Legendary record producer and composer Quincy Jones will top the bill at this year's scaled-down Bermuda Music Festival, with R&B singer Ne-Yo also lined up to perform.

The 76-year-old icon — famous as the man behind Michael Jackson's record-breaking 'Thriller' album — will conduct an international orchestra on two nights at the October 29 to 31 event, which is moving back to Dockyard to cut costs.

Premier Ewart Brown told a press conference yesterday that Mr. Jones would be joined on stage at the Maritime Museum's 4,200-capacity Keep Yard by "an array of the biggest names in music today".

Their identities will be announced in the coming weeks but tickets for the concerts go on sale today (Wednesday) — and Tourism Minister Dr. Brown said they are likely to be snapped up.

"The talent line-up promises to be spectacular," he said. "My suggestion would be to get your tickets early and do not wait. Quincy Jones has a cache of music and more friends than you could ever imagine."

Ne-Yo, famous for hits such as 'So Sick' and 'Miss Independent', will headline the opening Thursday night of the festival, with Mr. Jones and his guests sharing the stage on the Friday and Saturday nights.

Dr. Brown said all three evenings would feature a "Bermuda-style" special tribute to the late King of Pop, Michael Jackson, a longtime friend of Mr. Jones.

The Premier described this year's event as 'the more intimate 14th annual Bermuda Music Festival", adding that the $1.2 million cost of staging it was "less than half of what last year's concert cost".

He said moving it back to Dockyard, after two years at the National Sports Centre, "fits our new costing model".

He added that there was a "humongous" cost associated with staging events at the sports centre, because of the venue's size.

"We made the decision because we would rather spend the money on talent and presentation, as opposed to the set-up," he said.

Dr. Brown said the festival was "significant in enticing visitors to our shores" and that the Department of Tourism had been "aggressively promoting" it in key gateway markets.

But he suggested that the economic downturn would see this year's event bring in about 15 percent less tourists than the 2008 Bermuda Music Festival, which attracted 1,500 overseas visitors and featured stars such as Beyoncé and Alicia Keys.

Festival executive producer Rock Newman, of Gibraltar Promotions, did not agree, predicting that 2,000 visitors from abroad would come to the Island for the three-day musical extravaganza.

Quincy Jones or Q, as he is often referred to, has spent more than 50 years in the music business as a composer, record producer, artist, film producer, arranger, conductor, instrumentalist, TV producer, record company executive, magazine founder and multimedia entrepreneur.

He is the all-time most nominated Grammy artist with a total of 79 nominations and 27 Grammy Awards.

He will be presented with the first African Diaspora Lifetime Achievement Award at this year's festival. Dr. Brown, chairman of Bermuda's African Diaspora Heritage Trail Foundation, said the accolade was to recognise the work Mr. Jones has done tracing the African roots of many styles of music, including samba, bossa nova, salsa, jazz, hip hop and the blues.

Mr. Newman said: "This man is really, really touched by this honour and excited about coming to Bermuda. He loves the fact that he is coming to Bermuda."

He added: "This entire Dockyard area is going to be magical on those three nights. Think Roman coliseum. Think lighting. There will be a ship at the Wharf.

"To be able to see Quincy Jones is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. He is such an incredible icon."

Ed Harris, executive director of the Maritime Museum, said it was a privilege to host the festival at the "very historic" Keep Yard, a ten-acre fort at the end of Dockyard.

• Festival tickets, ranging from $85 to $160 for a single evening and $260 to $385 for a three-day pass, go on sale today. Buy them at the iStore at 46 Reid Street or Fabulous Fashions (formerly Picture Perfect) at Heron Bay Plaza or call 232-2255.

They can be bought online at www.bermudamusicfestival.com or www.bdatix.bm.