After a three-year hiatus, the Tobago Jazz Experience returns in April, and will run from the 20th to the 23rd at three different locations.
Gospel Night, which will be on the 20th, will be at the Shaw Park Complex; Jazz Night is on the 22nd at the Speyside Recreational Grounds; and International Night (the 23rd) will be at the Parade Grounds next to Dwight York Stadium.
The line-up features Grammy Award winners Boyz II Men and Koffee, as well as established performers Everton Blender, Richie Spice, Theron Shaw, Tony Paul, Vaughnette Bigford, and many more. Get tickets here.
The Manchester Kite Festival & Family Funday is on April 10th. It will take place at the Kirkvine Sports Club in Manchester, Jamaica from 10am to 6pm. There will be go carts, bounce abouts, rock climbing, lots of games, and of course live music.
The live show will feature international gospel recording artist Kevin Downswell as the headlining act. He will be joined by Lil Kish, Touriss, Flexible Suede, as well as several other guest performers. Admission to this event is $1,000 JMD for adults and $700 for children.
The Annual Yallahs Kite Festival is scheduled for Friday, April 7th at Yallahs Primary School. The family fun day and stage-show is a charitable event that will see proceeds going to the school’s music department.
There will be live performances by roots reggae singer Fred Locks, as well as international recording artist Turbulence. Other performers on the lineup are Isha Bel, KRISIS, Trapycal, Ken Ellis, and that is just to name a few.
Broady in association with Diamond League Thursdaze present An Encounter with Lukie D, a member of the reggae vocal group LUST. This is an opportunity for LukieD‘s local fans to see him up-close and personal, as the event will be at Singh Quarry in May Pen, Clarendon.
The Encounter is a live band show (Step by Step) that will take place on Thursday, March 30th from at 9pm until… Irie FM’s Big A is the master of ceremony.
After the successful staging of his Black & Proud Concert at Club Amazura in Queens, New York last month, a humbled Anthony B expressed gratitude by issuing the following statement: “Thanks to the fans for their amazing love and support. It’s good to take this journey together to strive for a better world that we can all be proud of and our children and their children can still sing the songs of roots and culture reggae music. Let’s say it loud we are black and proud and all we are saying is one love to all human race on planet earth.”
Anthony B‘s Born Fire Promotions, in association with formidable record label – Reggae Vibes Music – delivered a stellar reggae show to a packed venue. All confirmed artists showed up and gave flawless performances: Turbulence, Kabaka Pyramid, Perfect Giddimani, Pressure Busspipe, Dreama, Kendallaz, Rufftop Rock I, and of course Anthony B. Iba Mahr also made a guest appearance courtesy of Kabaka Pyramid who, in an impromptu moment, invited him on stage.
Every media house in attendance subsequently penned favorable reviews, which led the aforementioned organizers to immediately begin preparation for the 2024 Black & Proud Concert. That said, a limited amount of early bird tickets are now on sale for next year’s presentation, which is scheduled for Saturday, February 24, at a New York location to be determined.
J. Spivey’s Productions’ Gigantic Gospel Concerts are set for Saturday, April 8th and Sunday, April 9th. They will be at Friendship West Baptist Church – 2020 W. Wheatland Road – in Dallas, and Greater Grace – 10800 Scott Street – in Houston, respectively.
Shirley Ceasar and Kelontae Gavin will headline both shows, and will be joined by Doc McKenzie & The Hi-Lites, The Bolton Brothers, The William Singers, Tim Rogers & The Fellas, The Virginia Aires, Group Fire, Visionz of Destiny, and Buddy & The Straightway Travelers. Click here to buy tickets.
Kelly Shane, daughter of acclaimed Jamaican singer-songwriter Tanya Stephens, steps out with her first single – an updated take on the soul classic Ain’t That Loving You – performed with dancehall giant Busy Signal. Kelly‘s silky sweet voice is offset by Busy‘s raspy vocals as they rock over a bouncing one drop riddim produced by Tad A. Dawkins Jnr.Ain’t That Loving You went live on all streaming platforms at the beginning of March (on the 3rd), courtesy of Tad’s Record Inc.
The audio release was accompanied by an official video, which was directed, shot and edited by Thaddeus Deluxe Studio. Filmed at various locations in Jamaica, the new visuals show Kelly Shane and Busy Signal prepping for their date-night at a lounge, where they eventually get cozy and intimate, bringing the song’s lyrics to life.
Explaining the significance of the song, Kelly Shane offered: “for one, I grew up with my grandmother, and as the owner of the radio and the house, her favorite music was mostly played. Alton Ellis and the entire British-Jamaican music movement was a big part of the soundtrack of my life. It became more personal for me when I recorded it though, as I (at the time) was seeing someone that was very hesitant to love again, so it felt like I was speaking my own words, trying to convince them to take a chance on me. Busy’s verse also summed up how they were feeling too so when I heard it I cried A LOT. Felt very real to me.”
As for collaborating with veteran dancehall artist Busy Signal, Kelly sums up the experience as follows: “to be very honest, I didn’t think he would do it. This is my first song and it felt like I was really asking him to take a chance on me. I loved him even more when we shot the video. In true first video fashion, we were all over the place and late and up and down but he was so patient and kind with me. He spent most of the time giving me encouraging words and it felt very warm and genuine. He’s such a genuine human being. I’m so grateful for him.”
Ain’t That Loving You (For More Reasons Than One) was originally released by soul singer Johnnie Taylor in 1967, but subsequent reggae versions by legendary Jamaican artists Alton Ellis, Dennis Brown and Beres Hammond – who Kelly Shane cites as a major influence – have since led the song to become a favorite among reggae lovers.