Jamaican reggae legend Jimmy Cliff — whose 50-year career includes hits such as Reggae Nights, The Harder They Come, Many Rivers to Cross and You Can Get It If You Really Want It — is playing what is likely to be his last ever New Zealand show at the Bay of Islands Music Festival this Saturday.
The new festival, which will take place in the grounds of the Copthorne Hotel in Waitangi, will also feature Northland soul sensation Teeks, Kiwi reggae act Katchafire, Australia's island-style soul man Bobby Alu, Kerikeri singer-songwriter Troy Kingi, country star Tami Neilson and more.
The event starts at noon. Go to boimusicfestival.com for more information or www.eventfinda.co.nz for tickets. If you enter the promo code MUSIC you'll get tickets at the locals-only price of $99, if any are left.
If you happen to run into Jimmy Cliff this weekend be sure to wish him a happy birthday — the legend turns 70 on Sunday.
This will be his third visit to New Zealand after playing Womad in 2012 and 2014. He recorded his first hit 56 years ago as a teenager growing up in Kingston, Jamaica.