Audiences attending the O'Jays show were advised that they just might need their brollies this evening, as precipitation was forecast for this evening's festivities.

Premier Dr. Ewart Brown explained that the show would go on, no matter what the weather.

"It would have to be really, really bad weather to stop this show," says the Premier.

"The show will go on. The weather report looks great for this venue, but tomorrow night (tonight) at the beach, I would advise them to bring their umbrellas."

Comedian and radio host Steve Harvey came to the Premier's aid and said: "Let me help you out. As long as we have our money — there will be a show!"

Tonight's show, which features the O'Jays, is completely sold out, and Dr. Brown suggested that to avoid disappointment it was important for the public to get their tickets.

"It is so important to get tickets for Thursday, Friday and Saturday in advance. If you wait to buy your ticket at the gate it may be too late."

Unlike past festivals, the promise for this year is that everyone can get a seat.

"For the first time when you buy a ticket you get a seat and it will be a fantastic seat," said the Premier.

Although tickets are still available for the ensuing days, he said: "I am pleased to announce today, on the eve of the Music Festival, ticket sales have outpaced where we were at this point last year.

"This is destined now to be our biggest music festival ever."

This year many eyes will be on Bermuda. The international media interest in our Festival is high.

"People Magazine, Hello Magazine, Black Enterprise magazine have already committed to covering the music festival," he said. "That equates to millions of readers."

Adding to that return participant Steve Harvey, is hosting his syndicated radio show from the Fairmont Southampton, which Dr. Brown said was also another huge boost for the Island's tourism.

Although there are about 500 tickets left, the Premier added that he believed that if they had additional hotel rooms, ticket sales would have looked quite different.

"In fact if we had a few hundred more hotel rooms, I'm sure we could have sold even more tickets.

"Some music festival fans had to be turned away because there was no room at the inn."

Aside from the performing celebrities to look out for, Dr. Brown added that there were several others to catch a glimpse of.

"Gabrielle Union, Regina King, Jesse Metcalf, Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and Tichina Arnold are just some of the names on the list."

Mr Harvey said he was once again pleased to be a part of the Festival.

"The show will be broadcast live from here (Bermuda) everyday this week and we sold out all of the hotels, and we'd like to say that we'd sell some more tickets, but ain't got nowhere to stay.

"I told them that they can just come over here and stand around and camp out, but it don't appeal to a lot of the black people that listen to my show.

"You have some great entertainment and some top flight superstars from the States, hopefully next year the same thing will happen."

For more information on tickets: visit www.bermudatourism. com, the Soundstage, in the Washington Mall or Fairmont Hamilton Princess.

More on tonight's Festival happenings in the Lifestyle section.