In light of uncertainties surrounding the novel coronavirus in Jamaica, organisers of the acclaimed Jazz and Blues Festival have taken the decision to postpone the staging of this year’s event.

According to the owner and executive producer of the event, Walter Elmore, despite the team’s big plans for this year’s staging, the decision to defer until 2023 was made due to the uncertainties of the pandemic, which made the event difficult to plan.

“Added to this, artistes are still very reluctant to commit to performances until they better understand the impact of the virus, especially outside of their own homelands,” Elmore said.

After a five-year hiatus, the festival made a hugely successful return via virtual immersive production in January 2021, garnering some 200,000 views worldwide.

Despite this, however, Elmore informed: “All things considered, the team felt strongly that rather than just do the festival virtually again this year, we should wait until we could present an event that can offer a physical as well as virtual options.”

Founded in 1996, the popular festival has in the past welcomed audiences in excess of 30,000 and has welcomed many international visitors to Jamaica for a once in a lifetime musical vacation experience.

With the festival expected to celebrate its 21st staging in 2023, the event organisers have promised that the 2023 staging will be a magical experience.

“COVID-19 has forced everyone to think out-of-the-box, and so I am very excited about some new options that we are looking at for our company,” said Elmore.

He added: “We were initially disappointed that the 2022 edition would not happen, but we have now moved on to putting out all efforts to give our fans a magical experience superseding all they have had before while introducing new ways for our partners to engage with the festival and the art of music.”