REGGAE NEWS & SITE UPDATES 2008-II
all items of the second quarter of 2008 (April, May & June)
Old News
New dates added. New dates include the line-ups for several regular nights.
Jamaican minister Olivia Grange has stated that besides the extensive research and documentation already happening worldwide there is also a need to exibit artifacts. The Ministry of Information, Culture, Youth and Sports is being helped by musicologist Herbie Miller. Please read the full official article here.
New dates and flyers added. Another change to the Two Sevens Splash festival. After Buju Banton cancelled it is now certain that Beres Hammond will also not be there. New names on the bill include Marcia Griffiths, Ras Shiloh and Busy Signal.
New dates and flyers added. New dates include Ernest Ranglin & the High Notes, Rico Rodriguez & the High Notes, Black Chiney Sound and the line-ups for several regular nights.
Ghanian born, Jamaican raised writer of fiction and non-fiction, poet and Director of the University of South Carolina Arts Institute Kwame Dawes has released his first novel, a narrative about an American girl who falls for a Jamaican musician on tour. The novel titled She's Gone is published by Macmillan Caribbean. Please read the Black Issues Book Review here, or visit the publisher's site here.
Toronto's RMAA awards show was held yesterday. Canadian singer Steele took three awards and Tanya Mullings won the award for best female vocalist.
New dates and flyers added. New dates include Midnite and Jah Storm ft Jah Meek & Anthony Locks as well as the line-ups for several regular nights. Buju Banton cancelled for Two Sevens Splash.
New reviews added. The new Roots Top Choice is Lady K-Wida's debut single. Other reviews include Mr Irieman, Shabaka, Ky-Mani and more.
New dates and flyers added. New dates include Ali Campbell (ex-UB40) and the line-ups for several regular nights.
The independent film festival will be held from the 16th to the 22nd of June and is divided into different sections. The Roots And Culture section is all about Jamaica and will feature films like One Love, The Candy Shop, Mutiny, Roots Time, Surf Rasta, Man Free and Louder Than Words. Please check the full Shoot Me listing here.
Due to scheduling difficulties director Martin Scorsese has officially left the Bob Marley documentary project. He has been replaced by Academy Award winning director Jonathan Demme. Please read the full BBC News article here.
New dates and flyers added. New dates include Black Seeds and the line-ups for several regular nights.
After finishing his UK club dates Fantan Mojah was arrested while visiting a dubious shop in Brixton. Let's hope he will get off by proclaiming he was just there to get a bottle of water. His next appearance should be Lisbon, Portugal on the 21st of May. Please read the full RadioJamaica.com article here.
New dates and flyers added. New dates include Leftside, Steel Pulse and Beenie Man as well as the line-ups for several regular nights.
New dates and flyers added. New dates include Doe Maar and the line-ups for several regular nights. The Heptones & BDF date has been pushed back to July 4th.
The Stop Murder Music campaign has again scored and scarred. Now they have made it impossible or at least very hard for Sizzla to enter the European Schengen zone. Although the popular performer has signed the Reggae Compassion Act it seems to never be good enough, fockry! I for one hope that his May 16th date in Amsterdam will go on as planned. Please read the full Pink News article here.
Ali Campbell's unknown brother Duncan will be taking over the vocals for future recordings and on stage he will be joined by Maxi Priest. Please read the full Times Online article here, or the full BBC News article here.
New dates and flyers added. New dates include Gussie P & Danny Red, The Liquids, The Heptones & BDF and Jimmy Cliff. Also the line-ups for the Future Reggae Ruigoord and the Two Sevens Splash festivals have been announced. Other new dates include the line-ups for several regular nights.
In the recent May 1st issue of the bi-weekly Rolling Stone magazine dancehall artist Mavado was hailed as best new reggae act. The Best Of Rock 2008 article deals with some 125-plus people, places and things ruling the contemporary music universe. Please read the full Rolling Stone article here.
November 3 will mark the start of the trial hearings on the murder of Lucky Dube. The three alledged killers will be facing 46 witnesses who will testify against them. Please read the full Sowetan article here.
The first two hour part of this new series about the history and influence of Jamaican music will be aired tonight between 22:00 and 24:00 hrs. Part two will follow next week on the 30th. If you can't check it tonight you could check it later on demand from the Radio 6 website. Please read the full NPS Output article here.
New dates and flyers added. The Pressure and Don Corleon show scheduled for April 27th has been cancelled. Visitors of the original Bitterzoet venue can now enjoy Italian soundsystem General Palma while the Pressure show has moved to the Knockout party at the Melkweg, June 6th. Other new dates include the line-ups for several regular nights.
A new feature movie about Jamaicans in New York is scheduled to premiere May 1st. The thriller about two detectives investigating a serial killer stars Louie Rankin, Nico Musriche and Melesia Thomas and features music by Rankin and Morgan Heritage. Please read the full Jamaica Gleaner article here.
New dates and flyers added. New dates include the line-ups for several regular nights.
Bob Marley's mother Cedella Booker Marley died yesterday at age 81. Please read the full Jimma Times article here.
New dates and flyers added. New dates include Black Uhuru, Sovereign Sound and the line-ups for several regular nights.
iTunes Canada has been persuaded by Stop Murder Music to remove a few high profile anti-gay songs from their database. Buju Banton, T.O.K. and Elephant Man saw some tunes carrying their ugliest lyrics removed by yet another queer victory. Please read the full Xtra.ca article here.
Guiness and original Jamaican beerbrand Red Stripe have withdrawn from sponsorship deals with many Jamaican festivals and concerts like Sting and Sumfest over violent lyrics by dancehall artists. Red Stripe was taken over by British company Diageo some years ago and the brand is being repositioned. Guiness and Red Stripe have traditionally always been very generous sponsors. Please read the full New Zealand Herald article here, or the full Jamaica Observer article here.
US rapper Jay-Z has on his own accord recorded some rhymes over Mavado's hit song 'On The Rock'. Please read the full Reuters article here.
Rumours that Maxi Priest will be joining the ranks of UB40 are getting so loud that they can no longer be ignored. Please read the full Jamaica Gleaner article here.
New dates and flyers added. New dates include Collie Buddz and the line-ups for several regular nights.
