Deejay Tour Culminates in Kingston Showcase

Spragga Benz said on May 15 that his “Journey to Kingston” birthday series will begin in Miramar, Florida, on May 30 and continue through Philadelphia before ending in Kingston, Jamaica. The dancehall deejay described the run as a multi-city celebration tied to his birthday and to the people who have been part of his career. He told the *Jamaica Observer* that the closing Kingston event will carry special weight because of the city’s place in his life and music. The first announced U.S. date is set for the Miramar Cultural Center, where Wayne Wonder and Agent Sasco are also on the bill. ### Why is Spragga Benz putting this series around Kingston? Spragga Benz told the *Jamaica Observer* that the series is meant to reflect on “my journey in music to this point” and to spotlight friends and collaborators who have supported him over the years. He said the idea goes beyond a birthday party and is being staged “in a really clean and classical manner.” (jamaicaobserver.com) Kingston, he said, remains central to both his identity and his artistry. In the same interview, he said the final Jamaica staging is being designed to blend reggae and dancehall nostalgia with orchestral arrangements, a format he linked directly to the capital’s cultural history. ### What is confirmed for the first stop in Florida? (jamaicaobserver.com) May 30 is the confirmed launch date for the series, according to both the *Jamaica Observer* and event listings for the Miramar Cultural Center. The Miramar show is scheduled for 8 p.m. at the South Florida venue. Wayne Wonder and Agent Sasco are listed alongside Spragga Benz for that opening event. (jamaicaobserver.com) Spragga Benz told the *Observer* that “a lot of guests” are expected to pass through, while the Miramar Cultural Center listing describes the concert as a reggae and dancehall showcase led by the three artists. ### Where does Philadelphia fit into the run? (jamaicaobserver.com) Philadelphia was named by Spragga Benz as one of at least three stops on the “Journey to Kingston” route. The *Jamaica Observer* article listed Miramar, Philadelphia and Kingston as the planned cities in the series. No public date, venue or ticket details for the Philadelphia stop were included in the material reviewed. (jamaicaobserver.com) Spragga Benz’s comments, as reported by the *Observer*, establish Philadelphia as the middle stop before the final Kingston showcase. ### What has Spragga Benz said about the Kingston finale? Kingston is planned as the culminating showcase, and Spragga Benz said the event will include guest appearances from members of the Marley family. (jamaicaobserver.com) He named Stephen Marley, Damian Marley and Ky-Mani Marley, and also referenced younger performers including Mystic and Yohan. Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts School of Music is also part of the concept, according to Spragga Benz. (jamaicaobserver.com) He said an orchestra would be included because Kingston is, in his words, “a classical city,” and he framed the show as a more formal presentation of the music. ### What music is likely to shape the shows? Spragga Benz said the performances will draw from what Wayne Wonder jokingly calls their “lion-logue,” a reference to the depth of songs built up across their careers. (jamaicaobserver.com) He said the artists would not perform every song from their catalogues, but would choose records that mattered to their journeys. The Miramar promotion names Spragga Benz, Wayne Wonder and Agent Sasco as the headline acts, while a separate report on the event highlighted songs associated with each performer and said Commissioner Maxwell B. Chambers is hosting the South Florida date. Tickets for Miramar were listed at $75 and $85, with VIP meet-and-greet packages at $150. (jamaicaobserver.com) ### What happens next? May 30 is the next firm date in the series, with Spragga Benz, Wayne Wonder and Agent Sasco scheduled to perform at the Miramar Cultural Center in Miramar, Florida. The Kingston finale and the Philadelphia stop have been announced, but additional dates and venue details for those events had not been publicly detailed in the sources reviewed. (jamaicaobserver.com) (caribbeannationalweekly.com)