GET READY TO GROOVE - Brian McKnight, Dru Hill to rock Live & Direc

Jamaicans want to see Brian McKnight, said an organiser of Live & Direc 2025 at Wednesday's media launch for the event at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston.

The event, scheduled for Saturday, June 28, at the Constant Spring Golf Club, will be headlined by the veteran R&B crooner and Dru Hill, featuring Sisqo, alongside Jamaican artistes Christopher Ellis and Joby Jay. But it is McKnight's inclusion in the line-up that has sparked interest beyond his renowned musicianship, due to the recent public family issues surrounding his fractured relationship with his children and ex-wife, Julie McKnight.

Despite the sensitive backdrop, Bryan Grant, director of Live & Direc, remained unequivocal in his support of McKnight's participation and the Jamaican audience's reception. Speaking exclusively with THE WEEKEND STAR, Grant said, "Jamaican people love entertainment, and they are not going to let anything stop them. It is a family issue. Brian McKnight is a public person, yes, but everybody has issues. People don't get punished by the public for that."

Grant also emphasised that McKnight's booking was confirmed well before the family rift became widely known.

"We just leave it [to] due process -- it will be done the right way by the family and whoever has to deal with that. We're in the entertainment business, trying to bring entertainment, and that's what we focus on," he said.

McKnight has faced public backlash over his strained relationship with his biological children amid accusations that he has distanced himself from them. On May 29, his estranged son, Cole Nikolas 'Niko' McKnight, passed away following a two-year battle with cancer. Following Niko's passing, the Back at One singer made a post to social media criticising his brother's announcement of his son's death and shared that he flew to Maui for a private memorial while touching on the complexity of their relationship during his son's illness.

Grant said that market research conducted for the event revealed strong fan demand for McKnight in Jamaica.

"The deciding factor was musicianship, legacy, and fan demand," Grant noted. "There has been no backlash here since the announcement because our culture is different. People don't really react to those things the same way as in America."

Live & Direc promises an elevated concert experience, with ticket options ranging from $10,000 to $40,000. These include general admission, VIP, VVIP, and super cabanas -- the latter two offering all-inclusive luxury seating and amenities. The gates will open early to allow for a relaxed atmosphere before the 8 p.m. showtime, with performances concluding around midnight, followed by an optional after-party. Grant shared the broader vision for the event.

"The message we want to send to fans and critics alike is that good music is still alive. When you think it's all done, we have so much more coming. We're continuously working to improve production and the overall experience," he said.

The launch also featured a virtual appearance from Sisqo, who praised Jamaica's musical influence and reflected on Dru Hill's longevity in the industry.

"Sometimes people forget -- we dropped our first album almost 30 years ago, right out of high school. We were just kids with souls, and people sometimes called us 'old school,' but we like to call it 'soul school.' That's what we brought to the game," he said.

"We learned from the greats -- Keith Sweat, Brian McKnight, The Isley Brothers, The O'Jays. Those guys are still killing it. They taught us what it means to be true performers, to respect the craft and the artistes who paved the way. That's the cloth we're cut from," he added.

Previewing the diversity to grace the main stage, Digicel Rising Stars winner Mozein Sutherland charmed patrons with a sultry performance, and rising reggae-soul artiste Joby Jay delivered sweet notes from her EP Love Levels.