ReggaeTimes

PanCaribbean presents the

12^th Annual Sigma  Corporate Run

Sunday February 21, 2010

Proceeds in aid of Children with

Disabilities

 After delivery a powerful musical punch at this year’s Brooklyn Music Festival, dominating Sumfest and Champions in Action in Jamaica, Bounty Killer will return to Brooklyn to bring a fitting end to the festivities.

Billed as the ‘After Parkway Jam,’ the event takes place after the day-long carnival parade which makes it a fitting close to the West Indian-American Day Carnival celebrations and the City’s summer concert season. In celebration of the West Indian-American Carnival weekend, the’5 Star General’ and his Alliance will take over Brooklyn’s Caribbean City nightclub on September 7th.

“What better way to end the summer than to have ‘the General’ shut down Brooklyn,” promoter and popular New York sound system selector Steelie Bashment stated. “Brooklyn was the first place to really embrace Killer. He’s been a roll this summer, and it is only fitting that he comes back to Brooklyn to lock it down.”

Over one million dollars in cash and prizes will be up for grabs this Sunday (July 26) when the ten finalists in the Jamaica Festival Song Competition 2009 do battle in the final showdown.   The winning song will collect One Million dollars courtesy of Digicel while the Best Performer will cop $300,000 compliments of Tastee.  The songwriters of the top ten songs will each be presented with an award of $100,000.  Awards for the Most Improved Finalist and for the Most Disciplined Finalist will be determined based on observations from the semi-final round through to Sunday night and the selected finalists will receive a $40,000 gift voucher from Capital and Credit Merchant Bank.

Once again, the public’s opinion carries a lot of weighting in the selection of the winner as this will be decided through a combination of text votes and scores by a panel of judges.  Festival Song Co-ordinator Germaine Raymond, says based on the objectives of the competition, it is essential that all Jamaica gets involved, “We are seeking to identify a song that will re-energize  a spirit of celebration and nationalism in our country, a song for the people selected by the people”.   Ms. Raymond added, “It is our aim to sustain that spirit way beyond the Independence period so it is important to us that the winning song is widely embraced”.

This year’s competition is being staged under the theme ‘I Believe in Jamaica’ and features Nathan, Pretty Rebel, Cris Christy, Calvin McFarlane, Stacia, Oba Simba, CC Blake, Tinga Stewart, Winston Hussey and Lester Lewis & Singing Rose.  All the finalists have been involved in a series of workshops and other developmental activities including an island wide promotional tour. Major sponsors Chase Fund, along with Tastee Jamaica Ltd, Cooyah and a number of media entities are partnering with the JCDC on the event.

 The final show is scheduled for the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre with guest artistes Busy Signal, Christopher Martin and 2008 winner Roy Rayon.  

The New Jersey’s landmark Ritz Theatre is once again paying homage to the drum and bass sounds of the islands with the 2nd annual installment of Reggae at the Ritz. This year’s staging welcomes Reggae legends Beres Hammond and Culture, along with acclaimed Roots Reggae singers Tarrus Riley and Duane Stephenson to fete Jamaica’s 47th year of Independence.

Hosted by Icon World Entertainment and RoadBlockRadio.com this year’s Reggae at the Ritz event will be held at the prestigious Ritz Theatre in Elizabeth, NJ on Sunday, August 2nd. Jamaica’s Independence Day is August 6th.
 
Reggae, a combination of traditional African and Caribbean music with elements of American Rhythm & Blues and Soul, developed in Jamaica soon after its Independence in 1962.  From late 1960’s through the early 1970’s the bass-heavy sound of Reggae gained the attention of overseas musicians through the music of early pioneers like Bunny Lee, Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, Toots and the Maytals, Bob Marley and the Wailers, and Jimmy Cliff.  American musician Johnny Nash is credited with first putting Reggae on the American charts with his 1968 hit “Hold Me Tight.” Later that same year, the Beatles brought worldwide attention to new sound with the Reggae-tinged Rock & Roll song “Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da.” Eric Clapton’s 1974 cover of Bob Marley’s “I Shot the Sheriff“ propelled Reggae into the mix of mainstream pop-culture music. The next year, Bob Marley and the Wailers had their first international breakthrough with “No Woman No Cry,” and their 1976 album Rastaman Vibration spent four weeks on the Top Ten charts in the U.S. The following year Culture released their seminal album Two Sevens Clash which, to this day, is hailed by Rolling Stone Magazine as one of the ‘50 Coolest Records’ ever made.

