Mr. Notch Blazes a Trail on the International Tour Circuit

Caymanian singer Jeán - eric Smith aka Mr. Notch has been breaking ground in the local music industry for decades, as was the case just recently when the musician completed an unprecedented three month tour throughout the UK and the United States, alongside major acts such as UB40, Maxi Priest and Big Mountain.

An inspirational performer who has always been raising the bar for local musicians, the artist’s international appearances alongside such celebrated acts, charts new territory for those to come in his wake.

With the first stops of the three week tour taking place in summer festivals throughout the United Kingdom, featuring other major international headliners, Mr. Notch and reggae impresarios Big Mountain wowed audiences with their rendition of the popular Alton Ellis classic, ‘Girl I’ve Got A Date’; a collaborative single featured on Big Mountain’s previously released  Versions Undercover album (2008) as well as on their recently released album, Best of Big Mountain.(2020)

The Caymanian born singer had previously toured the UK summer circuit in 2021, alongside ASWAD and Wayne Wonder. That initial tour was the forerunner to his most recent foray into the major arenas of Britain and the United States.

In 2021, Mr. Notch’s tour with Big Mountain included stops at Huddersfield,

Leeds, Manchester,Birmingham.

After the February 2022 release of ‘Reggae Man’ the follow up single to ‘Black My Story’, Mr. Notch was again invited to tour Great Britain w Big Mountain on their follow up UK  Summer Festival tour this year.

Dates included Cardiff Wales, Glasgow Scotland and London England. Other acts featured on these dates were Shaggy, Chaka Demus n Pliers, Collie Budz, Third World, Julian Marley and many more. 

After wrapping up the UK leg of the tour, Mr. Notch and Big Mountain made their way to the United States where they joined the Bigger Bagga Riddim Tour, alongside heavyweights such as UB40, the Original Wailers featuring Al Anderson and Maxi Priest.

The tour saw the musicians playing some 28 dates in 15 States, including Pennsylvania, New Jersey, NYC (Central Park), Massachusetts and Boca Raton Florida to name a few

These tours follow a grueling recording and promotion schedule, which started with the artist releasing his debut single ‘Black My Story’, before traveling to the United Kingdom to promote its release during the height of the COVID  world pandemic (2019/ 2020).

The timing of the promotional tour for ‘Black My Story’ was strategized to coincide with Black History Month in the UK and was launched with the professional assistance of Music Media Management at the time.

Mr. Notch is now set to release his fourth single ‘Search the Town’ later this month, in a continued attempt to generate  demand for an album; continuing on the momentum of Black My Story, Reggae Man and his latest release Got To Have Love.

The Artist’s international and regional success at this juncture are a culmination of 40 years in the music business.

“To be asked by Big Mountain to come back with them on their return tour of the UK was truly a feeling of validation of my previous and ongoing efforts to have my music break into the UK market, but to then be given the opportunity to appear with them on the UB40 Bigga Bagga Riddim USA Tour was truly the icing on the cake and the end to an amazing summer,” noted Mr. Notch.

He added that, “I’ve performed in New York City before but performing in Central Park, New York was always a dream of mine and after 40 years of being a professional musician it has finally been ticked off the bucket list.”

“I’d say the moral to my story is never give up,” ‘he remarked, “so I really can’t wait to get back in the studio”.