THERE’S HOPE FOR REGGAE MUSIC, SAYS DUANE STEPHENSON

Singer, Duane Stephenson, upon return from his maiden tour of the European continent, is bursting with confidence that there’s hope for Reggae music.
“Three people who had never toured before managed to fill venues night after night, despite freezing temperatures. We played to predominantly white audiences and they sang the songs word for word. In some places there were literally one or two Africans and then in France there were a few Jamaicans, but it was mainly white people who came out to support us. And we made sure to leave a positive and lasting impression on them,” he told Chat!.
He was on tour with Tarrus Riley and I-Octane.
Duane, whose album August Town, with the hit song of the same, did well both locally and overseas, said he was surprised that fans knew his repertoire so well. He says his set comprised songs from the album, as well as two singles from his upcoming album, Black Gold and Sufferers Heights.
“We lived up to our word and delivered professional sets, we were on time and had no problems with promoters,” he explained, adding, “People deal with you according to how you deal with them.”
The three-week tour ended on Valentine’s Day with a sold-out concert at the Brixton Academy in London. Also on that bill were Lukey D, Bitty McLean, John Holt and Freddy Jackson.