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The Queen is back! The R&B Goddess is breaking the internet with her trendy new song and video entitled thick of it.
The video officially dropped on November 7th and already the record is enjoying the #1 spot on several hip-hop and rhythm and blues charts. Watch video by clicking on the image above and feel free to log on to MJB’s official website for tour dates and more: http://www.maryjblige.com/
Jerry Wonda
German Dancehall-Djs Jugglerz and HipHop-Producer Jopez have signed with Jerry Wonda, Producer of the Album “The Score” by The Fugees. The team is currently in New York working on various projects at the exclusive Platinum Studios in Manhattan.
It’s a major step for German producers to be officially part of one of the world’s most influential Hip-Hop and Pop Music entities. The three-time Grammy Winner, Jerry “Wonda” Duplessis is the man behind some of Pop-Music biggest hits such as Whitney Houston’s “My Love Is Your Love,” Shakira’s “Hips Don’t Lie” or Carlos Santana’s “Maria Maria.” Jugglerz has entered the US Billboard Charts for Reggae Albums with their Label-Album “Jugglerz City” in April 2016.
Having met with Jugglerz for the first time in May, it was an instant connection between the focused and work-minded characters. Five months and three visits to New York later, Jugglerz and Jopez are now signed to Wonda Music, which sets the foundation for many fascinating projects.
Producing new beats and riddims for artists as well as re-working on the Studio’s large catalogue is daily business at Platinum Studios. Some of the projects include some of Pop-Music’s biggest names.
The California Conscious Music Festival set for Sunday, September 18 at SOMO Village Event Center in Rohnert Park has been postponed until summer of 2017.
Partners of California Conscious Music Festival have a vision of rebirthing a conscious vibrant community driven event in Sonoma County; being reminiscent of the late Harmony Festival and embody live music, arts, health and sustainability,
“We have a realistic goal of developing a unique conscious music and arts festival that will grow into a reputable mainstay community driven event. Yet, this year was disadvantageous with circumstances out of our control, making it difficult to properly promote. We’d like to thank our community for their support, while we rally to orchestrate some meaningful 2017 events, leading into the California Conscious Music Festival,” says Joshua Siegel, a festival partner.
Ticketfly will be issuing a full refund to ticket buyers.
The JUMP Music Video Awards is back with a splash onto the music industry calendar for Saturday 1st October at the luxury Hilton Tower Bridge, London, United Kingdom with nominations for Rapper – Shoggy Tosh, Singer – Fiona Yorke, Rapper – GuvnaB, Faith Child, Annastasia Baker amongest many others. Shoggy Tosh gets his first ever JUMP music video nomination for his blockbuster music video – Pamoto (featuring Henrisoul) and directed by Femi Best Touch in the BEST UK AFRO BEAT MUSIC VIDEO category alongside Phemmoh’s Are You Ready, Derrick Maphosa’s Sovereign God, Sam Adebanjo’s I’m Available and Andrew Bello’s #SayYes.
The inaugural event, staged in 2014, was the first time that the collaborative efforts of artists and music video makers operating in the Christian and Gospel scene was recognised and rewarded. Since then the 16 winning videos have notched up 30 million viewing figures between them on YouTube alone.
Director Juliet Fletcher explains, “When we staged the first event we only had an idea that indicated a trend. Many of the artists were unknown – even to Gospel-loving audiences. The feedback we received from both the judges responsible for selecting finalists and the audience who attended the evening can be suitably described as a ‘pleasant shock and surprise’. We’ve got every good reason to support the continual growth of this segment of the independent music sector. We believe there are more good shocks and surprises to come.”
Full list of nominations (with exception of the International categories to be released between 12 – 18 September, 2016. The winners of each category will be decided by the JUMP judges and announced on the awards night ).
