Freddie McGregor and his crew are preparing to set sail for a second time with the Big Ship Music Fest, which is scheduled for Port Charlotte, Florida on July 6. The show takes place at the Port Charlotte County Fairgrounds, where it was first held in July, 2019. 

McGregor pointed to the ‘open state’ policy of Florida and Georgia as one of the reasons for making a comeback around the July 4 holiday weekend. He is also aware that fans are hungry for live reggae after a slate of virtual shows, which became vogue in wake of the Coronavirus lockdown of indoor and outdoor events. 

“Based on pre-sold figures, ticket sales are going very well which I think speaks for itself. We expect a really good turnout because people are clamoring for shows like this,” he said. 

Michael Rose is headliner for the Big Ship Music Fest. Other major acts confirmed are Cocoa Tea, Anthony B, Etana, Chino and Perfect Giddimani. 

McGregor, who will also perform, has been promoting live shows for over 30 years. His most successful venture was the Rocksteady Meets Reggae series that took place in Miami during the 1990’s when he was a fixture on reggae charts with songs like “Prophecy” and “I Was Born a Winner”. 

Though many countries have relaxed Coronavirus restrictions with the increased availability of vaccines, uncertainty lingers for European reggae festivals which usually takes place in the summer. There has been no official statement from promoters of major events like Rototom Sunsplash and Summerjam on their plans for 2021. 

  Written By Howard Campbell