The Turks and Caicos Tourist Board, in association with BET Event Productions, has announced that the Islands’ Second Annual Music & Cultural Festival is scheduled for July 25-August 1, 2005 on the island of Providenciales. Confirmed artists scheduled to perform include reggae dancehall pop star Shaggy, chart-topping R&B vocalist Ashanti, funky soul singer Jeffrey Osborne, legendary “cool” voice of reggae Gregory Isaacs, number one Haitian dance band Tabou Combo, gospel/disco queen Candi Staton, contemporary gospel crooner BeBe Winans, as well as some of the Turks and Caicos’ top local artists.
The main stage concert performances will take place at Turtle Cove Marina, this year’s festival village. The event will showcase the best of what the Turks and Caicos Islands have to offer: very unique local talent, Miss Turks & Caicos beauty pageants, local regattas, premier beaches, world-class diving and friendly people.

Paxton Baker, president of event producers at BET Event Productions stated, “It’s a pleasure to join forces again with the Turks and Caicos Tourist Board for the second annual Music & Cultural Festival, which promises to be another great event in a beautiful part of the world.”

BET Jazz will air a Turks and Caicos Music & Cultural Festival 2005 Preview Show, which will highlight many of the artists scheduled to perform and activities that festival visitors can expect to enjoy, on the following dates (all times are in EST): Mondays, May 9 and June 13 at 8am, 4pm, and 10pm; Sundays, May 14, June 18 and July 9 at 12pm, 8pm, and 4am; and Wednesday, July 13 at 12pm, 8pm, and 1am.

——-