On Sunday, June 30 when lovers rock king Beres Hammond takes the stage at Groovin In the Park 2019 and sings, “This is no disrespect, but could you step aside now, another man wants to take over,” it will have new meaning. Hammond will become only the first Jamaican singer and only the second reggae artist in the event’s nine-year history to bring the curtain down before a crowd that could swell to 25,000 inside Roy Wilkins Park in Queens, New York.
Last year reggae superstar Damain ‘Junior Gong’ Marley brought the curtain down on the eight-hour concert with his reggae anthem ‘Welcome To Jamrock.’ The song proved an ecstatic climax to a molten-hot performance by the young Marley.
“Jr Gong was the very first reggae / dancehall artist to close the show. It is a big responsibility given that we have major, Grammy nominated, multi-platinum selling R&B superstars like Michael Bolton and Keyshia Cole set to perform this year but Beres will be given that special privilege this time” Chris Roberts, founder and CEO of Groovin Inc. stated.
“Fans have been asking us every year to let Beres close the show” Groovin Inc executive Clem Hume shared.
“A lot of thought goes into deciding which artist will close the festival each year. Beres is one of the most requested artist to have ever graced a Groovin stage. Every year his name comes up at the top of the list. In talking to reggae fans in the community, the name Beres Hammond rings loud so we feel the time is right for him to be our closer. He has an impressive catalogue of proven hit songs, he has the temperament and the stage craft to enthrall fans and keep them grooving till the end. It will be magical when he sings ‘another man wants to be the ruler’. Beres is the boss!” Hume reiterated.
Other performers booked to share the Groovin stage with Beres are four-time Grammy nominated, multi-platinum-selling singer/songwriter Keyshia Cole, singer Michael Bolton, Third World, Sir David Rodigan and cultural DJ Sizzla.
