Music has the power to draw the masses and bring people of various ethnicities together like no other medium.
Organisers of the Procera Suva Music Festival are confident of achieving that and more as the weeklong event, which opens today at Raiwasa Park, looks set to deliver a wide range of local acts to kick-start the festive season and give people in the holiday spirit much anticipated live entertainment.
An iconic establishment in Fiji’s music industry, Procera has been at the heart of this multicultural extravaganza, which enters its 13th year.
The Amy Street based recording studio, which was established 47 years ago has been synonymous with the cream of Fiji’s music industry
Procera has worked with countless musicians over the decades and has gone on to help make households names out of talents like Vude Queen Laisa Vulakoro and veteran player Seru Serevi while nurturing younger generations of artists as they take their place in Fiji’s dynamic music industry.
Other headline acts ready to wow audiences at the annual music event include Savu ni Delai Lomai and Malumu ni Tobu.
They will join experienced acts like Vulakoro and Saimoni Vutalevu and Hindi vocal supremos Ronald Jai and Eddie Wilson among many others lined up for the event.
Food stalls and rides will also be on offer to give people options as they wind down at a carnival that has grown in status as a family outing and a chance witness our very best musicians strut their stuff.
Multiple award-winning group, Waikoula Kei Tavua will be another showcase act.
Procera was determined to ensure Suva people did not miss out pn fun activities and entertainment in the absence of the capital’s premier carnival.
“With any Hibiscus this year I’m sure people will be looking forward to something like this and we have been preparing something to give the people.”
“Music brings people together and what better time to enjoy music together than during the festive season.”
“This is all about giving people some good live entertainment and I’m sure they will not be disappointed,” said Procera Music General Manager Mohamed Akif.
“At the same time we are giving free stalls to musicians to allow them to make some money for themselves,” he added.
Local musicians face many hurdles like illegal copying and sale of their copyrighted work and the event is much about giving back musicians than anything else.
This is truly an entertainment extravaganza given the wide variety of performers including dancers and the range of musical genres on offer.
These include reggae, traditional Hindi music like bhajans along with some of the best sigi drigi groups around the country.
Mr Akif is excited about their new addition to the event, a choir competition, which is expected to bring in much support on its own.
“We are offering a free recording with Procera for the winner of the choir competition with cash prizes on offer for second and third place winners.”
The choir competition and disk jockeys will dominate the early part of the event before Reggae Night on Wednesday and Indian and I-Taukei Nights on Thursday and Friday respectively, will surely liven things up.
“We are appealing to all the people to come and support our local musicians and enjoy great entertainment.”
Reggae singer Nasoni Saloma, who rose from obscurity to win the Vodafone MIC talent show on television in 2008, is another talent to be unleashed.
“I’m looking forward to the chance to perform again and I will be doing my usual Itaukei versions of songs from reggae legends like Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff and Lucky Dube,” said the Ra man.
“I’ve been working on my own album for some time now so this will give people a taste of what to expect when it does come out,” said the smiley dreadlocked entertainer.
Street Survival will be the headline act for Reggae Night with organizers hoping to draw some bona fide reggae acts for the night.
One thing surely not lacking at the event is popular i-taukei bands, many of whom will be on offer playing their style.
Viani Tebara bandleader Viliame Ratuva says their five piece ensemble is raring to give their fans a treat.
“We are looking forward to entertaining and we can promise some old hits as well as our new songs performed in the way we normally do it,” said the Rewa singer.
With good food, fun activities and great homegrown entertainment on offer, the Procera Suva Music Festival is surely a fine option for families as they look to add some fun and real entertainment to the rapidly accelerating festive season.
