With Vybz Kartel’s Freedom Street set to on New Year’s Eve, organiser and CEO of Downsound Entertainment, Joe Bogdanovich, says preparations for the Dancehall event are ahead of schedule.
Bogdanovich, who also sits at the head of Jamaica Reggae Sumfest, made the statements while at the concert’s location at the National Stadium in Kingston. As Bogdanovich ramps up work at the stadium for the upcoming show, his fellow organiser and Sting founder, Isaiah Laing, was forced to pull the plug on his event on Thursday.
Many have identified the anticipation for Freedom Street for the decline in interest for Sting, Bogdanovich said that he is not in the business of ‘flopping’ anyone’s event. Speaking on TVJ’s Entertainment Report in a newly released interview, Bogdanovich also expressed disappointment that Sting was unable to proceed on Boxing Day, as he wants them all to succeed.
“We don’t flop anybody. We just do the best we can, and the chips fall where they fall. But I wish he was in business on that day because I want everyone to succeed. Because we’re all in it together. It’s unity through music and good vibes. Good over evil, and we wish everybody the best, and we’re working our butt off right now for Freedom Street,” Bogdanovich said.
While showcasing his team’s progress so far, the businessman expressed that the event is going to be “mega.” Bogdanovich said that the years he has spent working on Sumfest have been great, but they will be stepping in a different direction with Freedom Street.
“31 years of Sumfest was one thing and great, getting better every year we’ve been there, and now we’re doing something in Kingston. And now we’re doing something in Kingston. It’s a whole other world here in Kingston… This is maybe the Dancehall show of the decade,” Bogdanovich stated.
He went on to express confidence in the show’s ability to draw a massive crowd, describing Freedom Street as one for the record books. Bogdanovich added that the event’s headliner, Vybz Kartel, is still a master lyricist.
“He’s a more mature person. He’s still great lyrically. He’s got a tonne of new songs, and he’s got a lot of love in his heart. He’s got his fiancée, and that’s what you’re going to see. And if he can change his life from the not-so-good to the excellent, it means that everybody can do it too.”
Tickets for Freedom Street are currently available at FREEDOMSTREETLIVE.COM. The event will also be streamed live via the FREEDOMSTREETLIVE.COM website Starting New Year’s Eve.
Watch the interview with Bogdanovich below.
