Jamaica Gleaner

Stephens intends to cast spell with Moonlight Magic

- Sade Gardner/Gleaner Writer

CROONER RICHIE Stephens is no stranger to orchestrat­ing events. After the release of his 2004 hit single Take Me Away, he began the annual concert series bearing the same name, which proved a massive success for the entertaine­r. Come February 14, 2019, Valentine’s Day, Stephens will host the inaugural Moonlight Magic concert, which he says will replicate some tenets of the defunct event.

“People always want me to do another staging of Take Me Away because they loved how we presented it; we started on time, we used one band to back everyone so there weren’t any band changes, and people remember us for giving profession­al, entertaini­ng presentati­ons,” Stephens told The Gleaner. Moonlight Magic will be no different, so I’m advising people to bring their other half and come and enjoy an evening of entertainm­ent with profession­al presentati­on.”

The show is a partnershi­p among Stephens’ Pot of Gold Production­s, B.I.G Inc, and Mongoose Restaurant and Lounge in Ocho Rios, St Ann, where it will be held. Showtime is 10 p.m., with Stephens backed by the Yard Rootz band. Entertainm­ent will also be provided by DJ Krazy Kris.

SPECIAL EVENT

Moonlight Magic will be a special event for Stephens as he is not usually in Jamaica on Valentine’s Day. “This year, I decided that I wouldn’t travel overseas. I’m always overseas doing Valentine’s shows. I decided I was going to do a show here instead,” he said. “The last time I did a Valentine’s show in St Ann was four years ago, and it was out of this world. It sold out and had 80 per cent ladies. I performed for about two and a half hours, just there with the fans having a really good time. I knew I wanted to go back to St Ann; now I have the chance to.”

Plans are already afoot to expand the event. “My good friend Big A came up with the name ‘Moonlight Magic’, and I said, ‘it sounds like something we can make a series’,” he said. “It won’t necessaril­y be an annual thing, but it’ll be an event that will move to different parts of Jamaica at different times of the year, and overseas as well. So, hopefully, everything will go well, and we take it from there,” Stephens said.

 ?? CONTRIBUTE­D ?? Richie Stephens
CONTRIBUTE­D Richie Stephens

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Jamaica