It’s hard to believe that the last Capella Festival was staged nearly five years ago in December 2017.
That event was hosted by American TV personality Big Tigger, with musical performers such as Jeremih and Beres Hammond keeping the crowd entertained.
Now, a few years later, organisers are clearly making up for lost time. Capella 2022, scheduled for Saturday, 16 July from noon to 11:45pm at Festival Green, is going to be a much larger affair. A packed show is planned, featuring a roster of award-winning stars. Charli XCX, Michael Bolton, Wyclef Jean, Maxi Priest and Beres Hammond are booked to perform on the main stage, with local bands and DJs scheduled throughout the event at the Supernova Sound Tent.
For this new instalment of the festival, Bold Entertainment has partnered with Monster Media to produce the show and the Dart organisation is the venue partner.
“We’re delighted to welcome Capella back to the Festival Green and provide a space for residents and visitors to gather and enjoy world-class entertainment in the heart of Camana Bay,” said Justin Howe, president of Real Estate Asset Management, Dart, in a press release.
Kenny Rankin of Monster Media stated, “We are excited about this partnership to help produce the Capella Music festival. … It is the goal of all parties to work towards growing the festival and making it an annual event for the island and international guests to enjoy.”
Charli XCX
British pop star Charli XCX is known for her catalogue of hits, faultless synchronised dancing, and seamless costume changes. No stranger to the charts, ‘I Love It’ was her number one single with Icona Pop, along with top 10 hits ‘Boom Clap’ and ‘Doing It’, featuring Rita Ora. Charli has also co-written hit songs for other musical artists. She is currently on her ‘Crash’ tour through North America and Europe, and will be performing at Lollapalooza at the end of July, as well as other global music festivals through the end of September.
Michael Bolton
Michael Bolton’s voice is instantly recognisable, and he has endured through the years, putting his unique stamp on multiple hits. He has sold more than 65 million records worldwide, including such numbers as ‘How Am I Supposed to Live Without You’, ‘Soul Provider’ and ‘How Can We Be Lovers’, and has won two Grammys for Best Pop Male Vocal Performance, with four nominations. Among other honours, he also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
This will actually be Bolton’s second time performing in the Cayman Islands, as he headlined Jazz Fest in 2008.
Wyclef Jean
Three-time Grammy Award-winner and Golden Globe nominee, Wyclef Jean, will be performing for the first time in Cayman on the Capella stage. A founding member of legendary hip-hop band The Fugees, alongside Lauryn Hill and Pras Michael, he has since released eight albums as a solo artist that have sold nearly nine million copies worldwide. He also released the commercially-successful singles ‘911’ featuring Mary J. Blige and ‘Sweetest Girl’ featuring Akon, Niia and Lil Wayne; featured on Destiny Child’s ‘No, No, No’ and the US Billboard Hot 100 number one single ‘Hips Don’t Lie’ by Shakira; and wrote and produced the single ‘Maria Maria’ by Santana.
Maxi Priest
An international artist well familiar to local audiences, Maxi Priest is one of the most successful reggae fusion acts of all time. He released his first major album was in 1988, along with his cover of Cat Stevens’ ‘Wild World’, establishing him as one of the top British reggae singers. He is one of only two British reggae acts, along with UB40 to have an American Billboard number one with ‘Close to You’ in 1990. He has performed in Cayman many times, and always draws a large crowd.
Beres Hammond
One of Jamaica’s greatest singer/songwriters, Beres Hammond is best known for his reggae and lovers-rock music. Recording hits since the late ‘70s, Hammond recorded five albums in the 1990s as well as several compilations. His first album of the millennium was 2001’s ‘Music Is Life’, which featured an appearance by Wyclef Jean and contributions from Earl ‘Chinna’ Smith and Flourgon. The album spawned several big numbers, including ‘They Gonna Talk’, ‘Rockaway’, and ‘Ain’t It Good To Know’. In 2012, he released the album ‘One Love, One Life’, which topped the Billboard Reggae Albums chart and was nominated for a Grammy Award. Long-time residents of Cayman will remember previous appearances of Hammond on the local stage, the last time being at the 2017 Capella Festival.
Ticket levels
There are three ticket level tiers available for the festival:
- General admission ($135): Includes access to the main viewing field, Supernova Sound Tent, activities and vendors.
- VIP ($475): Includes all general admission items plus priority queuing, stage-front access for premium viewing, inclusive drinks at the VIP bar, parking pass, VIP Bathrooms and shared VIP lounge area with lounge seating.
- Premium VIP ($875): Includes all VIP items plus premium priority queuing, access to exclusive raised platform viewing for an elevated experience, premium inclusive drinks, VIP parking pass, air-conditioned VIP bathrooms, premium air-conditioned VIP Lounge, exclusive bar, complimentary food offerings, sweet treats, fresh fruit and coconut water, and glam and pampering stations.
Capella Festival is happening on Festival Green, Camana Bay, on Saturday, 16 July from noon to 11:45pm. Tickets are on sale through the festival website at www.capellamusicfestival.com.
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