The Chewstick Foundation is committed to bringing people together from a variety of backgrounds, in celebration of the historic liberation of Bermuda’s enslaved African descendants. To that end, The Chewstick Foundation is pleased to announce its annual Emancipation Celebration Concert will be taking place this year at No.1 Car Park, Thursday, July 30th 2015, 9pm-2am. The Emancipation Concert will feature international reggae star Wayne Wonder backed by the Ruff Kut Band, Tanya Stephens, Bermudian reggae artist Mishka and emerging international hip hop star Alex Wiley, alongside local artists Hannah Eggen, Gianluca Gibbons (HTG), Haz the Human, D.I.A. Band and more. This event is a fundraiser for the Chewstick Foundation’s ongoing Capital Campaign to help bring the Chewstick Culture Hub to reality.
Concert attendees will be treated to an exciting lineup which boasts the return of Wayne Wonder, most popular for his worldwide superhits “No Letting Go” and “Bounce Along”, alongside Tanya Stephens, singer of “It’s A Pity”, “You Nuh Ready For Dis Yet” and “These Streets”. The Chewstick Foundation is also excited to welcome Bermudian reggae star, and brother of singer-songwriter Heather Nova, Mishka back home and to the stage. Mishka will be backed by fellow international Bermudian artist and band-leader Gianluca Gibbons with his California based band HTG, who will also back Bermudian Wyclef protégé Hannah E. This concert will also introduce rising Chicago hip hop star Alex Wiley, a regular Chance The Rapper collaborator, boasting recent songs, “Take Off” and “Know Normal” before his own show taking place at the Chewstick Culture Hub on Saturday, August 1st. Chewstick stalwarts, D.I.A., who took the island and Heroes Weekend stage by storm this summer with their hit soca tune ‘Crossfit’ will bless the stage, as well as local hip hop phenom Haz The Human.
The annual BeachFest Emancipation Celebration, typical host of this concert, will not be taking place this year due to circumstances beyond the Chewstick Foundation’s control, preventing them from returning to Horseshoe Bay for what would have been the 10th Anniversary of the world renowned BeachFest Emancipation Celebration. The Chewstick Foundation hopes to return to Horseshoe Bay once measures to ensure the safety and cleanliness of the beach are prioritised by key stakeholders and when effective communication and integration of the combined efforts of crucial agencies is assured.
Although The Chewstick Foundation, organizers of the annual Beachfest Emancipation Celebration will not be producing the event this year, they would like to encourage beach goers to be conscientious of their consumption of alcohol and treatment of the beach. As members of the Green Cooperative they’d like to reiterate the findings of their 2014 waste audit, which showed that excessive trash and debris is brought and left, making a very sad sight at one of the world’s most beautiful beaches.
The Emancipation Concert, taking place at No.1 Car Park in Hamilton, will open at 9pm for a 10pm sharp showtime. General Tickets are $60 with VIP tickets being $100 and are available online at www.ptix.bm, or from 27th Century, AF Smith, Rock Island Coffee and Chewstick (81 Front Street). If you’d like to find out more information on how you can volunteer or participate or how your business can be involved or sponsor the Emancipation Concert please contact The Chewstick Foundation at info@chewstick.org.
