Reggae Sumfest – Best Concert of the Year

KINGSTON JAMAICA – May 9, 2008. Concert of the Year and Promoter of the Year were two coveted awards won by Reggae Sumfest and Summerfest Productions at the 27th Annual International Reggae and World Music Awards (IRAWMA) on Sunday, May 4 at the Apollo Theater in the historic Harlem, New York, beating out several large international Reggae concerts which also vied for this honour.

IRAWMA established in 1982, outlines its mission as that of acknowledging and honouring the accomplishments and contributions of entertainers in the categories of Reggae, Caribbean and other World music. Its intent ; to provide a forum for songwriters, performer and musicians to be recognised for their artistic efforts and achievements with the overall objective of promoting greater participation and acceptance of Reggae, Caribbean and World music globally. With 28 years under its belt, IRAWMA is well recognized as the industry’s oldest and most prestigious event in its chosen category. The ceremony has been staged in many major US cities as well as in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. The public is able to vote for their favourite nominee in each category on the internet.

An ecstatic Johnny Gourzong, executive director of Summerfest Productions, commented on receiving the awards, "We are of course extremely proud to have been awarded Concert of the Year and Promoter of the Year. As you know Reggae Sumfest is now celebrating its 16th year, and over the years we have always put Jamaica’s finest performers on stage along with highly acclaimed international acts. Our production standards are also first class. We do extensive marketing and we have put together an excellent team to ensure that all the necessary elements are executed in the most effective way. We are therefore very happy to see our efforts recognized by our global audience and awarded by the International Reggae and World Music Awards”.

Entertainers from the reggae and soca worlds turned out in their fineries to mingle with media and industry friends, of course with the hope of winning one of the coveted awards. Over 40 awards were given out to various artistes

Machel Montano of Trinidad and Tobago copped three coveted awards; Bob Marley Entertainer of the Year, Most Outstanding Stage Personality of the Year and Best Calypso/Soca Entertainer awards. Beenie man emerged as Recording Artiste of the Year while Etana came away with the Best Female Vocalist and Tarrus Riley, the Best Male Vocalist of the Year.

Reggae on the River Eco Music Festival 2008

PATTERSON, NY - April 20, 2008 - Lauren Drummond, President of LMJ Productions, LLC and Executive Producer of Upstate Reggae on the River Eco Music Festival announced today that noted Caribbean producer, Victor E Lewis, Managing Director of VicRae Inc., will lead the production team of the first annual Upstate Reggae on the River Eco Music Festival at Croton Point Park, Croton-on-Hudson, New York scheduled for August 23, 2008 from 10 AM – 8 PM.

Mr. Lewis is credited with having generated more than $3 million in annual revenues based on performance fees for emerging artists under his representation. A visionary and is instrumental organizer of international entertainment events and has an excellent track record. As a producer, Mr. Lewis has managed successful public events in London, Iceland and various parts of the US. He has produced events for the U.S. Committee for Refugees, notably worked effectively with the NYPD/NYFD's 911 Emergency Fund and Upliftment Jamaica just to name a couple of his successes.

Upstate Reggae on the River Eco Music Festival is an all-day family event that features the "Messenger" roots Reggae icon Luciano with Jah Messenjah band, featuring special guest Mikey General, as well as new sensations Rootz Underground, actor/musician Leon and the People's Band, Latin Rock Band Sequida, and Mystic Dub with more to be announced. A key component of Upstate Reggae on the River Eco Music Festival is a Children's Pavilion where Lydia Adams Davis and Grammy Award winner, John Guth will perform. Our Art Pavilion will feature various local and international artists. Carlos "GoGo" Gomez presents an African/Cuban drum circle workshop and an environmental work shop for all ages. A multitude of vendors will be on hand with foods from all over the Caribbean and Latin America as well as a variety of arts and crafts.

The first annual Upstate Reggae on the River Eco Music Festival will help increase awareness of environmental concerns and the preservation and sustainability effort in the Hudson Valley New York region. This years theme is "Recycling to Save the Planet." this one day event represents a tapestry of various genres of music, art, culture woven to support the message that in order to preserve the environment we must come together to create eco-friendly environments. LMJ Productions, LLC will donate part of the proceeds to Upstate Reggae on the River Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation to deserving educational and environmental organizations.

For tickets or additional information contact LMJ Productions LLC at 845-494-4654 or visit www.upstatereggaeontheriver.org.

ReggaeSumfest 2008 – Ready And Set To Go

Kingston , Jamaica – May 5, 2008

“Reggae Sumfest 2008 is definitely on for July 13-19, and will once again set standards as the Greatest Reggae Show on Earth”, announced Johnny Gourzong, executive director of the festival.

2008 will mark the 16th presentation of the festival and, by all accounts, it’s shaping up to be another first-class event. As usual, the festival will kick off with the beach party at Tropical Beach on Sunday, July 13, featuring top sound systems. On Thursday, July 17 top dancehall performers will energise the full capacity crowd, while Friday and Saturday will continue the tradition of offering the finest reggae singers and bands, alongside top international stars.

