8178: Musical Festival to Anchor a Day of Haitian Culture

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Haitian Times <publisher@haitiantimes.com>

For Immediate Release
May 31, 2001



 Contact information: call 718-230-8700 or email festikonpa@aol.com


Musical Festival to Anchor a Day of Haitian Culture


BROOKLYN, NY - More than 3,000 Konpa fans are expected to attend the 2nd
Annual FestiKonpa on Sunday June 17th at the Aqueduct Racetrack in Jamaica,
Queens for what promises to be the most exciting Father's Day in New York.
The event brings together the top Haitian bands such as Tabou Combo, a
renown concert band, Miami's Techno-Konpa monster Top Vice featuring guitar
legend Robert Martino, and Zin, New York's number one band. To round off
this line up, this special event will also feature the premier up-and-coming
band, New York All Stars, the Haitian Diva Emeline Michel and the sensuous
Princess Georgy.
The event, which is being organized by Kalbas Production and Enigma in
association with Western Union, aims to bring a family atmosphere, where
people can bring their children and blanket to enjoy the festvities.
Aqueduct, located at the edge of Queens and Brooklyn, is a beautifully
landscape ground that is sure to provide a pleasant atmosphere and is an
ideal place for a day of family picnic, said Arsene "Junior" Duverger,
president of Kalbas Production.
"The bands are excited about playing in Festikonpa and they have been
working on new grooves to satisfy the crowd," said Duverger, whose Kalbas
Production was one of the main organizers of last year's Festikonpa, which
drew about 3,000 people at Brooklyn's Floyd Bennett Field.

This year, Kalbas has teamed up with Enigma and the Haitian Times to
organize Festikonpa. Rhum Barbancourt, the Caribbean's finest spirit is one
of the top corporate sponsors. The organizers have sought media sponsors
such as Radio Soleil, New York's most listened radio station and
Konpadirek.com, a popular website. The event will be broadcast live on Radio
Soleil and web cast on www.sakapfet.com.
"If this event did not exist, we would help create it," said Garry
Pierre-Pierre, editor and publisher of the Haitian Times. "Since Kalbas did
it last year, we were happy to join forces with them."
The show will begin exactly at noon and end at 8 PM. Many elected officials
and business leaders are expected to attend the event. In addition to the
musical performances, popular DJs - DJ Sounds and Vibes International and DJ
Frede Fresh - will take turns spinning the hottest sounds. Live performances
by two rap groups HK Family and 4-Lyfe are sure to appeal to the young
people.
For press pass and VIP information, please email us your reservation at
festikonpa@aol.com no later than June 5, 2001; or call 718-230-8700. Please
indicate the name of your organization. There is a two-person limit per
organization.

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