 |
| Rototom Sunsplash in Benicàssim, Spain |
| 21 February, 2010 |
After some months of questions Rototom Sunsplash announced its new location, it will be in Benicàssim, Spain, from 21st to 28th August.
Benicàssim is a small sunny city of 17,000 inhabitants located between Valencia and Barcelona on the coast.
Here's the press Release:
"After 16 years, Rototom Sunsplash has become the biggest reggae gathering in Europe. It now attracts around 130,000 people every year from 120 countries, a peaceful army of reggae lovers.
In addition to the festival’s role as an honoured European ambassador for the Jamaican reggae scene, through all the collateral activities, it has also become a legitimate voice for peace, human rights, sustainable development and positivity – in a conscious effort to build “Un altro mondo possible” (another possible world).
Confronted with the intolerance of Italian politics towards these values and above all any model of society that values different cultures and multi-racialism, Rototom Sunsplash has decided to move to Spain. This country has proven to be more democratic and more open to cultural diversity and therefore, the ideal environment for the festival to continue on its mission whilst protecting the rights of its public.
After months of intense research the festival has finally chosen Benicassim as the location for the 2010 edition. Situated on the Mediterranean coast in the province of Castellon just 88km from Valencia, the hospitality of this place and its 17,000 inhabitants is widely demonstrated by its hosting of one of Europe’s major international indie rock festivals – ‘Fib’.
The seventeenth edition of Rototom Sunsplash will therefore take place in Benicassim from 21st to 28th August. Very soon tickets will go on presale and the first artists on the line-up will be announced. The festival will maintain its format: As well as the musical events, the festival will feature once again meetings, debates, courses, art exhibitions, films and documentaries, meditation seminaries, holistic therapies and many other activities, largely from non profit organisations.
The objectives of Rototom Sunsplash in this new phase are to remain true to its history despite the new location, bringing the Spanish reggae scene opportunity to consolidate while continuing to bridge the gap between Europe and the Caribbean. This will definitely be favoured by to the fact Spain enjoys close ties with the Americas where reggae music already has a strong presence in the cross-Atlantic Spanish speaking countries."
|
| 52nd Grammy Awards - Nominees for Best Reggae Album |
| 7 December, 2009 |
The Nominees for “Best Reggae Album” of 52nd Grammy Awards are:
Buju Banton - Rasta Got Soul
Gregory Isaacs - Brand New Me
Julian Marley - Awake
Stephen Marley - Mind Control Acoustic
Sean Paul - Imperial Blaze
Ziggy Marley's Family Time is also nominated for “Best Musical Album For Children”.
The ceremony will be held on January, 31st 2010 in Los Angeles.
|
| Etana to Shoot 'August Town' Video |
| 3 November, 2009 |
Kingston, Jamaica -- November 2, 2009 -- As a part of a massive promotional campaign to be launched by Irish and Chin, the soulful Reggae singer Etana will shoot a video for her riveting new single "August Town." The video, which is one of three planned in November, will be filmed on Wednesday, November 4 in August Town, Jamaica to much fanfare.
Over the past month, the song "August Town" has been heating up Caribbean radio and faring exceptionally well in the UK and Europe. The incredible buzz that the song has generated was a driving force behind shooting the video. In "August Town," Etana delivers piercing social commentary -- detailing a recent incident in her community that went from festive and merry to horrific in a split second. Etana flawlessly croons of police involvement that resulted in excessive and unnecessary force. Like none of Etana's other music, "August Town" is built over a raw dub wise track – a style heavy on drum, bass and dub effects with very sparse rhythm.
To capture the "rawness" of the single, Etana pegged popular music video director Winston "Tyson" Mayhew for the video project. Credited for his style of rough, hardcore videos like Busy Signal's "These are the Days" and "Jail," along with Morgan Heritage's "Nothing to Smile About" and others, Mayhew was the perfect person to bring the song "August Town" to life.
August Town itself will serve as an ideal backdrop for the video. It will feature a gripping reenactment of the song's lyrics, depicting August Town in its realest form. Ultimately, the "August Town" video will expose the beauty and rawness of August Town, played out through the eyes of Etana. From the town's unmistakable scenic, naturally beautiful shots to hardcore elements, Mayhew will display the communities good and bad times. Members of the August Town community will be featured through out the video, as well as a few special guests.
"I especially want this video to help bring August Town back to what it once was, a peaceful place," says Etana with passion. "This video will speak to the people of August Town and all Garrison communities."
Fans will have a chance to see another side of Etana. The singer will be featured in a homegrown environment.....like she has never been seen before. Overall, the video will capture the real Etana as a person, rather than an artist. "I think that showing Etana in a different light will truly be one of this video's major highlights," says Winston "Tyson" Mayhew.
The videos that will follow "August Town" include "Free" and "Happy Heart." These three songs were strategically selected by Irish and Chin and Etana, as they explore Etana's diversity as an artist. While "August Town" falls under social commentary, "Free" and "Happy Heart" expose an emotional and feminine side of Etana respectively. "Free" will be shot by JayWil on November 10 and "Happy Heart's" production will take place after Etana's promotional tour in London later this month.
Source: IrishAndChin.com
|
| Gentleman @ Don Corleon Studio (19/10/2009) |
| 21 October, 2009 |
As some of you know, Gentleman is currently working on his upcoming album.
Last monday, Don Corleon's USTREAM page broadcast a live studio session from Jamaica and we get a chance to know some of new tunes by Gentlman.
For the case you missed this live session, you can watch now a 79min recording of the sesssion.
|
| Shabba Ranks returns to Europe |
| 17 October, 2009 |
Jamaican artist Shabba Ranks confirmed to appear on the 1st Annual Amsterdam Reggae Festival on the 31st of October, 2009.
Considered one of the great ambassadors of the Dancehall scene, the author of tunes such as 'Mr.Loverman', 'Wicked Inna Bed' or 'Ting-A-Ling', will be also in the O2 in London Brixton Academy alongside Maxi Priest and Chaka Demus & Pliers on 30th of October.
|
|
|
