THE SPRING WEEKENDER

21st – 24th March 2025

Orlando Gittens

Orlando Gittens is a prime example of what can be achieved when hard work is coupled with creativity and a love for music.  Cited as being one of the main instigators of the UK street soul movement in the early 90s, His Soul Town records label achieved multiple no 1 hits on the Street soul charts with Maxeen, Zushii, Mary Rose, Everis and  his  biggest achievement the singlehanded release of the infamous Wayne Marshall project 90 degrees & rising , which yielded the soundtrack to summer 1994 national chart hit “G Spot”.  What made this project stand out for a lot of people was Orlando’s innovative marketing strategy which included amongst other things, the first double cd single release, risqué  videos and a street poster campaign feat girls with red braces and little else!  This culminated in sales of over 100,000 units, quite a feat for a self funded independent label.  After this period of his life Orlando focused on management & guided the rapper Pheobe 1 to the Mobo award in 1997( the first UK female rapper to achieve this)   Orlando in 1999 turned his hand to promotions and co organised  the largest ever televised concert from the Caribbean as part of the BBC1 millennium series.  In recent times Orlando has promoted under his company name Musical Therapy the biggest & longest running( 10 years )  reggae concert to ever take place in the UK  the  the award winning “Giants of Lovers rock”   Orlando alongside his long time friend Scott James  promoted the award winning music Weekenders. The Hayling Island Spring Reggae weekender & The Hayling Island Summer Soul Weekenders These weekender ran from 2013 to 2020 Never standing still Orlando with the assistance of Scott James  promoted The International London Cup, the capitals  first ever International U10s football tournament. Hosted at Bromley stadium With professional official academies including Manchester City, Ajax, PSG, Liverpool, Chelsea, AC Milan, Club Brugge, West Ham, Lyon, Genk, Swansea, Sheffield United, PSV Eindhoven, taking part for the first and only time with 72 Sunday League grassroots team.  The FA praised the event as being  groundbreaking!  In 2020 Orlando & Scott James  launched a brand new musical weekender scheduled for April 2021 the Soul Disciples Weekender which sold out within 3 hours of being announced, this  gained it instant recognition as  being the fastest selling debut Soul music weekender in English history. Orlando has also given back to the community on several occasions, including the organisation of fund raisers for Lovers Rock legend Jean Adebambo children when she passed away. Providing the finances needed to see them entirely through university and raised the funds to pay for a replacement leg for the late reggae legend Frankie Paul.

Orlando’s Musical Therapy Company  has promoted the following artistes: 

Leroy Hutson, Don Blackmon, Greg Perry, The Valentine Brothers, Archie Bell & The Drells, Steve Arrington, Kenny Thomas, Shirley Jones, Glenn Jones, Natural Four, Barbara Mason, Jean Carne, Patrice Rushen, The Emotions, Leroy Burgess,  Leon Ware, Howard Johnson, Sherree Brown,  Rose Royce, The Real Thing, Kci & Jojo, Adina Howard, Omar, Angie Stone, Jocelyn Brown, Melba Moore, Melissa Morgan, Cheryl Lynn, Evelyn Champagne King, Ali Tennant, Kreuz, Damage, Irene Renee, Abi Flynn,  Kele le Roc , Zalon, Wayne Marshall, Don E, Rick Clarke , Maxeen, Natasha Watts, Nic Vanni , Adelaide McKenzie, Rachel Hylton, Loose Ends, Karyn White, John Holt, Freddie McGregor, Frankie Paul, Aswad, Bitty McLean, Luciano, Marcia Griffiths, Lukie D, Supercat, Maxi Priest , Janet Kay, Carroll Thompson, Peter Hunnigale, Investigators, Kofi, Sandra Cross, Dennis Bovell, Susan Cadogan, Barry Biggs, Dawn Penn, Webby J, John McLean , Blood Sisters, Valerie Harrison, General Levy, Top Cat, Tippa Irie, Tradition, Paulette Tajah,  Winsome, Christine Mcnab, Jean Adebambo, Trevor Walters, Wendy Walker, Marie Pierre, Donna Marie, Winsome Moncrief, Victor Romero Evans, Arema, Beshara, Winston Reedy, Barry Boom, Aysha Loren, Ginger Williams, Sonia Ferguson, Family Love, Panchita Latouche, Black Slate, Michael Gordon, Mike Antony, Lorna Gee, Sister Love, Adele Harvey, Lady Lex, Don Campbell,  Vivian Jones, JJ Born to sing, Blood Sisters, Stylo G, Trevor Hartley, Sonia Ferguson, J C Lodge, Administrators, Donna Rhoden, Calvin, Pauline Thomas, Frederica Tibbs, Casandra London, Peter Spence, Leroy Simmons, Glenn & Andrew Sloly, Antony Richards, Claudia Fontaine, Simplicity, J C Lodge, I Foundation, Dennis Pinnock, Chyna Black, Audrey Scott, Neville Morrison, Maria Taylor, Lurine Cato, Toyin Adekale, Natalie Philips,Deneez Peters, Camara Fearon, Leesha Mac, Sunrize, Legato, Chyna Whynne