As his stage name would suggest, Jamaican dancehall reggae artist Busy Signal is a performer with a lot on his plate.

“I am always travelling,” Busy Signal told The Royal Gazette. “I am rarely at home in Jamaica for more than a few days at a time.”

Barbados, California and Japan are just a few of the stops on his schedule this year. He performs in Bermuda at Catch A Fire at the National Sports Centre in Devonshire on May 31.

Concert promoters Jamal Hart and Alex Abbott said the annual Catch A Fire concert prided itself on its veteran line-ups.

This year they wanted the 46-year-old artist to act as a bridge between generations.

“He has been performing for over 25 years,” Mr Hart said. “He is also very current. He does a lot of collaborations.”

A month ago, Busy Signal and Bermudian singer Collie Buddz dropped Spark Up on YouTube.

Busy Signal’s rise to fame was not an easy one. At the start of his career, he struggled with a basic lack of resources.

“If I had had money I could have burnt 100 CDs of my music and handed them out to people,” he said. “I did not have that.”

What he did have was a support network of people willing to help.

“I have to say thank you to them,” he said. “Some of them only did minor things but it meant something to me. When you are a young artist, just starting out, every little bit of encouragement helps.”

Busy Signal released his break out song Step Out in 2005.

“When I first started out I had no idea the sacrifices the work would require,” he said. “I was just enjoying it and basking in it. I could not have known that I would lose girlfriends and there would be times when my kids were angry with me. I have missed weddings and funerals, birthday parties and graduations because I was performing. When you are on contract you cannot just drop a concert.”

Busy Signal loves his job.

“I am completely career-driven,” he said. “I have no regrets.”

He is known for his versatility. Not only has he had hits such as Nah Go A Jail Again, Tic Toc and Unknown Number, he also sang a reggae version of country music star Kenny Rogers’s The Gambler for the 2011 album Reggae Gone Country.

“I am so happy I was one of the people chosen to do that,” he said. “When I was growing up in Jamaica, there was a lot of country music played.”

He felt nervous doing the Kenny Rogers standard.

“I was the only dancehall artist to sing on that album,” he said. “People were wondering if Busy would deliver. That was Kenny Rogers and I wanted to do it to the best of my ability. Being on the project was a plus for me but when I first said yes to it, I did not even know what song they wanted me to sing.”

Busy Signal counts his ability to easily navigate different music styles, his biggest blessing.

“I am not just a talented artist from Jamaica who does dancehall,” he said. “I do reggae music. I jump on Celine Dion instrumentals. I jump on gospel, house music and jazz. I am not scared to try anything at all.”

When he tries something new, he does it to the best of his ability.

“Thank you to the fans, all over, who are receiving what I do,” he said.

Busy Signal has performed on the island several times.

“Bermuda is nice,” he said. “It is small but it reminds me of home. The people are very warm.”

Catch A Fire is a regular concert in Bermuda, with a charitable arm.

Concert organiser Jamal Hart said: “If it is a profitable event, after all expenses are paid, money will go to CedarBridge Academy, probably towards new uniforms for the sports teams.”

Mr Hart, a teacher at CedarBridge, said Catch A Fire was known for hosting veteran artists.

DJs at Catch A Fire will include YGS, OGS Genesis, Fire Blacks and Zaydo.

“DilinJah will make his first public debut on the big stage,” Mr Hart said. “He is young and has produced a couple of songs.”

Also on the schedule are Bermudians General Kaution, known for international hits such as Hustla Baby and Reality, and Jesse Seymour, known for Jenny Rose and Rude Boy.

Organisers are expecting more than 1,000 attendees.

Mr Hart said putting on a show like Catch A Fire had its challenges.

“First is the cost,” he said. “We definitely rely upon sponsors who assist with different aspects.”

The Ministry of Tourism, Transport, Culture and Sport is the major sponsor for Catch A Fire.

Another challenge is that Bermuda does not have a purpose-built amphitheatre to accommodate an event of this size.”

Mr Hart said the venue was very central but everything has to be put under a tent and requires generators, a sound system, extra lighting and toilets.

Tickets are available from www.ptix.bm: $85 in advance, $100 at the gate or $150 for VIP tickets that include access to a separate entrance, party favours, two complimentary drinks, a full meal in a private area, and private parking.

The dress theme on the night is denim and white.