SOPHIA BROWN MAKES FIRST REGGAE SUMFEST APPEARANCE!

Sophia Brown – Contributed

After years of waiting for a chance to perform before one of the biggest reggae audiences anywhere, reggae songstress Sophia Brown is finally getting her chance to perform at the 20th anniversary of Reggae Sumfest set for July 15-21.

Brown, who dropped her second album Catch Me If You Can on March 27, is down to perform on the first of two international nights and will share the stage with the likes of Shabba Ranks, Tarrus Riley, Yellowman, Pinchers, and others.

She expressed gratitude to the organisers as she awaits the arrival of her contract. “This could not have come at a better time as my performing at Sumfest has come as Jamaica is celebrating 50 years of Independence,” she said. “It will also probably be my only show in Jamaica for this year as I leave shortly after for a tour of the United States, so I am looking forward to it and gearing up myself to deliver a very good performance.”

Sophia Brown

my opportunity

Brown, who has been a loyal fan of Sumfest from its inception, said she missed the last three years “as I was awaiting my time to perform on the stage,” she said. “This year, they have given me my opportunity.”

The hard-working singer has been constantly busy having dropped an instrumental version of her latest album on June 19. The original album peaked at number four on both the New York and South Florida Reggae charts and at number 55 on the iTunes Top 100 charts.

The album also peaked at number four on the Jamaica Music Countdown on Hot 102. “I am happy with the response to the album,” she said, explaining that the success is the main reason she decided to release the instrumental album called Catch Me Dubbing. “This album is for the world market where the demand is high for dubs and instrumentals,” she said. Catch Me Dubbing is being distributed by Zojak Worldwide.

Brown leaves for a month-long tour of the United States on July 22 that includes stops in Chicago, Los Angeles, Texas, and Atlanta, among others. Following that, she departs for Egypt where she will be for three weeks before a possible tour in Europe. Details of the European tour are yet to be worked out, she said.