Digicel, Ocean Spray and Air Jamaica, the JTB and VP Records have once again signed on as major sponsors of the event while for the first time, Supreme Ventures has signed on as a Silver sponsor, Red Bull has come on board as a Gold sponsor and Jamrock Magazine as a Platinum sponsor. Negotiations are underway with several other companies who have expressed interest in supporting the event. Media support is once again very strong with CVM on board as the official TV station, Irie FM as the official radio, and the Jamaica Observer as Official newspaper. In addition FAME, HYPE TV, RE TV, TVJ, Linkz FM, ZIP FM, Vybz FM, Megajamz, Buzz Magazine, Jamaican Lifestyle and Whaddat.com, have added their support to the event.

After a seven-year stint as title sponsor, Red Stripe has taken the decision not to renew their title sponsorship for 2008. Organiser’s, Summerfest Productions report that while Red Stripe’s contribution was significant and they will miss working with the company on Sumfest it will in no way deter the festival. They believe in the importance of Reggae Sumfest as a national event that contributes in a large way to the overall economy and are determined to make Reggae Sumfest 2008 a big success with the help of their current sponsors.

The line up for Reggae Sumfest this year promises to be excellent. While not all contracts have yet been signed, a peek at the wish list for the festival revealed that the local line up promises to be as strong as ever. A long list of artistes are being targeted which include Beres Hammond, Beenie Man, Buju Banton, Sizzla, Bounty Killer, Elephant Man, Mavado, Busy Signal, Jah Cure, Richie Spice, Macka Diamond ,Brick & Lace, Tami Chynn, , Erup, Queen I-Frica, Etana, Tarrus Riley, Anthony B, Voice Mail., Vybz Cartel,. Demarco, Courtney John. Harry Toddler. No clues were revealed for the International acts, however it was hinted that negotiations were ongoing with some very ‘big names’.

So, while there have been some rumblings in the music concert arena, Reggae Sumfest is still a must go event on the calendar for 2008, and promises to once again surpass the standards set in previous years.

CONTACT:
MARCIA MCDONNOUGH
TOUCHSTONE PRODUCTIONS
876-702-0786

New Video: Stack$ featuring Jah Cure - Flyin' High

Jah Cure has continued his form since being released from prison and Stack$ is making his mark on the hip-hop in South Florida. Check out the video for this collaboration produced by SOBE Entertainment and Dangazone Music.

Click here to watch

Reggae group Morgan Heritage release new album 'Mission In Progress' Today

Morgan Heritage, one of the most influential reggae bands today, will be releasing their highly anticipated 10th album Mission In Progress today on VP Records.

Renowned worldwide for their riveting live shows, Morgan's Heritage's new release captures the band bottling the power of its stage performance on disc and infusing its songs with a heavier dose of hip-hop. Produced by Morgan Heritage (with a few songs helmed by Shane Brown and Stephen McGregor son of reggae singer Freddy McGregor),MISSION IN PROGRESS lyrically finds the group continuing their quest to bolster their love for reggae music through romantic, street-wise and conscious songs built on slabs of spirituality. Musically however, MISSION IN PROGRESS is the realization of Morgan Heritage’s “ROCKAZ” concept: reggae music with an edge.

"I think this record is the most aggressive one that we've ever done both musically and personally," says vocalist/keyboardist Una Morgan. "A lot of our inner feelings from growing up in the industry and the experiences that we’ve had touring the world, specifically in Africa, are reflected here and served as the inspiration for this album.”

The album's first single is "Raid Rootz Dance" a re-imagined and renamed cover of a Steel Pulse song ("Blues Dance Raid"). The release also features "Brooklyn and Jamaica," the group call's the first song to represent both the old neighborhood and their home for the past 11 years: Jamaica. Other standout songs featured on the album include the straight-up romantic track “Love You Right,” the sublime funk-fueled anthem “Nothing To Smile About” and the golden jam “Faithful.”

Comprised of five offspring of reggae veteran Denroy Morgan, Morgan Heritage is comprised of vocalist/keyboardist Una, vocalist Peter ("Jahpetes"), keyboardist/vocalist Roy ("Gramps"), rhythm guitarist Nakhamyah ("Lukes") and vocalist/MC/percussionist Memmalatel ("Mr. Mojo"). Born in Brooklyn's tough Bushwick neighborhood, the band's five members were raised in Springfield, Massachusetts, and spent their summer vacations back in New York's hippest outer borough, where they returned after high school. Raised with intensive vocal and instrumental training, the Morgan children were exposed to everything from the godfathers of roots reggae to top 40 American radio: from Duran Duran and Tears for Fears to Metallica and Van Halen The band signed to MCA Records in the 90's triggering one of the most impressive streaks in modern-day reggae since. In a dozen years, the band has racked up several hits in Jamaica and abroad, thanks in part to collaborations with such lauded Jamaican producers as Lloyd "King Jammy" James and Bobby Digital.

You can watch Morgan Heritage music videos on Realvibez.

Courtesy of Headline Entertainment

SOHH talks to Elephant Man about his new album - Let's Get Physical

Popular hip-hop site, SOHH.com, sat down with Elephant Man last year and spoke with him about his upcoming album, Let's Get Physical, that was finally released this week (with little promotion) by VP Records and Bad Boy Records after major delays.

Check it out below:

Listen to "Cruise Control" by Mariah Carey feat. Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley

Mariah's album is out and naturally we have to allow you to listen to the new song Cruise Control. Buy it if you like it.