The biggest event of Sri Lanka’s biggest Western music artistes, Sundown Jam 2022 is happening tonight! Organized by the Western Musicians Association (WMA), Sundown Jam 22 will feature 8 bands and 21 solo artistes showcasing a variety of genres of jazz, pop, rock, country and more for a night of fun and festivities. The Executive Committee for 2021-2023 of the WMA with Rajitha Rupasinghe as President, Corrine Almeida as Vice President, Judy De Silva as Vice President and Secretary and Janappriya Weeraratne as Treasurer sits down with us for a chat about the WMA, their compassionate approach to their members in these difficult times and why the Sundown Jam 22 is an event not to be missed!

Q Tell us a little about the WMA and its purpose?
The Western Musicians Association (WMA) is a group that’s guided by its motto “Musicians for Musicians”. Our foremost objective is the welfare of our musicians, and we do our utmost to fulfil that objective. The WMA Sundown Jam 2022 is yet another step in accomplishing that goal. 

Q What’s the Sundown Jam 2022?
A night of music and fun featuring some of the best talents in the Western music industry in Sri Lanka. The whole intention of Sundown Jam is to invite our WMA members to showcase their talents and to raise funds for the Association to help carry out the work we do. 

Q What’s changed since the last Sundown Jam held in 2020?
The 2020 event was a huge success and we received a very positive response to it from some of the biggest bands and artistes in town. As a result, this year’s Sundown Jam has an incredible lineup – we have 8 bands and 21 artistes taking the centre stage this time. 

Q What can people expect from the upcoming Sundown Jam 22?
A variety of musical genres from jazz, country, pop, pop rock etc. We intend to start the show from 5.00pm onwards and there will be an array of food action stations of your choice and beverages flowing through the night till the very end. So, if we were to sum up what people can expect from Sundown Jam 22 – a guarantee of non-stop entertainment! 

Q What’s the lineup like?
A perfect blend of veteran artistes and bands such as Noeline, Rukshan, Piyal, Corrine, Judy, Sohan, Geoffrey to newcomers like Varuni, Sidath, Dexter and others.  We will also have experienced bands Like Orange Blossom Special, an Ensemble by Shobi called “Manthra”, MISTY, C&C and D-Zone to popular youth bands like DADDY, REDEEMERS and Warehouse Project. 

Q The pandemic has been difficult for everyone professionally but truly the arts and music industry has taken a very hard hit - how did the WMA aid its members cope during this time?
This was an unexpected situation that we faced, but we were quick to react. The musicians were a group that was greatly impacted by the pandemic. The WMA identified this problem and proceeded to lend a helping hand to our brothers and sisters by way of essential food items, and cash donations, to those in dire need. We were also glad that we were in a position to share comforting words with those who needed a friend in these solitary times. We successfully launched a project distributing dry rations for our member musicians with the help of “Manusath Derana”. We were ever so thankful to our WMA member Chandani Hettiarachchi for connecting WMA with  Manusath Derana and following up on distributing food vouchers for more than 220 member musicians who were facing a difficult time. Extending our arms, we also successfully distributed cash donations for more than 50 members who were in dire need during this time. As the motto of WMA goes – ‘musicians for musicians’, especially during these times.

Q What does the Exco of WMA for 2021-2023 have in store this year and the next?
We are working on our WMA Theme song. A song composed by our very own Joey Lewis who hails from the “Amazing Grace” fame and maestro Hussian Jeffry who directed the music. Very soon we are also introducing an App for WMA members on both Android and Apple platforms. Furthermore, we are also in the works of planning and organizing another mega event before the year ends!

Q Finally, why is Sundown Jam 2022 a night not to be missed?
You will not be able to witness a line-up of bands and artistes of this calibre in the western music industry than at Sundown Jam 2022! You should look forward to every single artiste and band, because everyone is a star in his or her own right. That means that every star will shine and dazzle the audience at the Sundown Jam 2022. As we have promised – ‘We will jazz you, rock you, pop you, and even give you a country feel!’

Sundown Jam 2022 will be held tonight, the 20th of March 2022, at 5.00pm at the 80 Club, Colombo 07. Tickets for Sundown Jam 2022 is priced at Rs. 2500. For more information, call 070 384 3225.