Mr Vegas - File

Several artistes have had to rescheduled shows or pull out of Reggae Sumfest line-up altogether because of its date.

Reggae Sumfest will be held from July 19 to 25 in Catherine Hall, Montego Bay. This year, it will end on the last weekend of the month.

In 2005, it was held from July 17 to 23; from July 16 to 22 in 2006; July 16 to 22 in 2007; and July 13 to 19 last year. For all these years, the festival ended on the third weekend in the month.

Ray Alexander, Vegas' manager, said Vegas had to reschedule his European tour.

cannot change the date

"Sumfest normally fall on the third week of July, so we scheduled a tour for Europe right after Sumfest. But it (Sumfest) shifted to the fourth weekend and it interfered with the tour. We were trying to do everything possible because we wanted to do Sumfest," Alexander told THE WEEKEND STAR.

Adding, "Because of the contract he is in, he cannot change the date. Vegas wanted to do Sumfest because the last time he was on Sumfest, his health was not right and he couldn't do a very good performance."

While this is the case for Vegas, Tina Davis, coordinator for Reggae Sumfest, said: "We always announce the date for the following year at the end of every show. It's not that we changed the date on anybody. Our date has been set since last year and it has been posted on our website since September last year."

She said Beenie Man had to reschedule a few shows in Europe as well, while Beres Hammond was unavailable because he had an engagement elsewhere.

Earlier this week, THE STAR published a story, 'No Konshens For Sumfest', in which Konshens said he had to pull out of Reggae Sumfest because he had another show in Europe on dancehall night - July 24.

Lady Saw also had to reschedule shows in Europe to perform on Reggae Sumfest as one of the 'Digicel Dancehall Divas'. The other 'diva' is D'Angel. Lady Saw said she has tours for all of July and August.

She said arrangements were being made for her to fly back to Jamaica for Reggae Sumfest but she thought this would be too hectic for her.

"I pushed back some shows and took off some. I got a chance to work on Sumfest. The only problem I have is the time. Twenty minute for me is a joke. Twenty minutes is for amateurs, but I will definitely do a short, hot set," Lady Saw told THE WEEKEND STAR.

Beres Hammond -File

'Sumfest normally fall on the third week of July so we scheduled a tour for Europe right after Sumfest. But it (Sumfest) shifted to the fourth weekend and it interfered with the tour. We were trying to do everything possible because we wanted to do Sumfest.'