The Mighty Beestons Mento Band— LOCATED in the hills of Westmoreland, Beeston Spring is a typical rural district where many residents make farming their livelihood. It is also home to The Mighty Beestons Mento Band, which has been around for over 50 years. Despite their longevity, Astil Gage, the group’s congo player and manager, said they are not known outside of cultural and tourism circles. “We do our thing in the hotels, likkle functions, wakes…things like dat. Independence coming up now so dat’s when things pick up for us,” he told the Jamaica Observer. The five-piece band is scheduled to play at Black River Day in St Elizabeth on Friday. On August 5, they perform at an independence event in Santa Cruz, also in that parish. Gage’s bandmates are founding members: banjo player Calvin Samuels, … Read entire article »