AFTER STRUGGLING to stay afloat for most of the year, promoters of the Live Music Nation series are looking to close 2008 on a high note with Wednesday's concert at the Back Yaad venue in St Andrew.

Singer Tessanne Chin is the headliner with the Gas Money and Crimson Heart Replica bands as supporting acts. Guitarist Seretse Small, head of Griot Music, which promotes Live Music Nation, told The Gleaner that while audience reception has been favourable, it is doubtful the series will return in 2009.

"We have been doing this for three years, but haven't benefited from resources to expand," he said. "We may have to give it a break and come back when things get better."

The Live Music Nation shows have taken place at mainly upscale St Andrew venues, such as Christopher's and Heather's in New Kingston and Grosvenor Galleries in Manor Park.

Performers have included singers Peter Lloyd and Althea Hewitt and singer/bassist Benjy Myaz. They have been backed by pick-up bands featuring established and up-and-coming musicians who, Small says, are committed to keeping live music alive in Jamaica.

"There's a huge number of musicians out there. They're just not getting the acclaim of the computer producers, but they're out there," Small said.

On Wednesday, several of those musicians will take the bandstand with Chin at Back Yaad. Among them are veteran drummer Paul Kastic and bassist Robert Browne, who played on Hideaway, her rock-reggae hit song from 2007.

Chin stayed true to her hard-driving live sound on her follow-up song, the well-received The Messenger.

Jamaica's live music scene was vibrant during the 1970s when clubs like The Bohemia and Tit For Tat had resident bands. But, with the emergence of computer beats in reggae during the 1980s, there has been a steady decline in the number of Jamaican bands.