Luciano, the self-proclaimed Messenjah, and his team consisting of Dean Fraser, Mikey General and his Jah Messenjah Band departed the island on Wednesday, bound for Scotland to start his most extensive musical campaign to date.
By Basil WaltersThe roots and culture singer makes his first appearance tonight (Friday, June 11) in the ballroom of the Sky Hotel in the Isle of Sky, Scotland. From Scotland Luciano who recently returned from the Cuba-disco Festival held in Havana, Cuba where he is scheduled to return in October, will move on to England for seven concerts which will take him to such places as Birmingham, Bradford, and Brighton.
The European leg of the tour is also destined for stops in Holland, Germany, Belgium, France, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Poland, the Czech Republic and the Scandinavian countries. This will be the first trip for Luciano to the Czech Republic, Poland and Portugal.
The major highlight of the tour featuring the 'Messenjah' as the headline act, comes on the final night of the three-day Summerjam Festival in Cologne, Germany which runs from July 2 to 4. The rest of the line-up for this festival which is celebrating its 20th anniversary includes Sean Paul, Elephant Man, Beenie Man, Steel Pulse, Ziggy Marley, Ce'Cile, Vybz Kartel and Wayne Marshall.
After two months in Europe, Luciano returns home for the local launch (on Tuesday, August 3), of the Serious Times album, due to be released on June 15.
With the formal introduction of the set out of the way, the 'Messenjah' and his 22-man entourage fly to California to start the second leg of the world tour at the famous Reggae on the River Festival in Humbolt County.
Luciano will also perform at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, California where Bunny Wailer is also slated to perform. The North American leg of the Serious Times musical journey then continues in other North American cities, including stops in Canada before moving to South America. After the blitz in North America the team heads 'Down Under' to Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, and Fiji. Then it's on to Hawaii where both Luciano and Bunny Wailer will be the headliners for two major concerts. The first show is in Maui on August 13 and the other on the following day (August 14) in Honolulu.
The 'Messenjah' returns home in September to recharge before he takes on four concerts in Cuba and other Caribbean islands then moving on to Africa in November.
"This will be the most extensive one that Luciano has ever undertaken," manager/tour coordinator Copeland Forbes confirmed.
"And this Serious Times world tour is sure to open new markets for Luciano and by extension, reggae music," added Forbes who is being assisted with the coordination of the tour by Eddie Brown from the London-based Pride Music Company.