BEST UK SOLO FEMALE MUSIC VIDEO NOMINATIONS:
Sarah Teibo – Steal My Joy
Ni-Cola Witter – Breakthrough
Lurine Cato – Power
Fiona Yorke – Glory Cloud
Annastasia Baker – Fly Again
BEST UK AFRO BEAT MUSIC VIDEO NOMINATIONS:
Shoggy Tosh – Pamoto
Phemmoh – Are You Ready
Derick – Sovereign God
Sam Adebanjo – I’m Available
Andrew Bello – #SayYes
BEST UK PRAISE & WORSHIP MUSIC VIDEO NOMINATIONS:
Hannah – Overwhelming Praise
Purist – None Like You
Evans Ogobi – Shout Hallelujah
Margaret Nana Tandoh – I Turn To You
Aaron T Aaron ft Mike Abdul – I Will Sing Of Your Praise
BEST UK REGGAE/CARIBBEAN SOUND MUSIC VIDEO NOMINATIONS
Philip Noel – Walking In My Blessing
Bobby Bovell featuring Dennis Bovell – Love Love (Kriswontwo Remix)
Minister Taf ft Chris Da Ambassada – Bunn Badmind
Lytie – Better
Dan – Testify
BEST UK GROUP OR CHOIR MUSIC VIDEO NOMINATIONS:
The Cokers – I Am Persuaded
Ekklesia – Where you Are
Muyiwa & Riversongz – Eko iLe
ZAA – Saved By Grace
Twelve24 – #Vivalawldkdz
BEST UK HIP-HOP/RAP MUSIC VIDEO NOMINATIONS:
Cerose – Millennium Reign
ICIE – The Becoming
S.O. – So It Ends
Faith Child ft. Da’T.R.U.T.H. – Tunnel Vision
Guvna B ft. Deitrick Haddon – Nothing But The Blood
BEST UK R’N’B/SOUL MUSIC VIDEO NOMINATIONS:
Sarah Téibo – Steal My Joy
T Briggs – My Identity
Olaedo Ibe – Dust With Life (Foolish)
Fiona Yorke – Glory Cloud
Theon – Your Love Reigns Perfect
BEST SOLO MALE MUSIC VIDEO NOMINATIONS:
Bobby Bovell featuring Dennis Bovell – Love Love (Kriswontwo Remix)
Cerose (Rob Fills Network) – Tribulation – In The Name of Jesus
Theon – I Am
Evans Ogboi – Shout Hallelujah
Aaron T Aaron ft. Mike Abdul – I Will Sing Your Praise
BEST INSPIRATIONAL MUSIC VIDEO NOMINATIONS:
Bobby Bovell featuring Dennis Bovell – Love Love (Kriswontwo Remix)
Lecrae – All I Need Is You
GuvnaB ft Beleaf – Buss It
Wildwood Kin – Warrior Daughter
Annastasia Baker – Fly Again
California Conscious Music Festival (aka CaliCon) with Kool & The Gang, Third World and others comes to Sonoma County’s SOMO Village, located at 1100 Valley House Drive in Rohnert Park on Sunday, September 18th. Tickets are now on sale. The one-day, one-stage, six-band festival is being produced by Second Octave and the 2016 SOMO Concert Series.
The California Conscious Music Festival will deliver legendary artists, artisans and community goodness, with a clear vision to promote unity and green initiatives. The day will feature legendary funk kings, Kool & The Gang, reggae ambassadors Third World, Jamaican dancehall legend Half Pint, San Francisco favorites Native Elements, Mike Love, via Hawaii and Sebastopol’s very own, Sol Horizon.
Local gourmet food, artisans, craft and commercial vendors, wines and craft breweries will be featured to fulfill the festival’s vision. Doors open at 1pm, show starts at 2pm. General Admission is $60 and VIP is $125.
Dry Diggings Festival has announced the final artists added to an already-stellar lineup for the second annual Labor Day weekend extravaganza, which will be held from Sept. 2-3, at the El Dorado Fairgrounds in Placerville, California.Organizers of the 22-band, two-stage, two-day onsite camping eventannounced its final round of artists, to include reggae-rock and hip-hop favorites Tribal Seeds, ZGE – Zion I, The Grouch, Eligh, Trevor Hall and DJ Gary Dread.
Those artists join a strong lineup, which includes reggae-rock giants Rebelution, The Expendables, Fortunate Youth, Passafire, The Movement, HIRIE, The Steppas, Arden Park Roots, E.N Young, GONZO, Arise Roots, Ethan Tucker and Simple Creation.
Added to the lineup earlier this month were soulful acts as Cas Haley, Through The Roots, Dustin Thomas and Elements of Soul, as well as two dynamic female newcomers to the American reggae-rock scene, Brazilian reggae-pop artist KELLSA and Jamaican reggae artist, Jovi Rockwell. Both artists bring some international flavor to the festival, having collaborated with artists such as Capleton, Elephant Man, Mr. Vegas, Major Lazer and Jesse Royal, to name just a few.
Organizers of the event were apt to showcase several highlights the full festival experience with camping, RV sites, stellar music, delicious craft brews, gourmet food vendors – to include vegan and gluten free choices, as well as much fun and games for the whole family.
