HOST of opportunities will be made available to Bermuda next week ? presented in the unlikely guise of a dynamic festival featuring a host of top entertainers.

In a display of faith-based tourism at its finest, big names such as Richard Smallwood & the Smallwood Singers, Israel & New Breed, Chevelle Franklyn, Vickie Yohe and Deitrick Haddon will perform at the Fairmont Southampton Princess as part of Bermuda Sonfest 2006.

Events during the day will be hosted by Gerard Henry , of BET's Sunday programme . At night, hosting duties will fall to David Mann, best known for his stage performances as 'Brown', in Tyler Perry's stage plays.

The event aims to provide the island with more than entertainment ? locals will have the chance to show their talent to top recording executives, proceeds will go towards a performing arts scholarship, and the entire community could benefit should organisers achieve their ultimate goal of establishing a state-of-the-art convention centre.

"There are so many entities that will provide opportunity during this year's three-day event," said Leroy Simmons, Jr., CEO of Love Alive Ministries, organisers behind the event.

"Our vision is to effectively connect, develop and present in excellence, performing arts and sports relative to our various cultures, races and generations in a wholesome environment.

"I believe it's a great story, particularly when Bermudians will have an opportunity to display their talents in front of top record company executives and possibly receive multi-million-dollar contracts.

"Ultimately, our goal is to establish a convention centre that will adequately accommodate the needs of the corporate community, performing arts groups and sports organisations.

"Each year we try to present various performing arts and related activities in Bermuda ? our first issue is always with venue. Everything is weather dependent. There's never a guarantee, even in the summer.

"We don't have an ideal venue in Bermuda that could facilitate an audience of thousands and equipment to an international scale. I believe with the right facilities we can boost Bermuda's tourist trade, international business in Bermuda and also provide an opportunity to better develop local talent."

Bermuda Sonfest 2006 runs from August 24 through 26 and will include nightly concerts at the hotel's beach pavilion, a showcase for new talent and a golf tournament in honour of Kelly Zuill, a long-time host of local religious radio programmes.

This is the third such event Mr. Simmons has staged for Bermuda. Asked how he was able to develop such high-profile contacts, he explained that the real challenge lay in soliciting funding.

"We've been doing concerts and things for a while. While living in the US and Bermuda and while travelling, I had the opportunity to meet great people in the industry and developed relationships.

"For this year's event, I was able to pull a number of resources together to make them viable, or at least accessible, to Bermudians.

"I've appreciated the vision of the Department of Tourism, of Minister (Ewart) Brown and (chairman of the Tourism Board) Andr? Curtis, to encourage and financially support faith-based tourism. We've recently seen many acts within our community that have not been positive.

"It's time for the church to stand up and one way is to provide an alternative, wholesome environment that will appeal to all generations, races and cultures within the community.

"A lot of the negativity occurs where people don't understand their destiny. They're not sure what they should be doing. They have no training, no education and often live life without a purpose. Lack of purpose brings events such as the violence we've seen. It brings deaths, unwanted pregnancies and a lot of things that have a tendency to hold us down.

"It's something corporate Bermuda needs to be aware of. I know that several organisers of faith-based events have had challenges in getting support from corporate Bermuda. These are positive things in the community that will move us toward a positive environment.

"If the church can help redirect persons away from negativity, perhaps we can save a life that would have been lost, prevent a building from being burnt down, encourage someone to get an education and become an executive as opposed to a thug. It's just about doing our part."

Similar thinking led Mr. Simmons to ensure Bermudians would have an opportunity to shine during this most recent event.

"I own music stores and entities in Bermuda, the US and South Africa and out of all the CDs that come in, I rarely see any with the face of a Bermudian on it. It's because we're not connected with the right people to put Bermudians on the international front.

"The people coming for our Training Institute and the New Artist Showcase Luncheon are the people to help get us connected with the international arena, the people who can guide us to developing our music so it's at international standards, it's accepted on international radio formats and receives international distribution.

"The Kelly Zuill Golf Tournament was done to honour a man who has brought gospel music to Bermuda airwaves promoted gospel music, beginning over 43 years ago. I believe a lot of what I do now in gospel music is attributed to the foundation Kelly Zuill set in radio.

"I wanted to respect and honour a man who saw a need and brought it to the island. We're trying to appeal to various people ? whether they're in the church or not," he added.

"Many faith-based events have appeal to the broader community. Everybody needs a laugh no matter where they come from or what their education. (David Mann) will help us do that every night. And of course, with the setting on the beach, it's less intimidating than a church. People should just come and be prepared to have a good time."