who for the past month have begun their rehearsals for the Jamaican concert and subsequent tour dates.
All Buju music being rehearsed
In a recent interview with Billboard Magazine’s Pat Meschino, Buju Banton’s keyboardist and musical director Stephen “Lenky” Marsden, who began working with Buju in 1995 said Buju told him to make sure he knows all his songs. “He told us to rehearse all of his albums, so we are working out the arrangements for every song he ever recorded. I know his sound from way back, so it’s really up to me to make sure the sound is right, mainly, that the grooves that the (new) drummer is playing are up to par,” Lenky said.
The Buju Banton Foundation
Another key component for Buju Banton on the “Long Walk to Freedom Tour” is to tie in each show with a local charity in each country he performs. Most recently, he has established his own charity in Jamaica, called Buju Banton Foundation, with a focus on helping at-risk youths in the country.
Part proceeds from the March 16th show in Jamaica will go to aide the efforts of his foundation and continue his contribution to assisting a younger generation.
Tickets for the Jamaican concert will go on sale January 16th via Buju Banton’s official website www.bujubanton.com. Over the next few weeks, the website, will begin to share all the “Long Walk to Freedom Tour” dates allowing fans to know how to purchase the tickets to their destination of choice.
| Not hearing from the entertainers for several days after his return he delighted fans worldwide with an Instagram post last week.
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