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| Minister of Family, Culture, Sports and Youth, Stephen Lashley (second right), is seen here at the launch of the Shine fundraising concert with chairperson of the QC Give Back Committee, Vivian-Anne Gittens (third left, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, NULL, NULL, 0); Scott Goodman of Barbados Gold Buyers (left) and members of the band Cover Drive. (C. Pitt/BGIS) |
Barbados continues to produce artistes who attract some of the major players in the entertainment industry across the world, despite its geographical size.
Speaking at the launch of the Barbados Gold Buyers "Shine" Concert today, at the East Restaurant, Prospect, St. James, Minister of Family, Culture, Sports and Youth, Stephen Lashley, said one such example was the recently signed four-member band, Cover Drive.
The group will be the headliners for the event which is scheduled to take place at Ilaro Court, Two Mile Hill, St. Michael, on Saturday, January 5, beginning at 7:00 p.m. The proceeds will go towards the construction of a $1.2 million pavilion at the Queen’s College School, Husbands, St. James. The concert is being organised by the Give Back QC Pavilion Fundraising Committee.
"I believe that the event at Ilaro court will be a sell-out event because we have some of the most illustrious artistes who will be performing. Anytime that you rely on the efforts and expertise of our artistes in Barbados we always have a phenomenal production because we can produce the best. I want to also salute them for coming forward and giving of their efforts…
"I am happy to see Cover Drive leading the line-up of the artistes slated to perform at the fundraising concert. I am really touched by their humility in that, while they are on the international stage, they have not forgotten their roots in Barbados. They have been here now for a couple of weeks, moving around Barbados working on their productions but also being available to re-ignite the passion and the conviction among Barbadians and, particularly among young people, that the sky is the limit. They will continue to shine along with our other international artistes, as examples of where our young artistes can get to," Mr. Lashley acknowledged.
The Minister said that Cover Drive was "a very young, dynamic group of artistes" and although they had just recently hit the international stage, their achievements continued to excite those in and outside of Barbados.
Some of their accomplishments to date include performing at the Kelly Clarkson "Stronger" Tour; opening for fellow Barbadian and international star Rihanna; and their recent nomination for Best Caribbean Performance at the 2012 Soul Train Awards. In
addition, they have been nominated for six Barbados Music Awards, which is scheduled to take place in January.
Mr. Lashley also applauded the students of Queen’s College for the fundraising initiative that will see the new pavilion come to fruition.
"I want to say a special word to the students of Queen’s College who have also been working extremely hard in this fund-raising exercise. I believe that this effort has shown the resilience among the Queen’s College students who see this as a collective effort. I think that this example really ought to be emulated across our schools in Barbados," Mr. Lashley emphasised. Other artistes slated to perform at the concert are: Rupee; NexCyx; Philip 7; Simon Pipe; A Few Good Men; Stephie Leigh; Karlos Cobham; and Mya Daniel.