In celebration of Jamaica’s 47th anniversary, this year’s Reggae at the Ritz pays tribute to Jamaica’s musical legacy with two of the island’s groundbreaking international Reggae icons, Beres Hammond — whose 37 year career includes well over 20 albums including the Grammy nominated Music is Life — and Culture. Reggae at the Ritz also features two of Jamaica’s fastest rising Reggae talents, Tarrus Riley, who burst on the scene in 2006 with the critically acclaimed album Parables featuring the smash hit “She’s Royal,” and singer/songwriter Duane Stephenson best known for his single “August Town” as well as for co-writing the anthem “True Reflections” for Reggae artist Jah Cure.

BEACH PARTY – Sunday July 19

Gates Open @ 2pm

• Errol Lee and the Bare Essentials
• DJ Mix Master Marvin
• Crazy Neil
• Cameal Davis
• Danger Zone
•  Khalil
• Timeka Marshall
• ZJ Ice
• M.C: Allan Ranks

JAGRA DANCEHALL NIGHT – Thursday July 23

Gates Open @ 7pm

Showtime @ 8 pm

• Beenie Man
• Bounty Killa
• Vbyz Kartel and the Portmore Empire
• Mavado
• Lady Saw
• Elephant Man
• Busy Signal
• Spice
• Kip Rich
• D’Angel
• Assassin
• Macka Diamond
• Voice Mail
• Demarco
• Prodigal Son
• Flippa Mafia
• I – Octane
• Stacious
• Charly Black
• Bugle
• Poor and Boasy
• Spryng I
• Nature
• Backing Band: Kaushon and Live Wyya
• M.C: GT Taylor (Irie FM) and Richie B (Hot 102)

INTERNATIONAL NIGHT 1 – Friday July 24

Gates Open @ 7pm

Showtime @ 8 pm

• Ne-Yo
• Keri Hilson
• Jazmine Sullivan
• Morgan Heritage
• Jah Cure
• Coco Tea
• Queen Ifrica
• Dubtonic Kru
• Lutan Fyah
• Anthony Able
• Herzon
• Stream
• Backing Band: Sane
• M.C: Ron Muschette and Elise Kelly (Irie FM)

INTERNATIONAL NIGHT 2 – Saturday July 25

Gates Open @ 7pm

Showtime @ 8 pm

• The Jacksons
• Toni Braxton
• Nas
• Damian ‘Jr. Gong Marley’
• Inner Circle
• Tarrus Riley
• Etana
• Da’ville
• Rhaatid
• Romain Virgo
• Sophia Squire
• Mackie Conscious
• Backing Band: Hard Drive
• M.C: Paula-Ann Porter (RJR 94FM) and Francois St. Juste (Fame)

It is confirmed, the five member band, children of “I’ll Do Anything For You” maestro Denroy Morgan will be performing at Sumfest on International Night One. As spearhead and lead singer/musician of the international acclaimed reggae group, Peter Morgan is making marked solo strides as Peetah. With several singles, including management Juke Box/Shane Brown’s “Secrets” and “Golden Brown” accompanied b two e-class type music videos and albums of hits from Morgan Heritage, Peetah has already broken the solo “want buss” barrier.

“Peetah has over thirty singles as a solo artiste, and since he has returned from overseas he has been working constantly in the studios recording. Along with the performance of his brother and sisters of Morgan Heritage, Peetah will be making his official launching out of his own solo career,” said Richard, a spokesperson for the singer. Adding to the headline list of international acts Ne-Yo, Keri Hilson, Jazmine Sullivan, Jah Cure and Coco T, among other, Morgan Heritage will be a main course and “brawta”, as we say in Jamaica.

“He just came back from Belize. This weekend he will be on Sumfest. He will be launching his solo career within Morgan Heritage’s Sumfest performance. He just did UCLA two weeks ago, and he was Gambia, Africa recently. He is expected to do a European tour in the latter part of this year. He has over thirty singles ready to get out,” Richard said.