“It’s turning out to be a great year, with a solid lineup and tickets are moving quickly. It’s one of those weekends that great memories are to be made. I’m bringing my wife and kids and hope everyone else does too. It’s all about the good times, with good people,” says founder/producer of Dry Diggings, Jeff Monser, who is also a founder and co-producer of the wildly successful California Roots Music and Arts Festival in Monterey.
The festival will also feature a number of hand-selected artists and craftsmen, commercial booths and a variety of food vendors. Some of the finest local craft brews, such as Sierra Nevada, Lagunitas Brewing Co. and Altamont Beer Works will be available as part of a large selection of craft brews throughout the weekend, with complimentary beer tastings held on Saturday, from 1:30-3 p.m., with 10-15 brands to choose from. The Beer Knowledge Zone will be filled with beer connoisseurs, who can provide answers to all your “How is it made?” questions.
In addition to the exemplary live music, other fun activities slated for the weekend include Cornhole and Beer Pong tournaments. General admission weekend passes are $85, with parking passes an additional $40. If camping, weekend fees are set at $100 for a 15×20 designated spot – allowing up to 3 tents and 6 persons, or $325 for an RV. Single-day prices are $40 for Friday, $60 for Saturday and $20 parking each day.
FRIDAY’S LINEUP:
Tribal Seeds
Passafire, Trevor Hall, The Movement
Through The Roots, Ethan Tucker, Gonzo
E.N. Young, Jovi Rockwell and KELLSA
SATURDAY’S LINEUP:
Rebelution
The Expendables, ZGE l Zion I x The Grouch x Eligh
Fortunate Youth, HIRIE, Cas Haley, The Steppas, Dustin Thomas
Arden Park Roots, Arise Roots, Element of Soul, Simple Creation
Volunteers, media, and sponsor applications, as well as ticket purchases and frequently asked questions can be found, or answered at: DryDiggingFestival.com.
Maxwell (photo credit: WENN.com)
Maxwell made a triumphant return to Brooklyn at the newly opened Brooklyn Amphitheatre at Coney Island on Saturday July 9 and by the end of his set – all he needed was to be carried off stage on a throne having been crowned Renaissance Soul Man by adoring fans!
The show was a mixture of old and new, featuring music from his just released second album from the trilogy blackSUMMERSnight, the first album BLACKsummersnight was released to critical acclaim in 2009. Fans waited seven years for the highly anticipated follow up. This album is his fourth studio production and Maxwell dedicated it to all his married friends. It’s almost as though he’d taken the 20 years from the release of his first album Urban Hang Suite to learn the lessons of love which are captured on this album. He revealed personal insights in his relationship trials and the fans roared appreciatively when he confessed to being in a good place – being in a loving relationship.
Starting off with a rousing rendition of Kiss in a nod to Prince continued a pleasing mix of the ‘old’ with the hit song Dance with Me from his first album. With a nod to the mood of the country right now, clips from the civil rights era, images of Dr. Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks and Nelson Mandela played across the jumbo screens on stage and either side of the amphitheatre. Maxwell’s statement in support of #BlackLivesMatter together with a plea for all of us to respect and love each other was a fitting accompaniment.
Impeccably dressed in a body-hugging powder blue suit, white shirt and pencil thin tie, Mr. Soul himself delivered both vocally and visually. Reminiscent of the revered crooners of old, Sam Cook, Marvin Gaye and Sade, Maxwell has not veered from his meticulous presentation of beautiful lyrics and vocals.
From the haunting This Woman’s Work to the classic dance track Ascension, with Lifetime, Sumthin Sumthin, Get to Know Ya, Bad Habits and the recent release from his new album Lake by the Ocean, he delighted the crowd with the purity of his delivery. Playful banter between songs, endeared him even more to the predominately Brooklyn crowd. Maxwell’s a Brooklyn boy too and he made mention of that several times, even referring to his rides on the “J” train. Whether or not you were raised in Brooklyn, you felt you were part of the family as each Borough got their Maxwell shout out.
He returned to his Prince memorial with a heartfelt and emotional “Nothing Compares to You”, customizing the lyrics to mark the days and hours since the passing of His Purple Highness. The crowd sang along word for word with the chorus and intermittent shouts of “We Miss You” blended with Maxwell’s mournful tone.
Backed by a competent band, each member got a solo moment which was rewarded with shouts, claps and cheers
Playing to a capacity crowd, Maxwell, came, saw and conquered.
MARIA JACKSON 27 MAGAZINE 