Bermuda Music Festival 2009

 
 
The 14th annual Bermuda Music Festival, 2009 will take place from October 29 - 31. American music legend Quincy Jones will host and perform in this year’s music festival along with R&B singer Ne Yo. The 76-year-old icon Quincy Jones is famous as the man behind Michael Jackson's record-breaking album - 'Thriller'. 
 
Bermuda Music Festival, 2009 is sponsored by Fairmont Hotel and Resorts. Like last year, Gibraltar Promotions and Yoshi Productions LTD will be the main organizers. Previous year’s opening night took place at the Fairmont Southampton Beach Club and thereafter at Bermuda’s National Sports Center.  
 
But this year, the Tourism Minister Ewart Brown told that to cut the concert cost, the Bermuda Music Festival will be moving back to the Dockyard from the National Sports Center. 
 
It will be held at the Maritime Museum's 4,200 capacity Keep Yard and all three evenings would feature a "Bermuda-style" special tribute to late Michael Jackson. 
 
Last year in 2008 Bermuda Music Festival, we saw the performances of The Whispers, Solange, Lyfe Jennings, Beyonce, Collie Buddz, Ub40, Aaron Neville and Alicia Keys. 
 
The 2009 Music Festival will be rocking with the Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter, record producer and actor, Ne-Yo. This year, the festival executive producer Rock Newman of Gibraltar Promotions has been predicting that about 2,000 foreign visitors would come to the Island for the three-day musical program compared to 1,500 visitors last year.  
 
Quincy Jones has traced the African roots of music, including samba, bossa nova, salsa, jazz, hip hop and the blues. He is very excited about coming to Bermuda. 
 
 
 

Opening night of 2009 Bermuda Music Festival

 
 
The opening night Thursday concert will feature R&B sensation, two-time Grammy nominee, an American pop and actor and occasional rapper NE-YO. He is famous for hits such as 'So Sick' and 'Miss Independent'. 
 
Ne-Yo was born on October 18th, 1982 and this is his stage name (original Shaffer Chimere Smith). In 2006, Ne-Yo released his debut album, In My Own Words, and found great success. His  single "So Sick" reached the number one position on Billboard's Hot 100 chart.  
 
Ne-Yo also became famous as a writer in 2006, with writing for Rihanna's top ten single "Unfaithful" on her album A Girl Like Me and for Beyonce's number-one hit single "Irreplacable" on her album B-Day
 
He also has written songs for Enrique Iglesias, Chris Brown, Whitney Houston, Corbin Bleu, Celine Dion, Britney Spears and Mary J. Blige. Ne-Yo started his film career with roles in Save The Last Dance in 2006, Stomp The Yard in 2007 and his upcoming role in the film 4Chosen. 
 

Second night of 2009 Bermuda Music Festival

 
 
On the second night, Friday two rare performances by music legend Quincy Jones. He will be conducting orchestra of multi-national talents together with a number of his recording artists (Friends). 
 

Third night of 2009 Bermuda Music Festival

 
 
Saturday, on the third night Quincy JonesFriends will headline the concerts of the Bermuda Music Festival, 2009.  
 
Quincy Jones is the Musician, Composer, Producer, Arranger, Conductor and Instrumentalist. He is often referred to as Q. In his 50 years music career, he has not only made immense contribution as a singer, but he has also been a popular TV producer, magazine founder and multi-media entrepreneur. 
 
The all-time most nominated Grammy artist with a total of 79 nominations and 27 Grammy Awards, Quincy is a master inventor of musical hybrids. He has shuffled pop, soul, hip-hop, jazz, classical, African and Brazilian music into many dazzling fusions. 
 
He will be given the first African Diaspora Lifetime Achievement Award at this year's festival. He is one of the six most influential Jazz artists of the 20th Century according to Times Magazine. 
 

2009 Bermuda Music Festival Ticket information

 
 
Tickets are available over the Internet at www.bermudamusicfestival.com, www.bdatix.bm or at www.gotobermuda.co.uk.  Or you can call US and Canada toll free number 1-800-309-8497. There is an eight ticket limit per person, per performance. 
 

Tickets in Bermuda

 
 
Tickets are also available at The Keep Yard at Maritime Museum (Royal Naval Dockyard). Festival tickets will be available at the iStore at 46 Reid Street or Fabulous Fashions (formerly Picture Perfect) at Heron Bay Plaza.  
 
There are no general admissions and everyone who has tickets is a guaranteed seat. Ticket prices (all 3 days): Gold Seating $385.00 (Reserved Floor and Grandstand Seating). Silver Seating $260.00 (reserved grandstand seating). There are day tickets also available. A service fee of $8.00 per ticket and $13.00 per 3-day pass will be applied. 
 
The gate of the music festival venue will be open at 6 p.m. and the show will start from 7 p.m. for the all three festival nights. 
 

Related Articles

 
 
1) Check out Bermuda Music and Dance to know about music and dances that are now part of the island's cultural tradition.