The 6th annual Environmental Justice Summit will take place on Saturday, August 20 at Main Parade Lawn – Montgomery Street – in San Francisco, California. This year’s theme is ‘adding color to the green movement’ and it will run from 12noon to 7pm.
There will be an important panel discussion, kids craft zone, vendors, food trucks, a full bar and live entertainment. Performers are D Smoke and Sa-Roc. This is a free all ages event.
Love & Reggae – the popular concert series that features the absolute best in Jamaican reggae music – is returning to Charlotte and Atlanta this summer.
Industry heavy weights Beres Hammond and Third World will be playing back to back shows on August 27th and 28th. On the 27th they will be at The Oasis Shriners Auditorium at 604 Doug Mayes Place in Charlotte; and on the following day – the 28th – the show will move to the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta, Georgia.
For links to tickets and additional information, visit berescltdotcom.
Emtravels is doing their part to drive tourists to Jamaica by hosting a series of summer parties packaged in an all inclusive deal in the Montego Bay area.
The events will take place from August 25th to the 28th, with a themed party each night; except on the 26th, the day of the Big Daddy Kane & Yo-Yo concert. For information on the all inclusive offer, visit Emtravels’ official website.
The Jukebox Concert Series makes its debut on Sunday, August 21st with the 2022 JukeBox Fest, at the historical Queen Mary Park – also known as Harry Bridges Memorial Park – in Long Beach, California. This is a multi-genre festival which brings the nostalgia of yesteryears with a modern twist.
Performers include: Shabba Ranks, Tony! Toni! Toné!, Cutty Ranks, Machel Montano, Patrice Roberts, Ricardo Drue, Adina Howard, Shanice, Renee Neufville of Zhane, Snap!, Tanya Carter and Osocity. Get tickets and additional information here.
Richie Stephens is a true ambassador of Jamaican music, culture and lifestyle. He has represented the island admirably on the international stage, and he continues to enjoy ongoing adulation from his peers here at home. To that end, it should not come as a surprise to anyone to learn that he has written and produced a tune for this year’s Jamaica Festival Song Competition.
The track is titled Defend Jamaica, and it is performed by Nitty Kutchie: one of the strongest vocalist in the industry.
Defend Jamaica is an upbeat reggae song that’s fused with dancehall; and whilst the rhythm is irresistible, it’s Stephens‘ lyrics combined with Kutchie‘s delivery that makes it a real contender.
“I will forever
defend Jamaica
and it no matta
anywhere I go,
the black green and gold
deep inna my soul
I love Jamaica
more than you know.”
Both men have been friends for approximately thirty years, with Richie having penned lines for Nitty Kutchie in the past. When asked why he chose Nitty Kutchie, Stephens said the following:
“I choose Nitty Kutchie cause Nitty Kutchie is like a brother to me for many many years. I find him to be a good person and that is very important to me. Other than that, Nitty Kutchie has one a the best voices in reggae music and I’m not just saying that. His sound, his voice is something that connect with people everytime he sings, but I don’t think Nitty Kutchie get the kind a chance he deserves to deliver with the kind of voice that he has; so I always have that in mind. And this is not the 1st or the 2nd time I’ve been working with Nitty Kutchie; I’ve been writing and producing songs with Nitty Kutchie over the years. So I just feel like he would be the right person to deliver this song with that kind of hardcore Jamaican sounding voice.”
To ensure that the song had the perfect sound, Stephens was not only selective in choosing the ideal lead vocalist, he also brought in an all-star cast of musicians to create the beat. Othniel ‘Ottey’ Lewis played keys, Dave Green played drums, Robert Browne was on guitar, Courtney Panton did the bass, Richie Stephens also played keyboard and Dean Fraser and his group of brass players did the horn section. Defend Jamaica was recorded and mixed by Marvin ‘Wacko’ Jackson.
Klub Kingz is partnering with Live Carefree and A Little Booking Agency to present a R&B Brunch & Day Party on Sunday, July 31st at Coney Art Walls – 3050 Stillwell Avenue – in Brooklyn, New York.
The day time event, which will run from 3 to 10pm, will be hosted by the queen of hip-hop and R&B, Mary J. Blige. This is the ultimate R&B affair that will feature music from the 80s, 90s and early 2000s. Get tickets here.
The godmother of soul, Patti LaBelle, will be performing at Sound Board (Motor City Casino Hotel) in Detroit on Sunday, July 17th. Showtime is 7:30pm and admission cost vary depending on seating: $112, $92 and $87 USD.
All guests must be at least 21 years of age with a valid photo ID. Buy tickets here.
MARIA JACKSON 27 MAGAZINE 