CLARK FREEPORT – Sorry folks, there will be no Grammy award-winning hip hop artist Kanye West coming for the 1st Clark International Music Festival slated in February at the Global Gateway Logistics Corp. (GGLC) grounds here.
Jeff Pradhan, GGLC vice president for sales and marketing, got yesterday confirmation that his firm has been
chosen by the 7107 Group organizers as venue for the festival. But there was no mention of Kanye West arriving, he said in an interview.
A press release by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) quoted the CDC as saying that “Grammy award-winning hip hop artist Kanye West is set to headline the 1st Clark International Music Festival that is slated from February 21-23, 2014 at the Global Gateway Logistics Corporation (GGLC) grounds inside the (Clark) freeport.”
It quoted CDC President- CEO Arthur Tugade as saying “I am excited about this one which 7107 Group is organizing in partnership with us and GGLC.” The press release also announced that “around 70,000 music patrons are expected to attend the event, which is meant to boost tourism, create partnerships in South East Asia and promote local musicians among others.”
A source from the Clark Investors and Locators Association (CILA), however, said that the 7107 Group was dismayed by the announcement of the purported participation of international hip hop artist West, whose fame rose with his marriage to television celebrity and fashion icon Kim Kardashan.
“It came at a time when the venue for the festival was still being discussed,” the source said. Contrary to the earlier information released by CDC, Noemi Garcia, manager of the CDC’s tourism department, confirmed there was no commitment on West, but cited the 7107 Group’s website as confirming the participation of the bands Red Hot Chili Peppers and the Empire of the Sun.
Garcia also said she expected the GGLC area as venue. “The festival would be similar to Woodstock in the 1960’s and would have to be fenced as there would be tickets to be available on line,” she said.
For his part, Tugade said the festival would be “similar to California’s Coachella, Florida’s Ultra Music, Chicago’s Lollapalooza, Las Vegas’ Electric Daisy Carnival and Belgium’s Tomorrowland which all annually attract mammoth crowds.”
Earlier,the CDC also confirmed the participation of Arcade Fire, the Kings of Leon, and other foreign groups and
“a number of international DJs” in the festival.