Peetah is expected to perform on Friday July 24 billed as International Night 1, and is slated to performed “Secrets”, “Serve and Perfect,” and one of his latest produced by Stephen M^cGregor, “Don’t Walk Away”.

The schedule for Reggae Sumfest is as follows:

BEACH PARTY – Sunday July 19

Gates Open @ 2pm

• Errol Lee and the Bare Essentials
• DJ Mix Master Marvin
• Crazy Neil
• Cameal Davis
• Danger Zone
•  Khalil
• Timeka Marshall
• ZJ Ice
• M.C: Allan Ranks

JAGRA DANCEHALL NIGHT – Thursday July 23

Gates Open @ 7pm

Showtime @ 8 pm

• Beenie Man
• Bounty Killa
• Vbyz Kartel and the Portmore Empire
• Mavado
• Lady Saw
• Elephant Man
• Busy Signal
• Spice
• Kip Rich
• D’Angel
• Assassin
• Macka Diamond
• Voice Mail
• Demarco
• Prodigal Son
• Flippa Mafia
• I – Octane
• Stacious
• Charly Black
• Bugle
• Poor and Boasy
• Spryng I
• Nature
• Backing Band: Kaushon and Live Wyya
• M.C: GT Taylor (Irie FM) and Richie B (Hot 102)

INTERNATIONAL NIGHT 1 – Friday July 24

Gates Open @ 7pm

Showtime @ 8 pm

• Ne-Yo
• Keri Hilson
• Jazmine Sullivan
• Morgan Heritage
• Jah Cure
• Coco Tea
• Queen Ifrica
• Dubtonic Kru
• Lutan Fyah
• Anthony Able
• Herzon
• Stream
• Backing Band: Sane
• M.C: Ron Muschette and Elise Kelly (Irie FM)

INTERNATIONAL NIGHT 2 – Saturday July 25

Gates Open @ 7pm

Showtime @ 8 pm

• The Jacksons
• Toni Braxton
• Nas
• Damian ‘Jr. Gong Marley’
• Inner Circle
• Tarrus Riley
• Etana
• Da’ville
• Rhaatid
• Romain Virgo
• Sophia Squire
• Mackie Conscious
• Backing Band: Hard Drive
• M.C: Paula-Ann Porter (RJR 94FM) and Francois St. Juste (Fame)

The TVJ Miss Jamaica Festival Queen Competition 2009 - National Coronation Show under the theme “Jamaican Woman… Our National Treasure” will be held on Saturday, July 18 at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre starting at 8pm.

The thirteen parish representatives will compete in the areas of talent, poise and cultural awareness for the title of ‘Miss Jamaica Festival Queen 2009’ and the opportunity to represent the island as a cultural ambassador.

Etana performed with Luciano in the Caribbean island of St Kitts for 10,000 people at that country’s Labour Party Super Rally, and then again at an inspirational youth workshop, aimed at encouraging St Kitt’s youth at using their talent positively.

“Oh, St Kitts was wonderful. I love performing in the Caribbean, our people are the best! Right now, I’m homesick, but I’m having fun on the road, and I’m meeting some really great people, and connecting with as many fans and music lovers as I possibly can,” commented the singer.

After leaving St. Kitts, Etana made her way to Amsterdam where she treated the packed venue of screaming Reggae lovers to songs from her debut studio album “The Strong One” as well as some of her more recent studio work, which they loved. As she belted out tunes like “Jah Chariot”, ”Money”,” Roots Warrior Love”, “I Am Not Afraid”, and more, as her planned set was interspersed with unplanned acapella renditions of tunes from the album like “Free” and ”Live and Love Life”. With her catalogue of powerful reggae music, soulful songstress got the crowd excited, causing the audience to chant along with her.

“Amsterdam was very good to me. I love the vibe here, and they really love my music and reggae music on a whole. The reggae culture is so alive and vibrant in the country, it’s like I never left home,” she said.

The Two Seven Splash Reggae Concert was held on July 5 and also featured other reggae acts such as Bunny Wailer, Buju Banton, Irie Love and Terry Lynn.

Etana will continue her tour of the West Coast of the United States, heading to Oregon and Washington, and then cities in Canada. The tour ends on July 18 in California.