On Sunday, June 29th, the Big Ship captain, Freddie McGregor, will celebrate his 69th birthday, surrounded by friends, family, and fans. His birthday party will double as a live concert that will feature performances by some of the biggest names in reggae-dancehall.
It will be staged at the Sunset Cove Amphitheater—20405 Amphitheater Circle—in Boca Raton, Florida, starting at 2pm local time. Tickets are already being sold via caribtix.com.
On June 7th, 2025, the Mount Moriah Cancer Support Ministry will host the Strength In Unity Gala with three main objectives: celebrate cancer survivors and thrivers, inspire newly diagnosed patients, and support families in the community.
This is a formal occasion that will be held at Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church (7396 Rivers Avenue) in North Charleston, South Carolina. Recording artists VaShawn Mitchell and Christal Brown-Heyward will perform.
Veteran dancehall artist Harry Toddler, who has been active in the music industry since the early 1990s, has achieved international success with two brands: he was a member of the famed dancehall ensemble Scare Dem Crew, and he’s also celebrated for his work as a solo act.
With a career spanning over 30 years, Harry Toddler uses his latest single to outline some rules that have been important to his longevity. On the track, the Kingston-born deejay mentions two things in particular that would immediately capture his attention, making him suspicious of the person involved: the first being anyone who betrays his friends, and the second, men who obsessively chase after women. Harry Toddler says these actions are codes (indicators) of an inauthentic person.
The song, aptly titled “Code,” was officially released on May 15, and it comes to us courtesy of one of the fastest-rising reggae-dancehall music labels, Pandemic Records & Entertainment LLC.
“Code” is the latest addition to Pandemic‘s “Passion Fruit Riddim,” a compilation that also features Bounty Killer, Capleton, Ras Kronik, Sizzla, Yahdeen Essence, and Turbulence. “Code” and the other songs on the “Passion Fruit Riddim” can be downloaded from all major streaming platforms.
One of the features at the biennial Calabash International Literary Festival is Midnight Ravers, a live concert headlined by artists who also use their music to narrate a tale. This year’s Midnight Ravers are Mortimer, Zac Jones, and Jaz Elise. They will perform on Friday, May 23rd, between 12am and 2am.
The Calabash International Literary Festival is a three-day event with lots of reading, poetry, music, and other forms of storytelling. It will run from May 23rd to May 25th at Treasure Beach in Jamaica. Click here for additional information.
D’Bandit’s annual food-inclusive boat cruise—now called Socapedia—is scheduled for Sunday, June 22nd, aboard The Enterprise 2000. The vessel will be docked at 176 Cherry Street in Toronto, Ontario. Organizers will begin boarding patrons at 1pm and will set sail an hour later, at 2.
This event usually marks the official start of summer for soca lovers in the GTA. It will feature a performance by the charismatic singer-songwriter Edwin Yearwood, who is expected to deliver an engaging set. Click here for tickets.
Roots Picnic, one of hip-hop, R&B, and indie alternative’s biggest annual music festivals, will take place at Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park from May 31st to June 1st, 2025. The event is named after its founders, legendary rap crew The Roots.
This year’s diverse lineup includes D’Angelo, Lenny Kravitz, Miguel, Tems, Jagged Edge, Musiq Soulchild, Ceelo Green, Crystal Waters, Pusha T, 2 Chainz, and The Roots, and that is just to name a few. For additional information and links to tickets, visit therootspicnic.com
Richie Stephens, the celebrated vocalist, producer, and songwriter, headlined two Mother’s Day concerts over the weekend, both of which were met with considerable enthusiasm from his fanbase.
The first event, Caribbean Rhythms Radio Network’s Mother’s Day Cruise and Dance, took place on Saturday, May 10th, aboard a vessel that departed from Port Canaveral, Florida. The event was completely sold out, with attendees showcasing their familiarity with Stephens‘ extensive repertoire by singing along throughout the performance.
Immediately following the cruise, Stephens returned to Jamaica to perform at Plantation Smokehouse in Richmond, St. Ann. Similar to the previous night, this concert was also sold out, and the venue was filled to capacity, creating an energetic atmosphere as the audience sang along with Stephens.
During both performances, Richie Stephens showcased a diverse selection of his work, ranging from early hits such as “Trying to Get to You” and “Weakness for Sweetness” to more recent tracks like “Reverse the Curse” and “Praise the Lord.”
Reflecting on the turnout and the reception he received, Richie Stephens commented, “The weekend for me was extremely successful, blessed and spiritual at the same time.”
MARIA JACKSON 27 MAGAZINE 