It all started with a jingle. Benjamin “Big Mon” Smith, then a delivery driver for Sargasso Sea, said he wrote a song for the service while it was starting up in 2019. He said he collaborated with local musicians and a professional music producer to record the jingle, but kept in touch long after the recording session ended.

Now, Gass-On Entertainment, the brainchild of the meet-up, aims to foster and promote Bermuda’s music scene, with this weekend’s Lover’s Rock 2.0: Reggae Meets R&B concert being the next step in that.

“People can expect good, authentic vibes this weekend,” Mr Smith said. “It’s not a competition of sorts, but just something to give people a nice little pre-Valentine’s Day, feel-good flavour.”

He added: “It’s important that we show honour and show respect across the board, whether it be the arts, whether it be sports, whether it be entertainment.

“I’m a firm believer in our people and so to give the next generation coming up an opportunity to shine, to show their talent and to have people just enjoy what they bring to the table is very important.”

Lover’s Rock 2.0: Reggae Meets R&B will be the fourth entry into Gass-On Entertainment’s Love Zone concert series.

The event will feature Cush Evans with backing from Grass Roots Band, Bermuda Idol’s 2024 winner Demara Maybury and veteran musician Rivah.

The line-up also includes Princess Blaque, Swav, Pier and Singabwoy, with comedian Nadanja Bailey emceeing the concert.

Mr Smith said he started Gass-On Entertainment to “promote, incentivise and monetise” off of local talent.

He said it was his way of “creating Bermudian pride” by honouring local entertainers. Mr Smith explained: “We’re dealing with the next generation.

“As an elder and as one who’s been in this industry for many, many years, it’s important that we empower the next generation and they in turn empower the next generation.”

He added: “I could very well pick up the phone and get international acts here — but we have talent here already.

“I want people to come out and scream Demara’s name. I want them to come out and scream Rivah’s name.”

Mr Smith said that Gass-On has been growing over the years thanks to more and more event attendance.

Their very first show, he said, was at Harris’ Bay Field in Smith’s.

He said they performed out of the flatbed of a pick-up truck from Island Construction and attendees brought their own chairs and coolers.

Now, according to Mr Smith, they had Grammy Award-nominated producer David Burgess and Cush Evans, who has performed in Jamaica, Britain and throughout North America, on their executive team.

He said: “In this business, what I’ve learnt is that sometimes success is not measured by the numbers that you get.

“If ten people come to your show and they all leave saying ‘when are you guys having your next one,’ chances are they’ll tell ten more people and then those ten are going to show up next year with ten more people.”

Mr Evans, who returned to the island after travelling across the UK, said he saw the group as a way to invest in Bermudian talent.

“This is for us,” he said. “This is for our locals and our island.

“A lot of us haven’t always had the opportunities to be celebrated as musicians and performers, so this is an investment of time and energy.”

Demara Maybury said performing through Gass-On Entertainment felt “extremely overwhelming, but in the best way possible”.

She explained: “I’ve met so many people on island who have started from over a decade ago, so it’s really nice to be able to get to know people and associate yourself with musicians on island.

“I’m just looking forward to what’s in store and getting to know local talent on island as well.”

Ms Maybury came from a family of singers, with her mother, Mary, and her aunt, Rochelle Lecomte, singing on the radio as “the Simon Sisters”.

She added that she started singing in church and to raise money for the Salvation Army before making her own way in high school.

Ms Maybury said: “I want more than anything to minister through song to my community. It’s really important to me.

“Whenever I perform I think of what my purpose is and I find purpose through music and creating a sense of joy and genuineness to wherever I perform.”

Rivah, who had specialised in reggae music since the 1990s, said it was an “honour” to perform among the talent appearing on Saturday.

He added that Bermuda’s music scene today had the same level of talent as his time — now with the technology to put themselves out there.

Rivah said: “It feels good to know that the youth is coming up and doing things a little better than we were back then.”

• Lover’s Rock 2.0: Reggae Meets R&B will take place on February 7 at Docksider Pub and Restaurant. Doors open at 8pm and the show starts at 9pm. Tickets for singles will be $60 while couples’ tickets cost $100 together. Both will be available on Sargasso Sea’s website and app, as well as at the door.