THE Farley Hill National Park has a stipulated maximum capacity of 10 000 and yet reportedly at least 14 000 Reggae lovers swamped the space to hear Sizzla Kolonji, Steel Pulse, Buju Banton, Beres Hammond, Richie Spice, Barbadian Biggie Irie and several local artistes last Sunday. Despite the vast overcrowding, reports showed that the crowd behaved well, without physical altercations reported for most of the day. However, with all 13 000 tickets for the biggest entertainment show outside of Crop-Over sold, a few people broke down the perimeter fence later in the day to catch the action. The show suffered an early heavy downpour of rain, which left patrons walking gingerly through huge puddles and slippery mud, while an early electrical problem meant the show started after mid-day. However, even with these set backs folks hunkered down to have a good time, trying to make sure to find the best vantage point to witness the event.
Promoters FAS Entertainment helped facilitate this by erecting a huge LCD screen Jumbo-tron on one side of the show, far away from the stage, thereby allowing a huge section of the crowd to bring out their blankets and chairs to a surprisingly dry section of lawn. First up was a long line of Bajan performers including The Christian Roots band BDB, Hotta Flames, Don Trent, Ayanna John, Brimstone, Easy-B, Melody Man, LRG, Supa Reuben, Vizion and dancehall and reggae outfit Red Alarm with front men Damian Marvay, Buggy and Blade.
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“Reggae has positioned our small island as a powerful force in the global marketplace,” noted Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller at the launch of the Reggae Academy Awards, held in late April at the Caribbean Business Club, 3M Building, New Kingston. However, Jamaica has placed its music and those who make it on a podium for the world to appreciate, with an awards show that would identify the best and bestow a trophy in recogniton. A reggae awards made for Jamaicans by Jamaicans is long overdue. Reggae has been a driving force behind the island, helping to carve for many the island’s unique cultural identity. When the first Reggae Academy Awards get going in February 2008 it will not only fill the gap, but also make the distinction between reggae and dancehall, with separate awards for each genre. Unlike most reggae awards overseas, most notably the Grammys, the Reggae Academy Awards will cover Jamaican music in the widest sense, honouring equally both roots reggae and its off-spring, dancehall. While most awards recognise roots reggae acts with a few token dancehall acts in between, the Reggae Academy Awards will each year recognise the gifted, rising and sometimes overlooked dancehall acts.
According to www.myspace.com/reggaeacademy”The Reggae Academy is conceived in recognition of the need to create an award event to recognise and celebrate excellence in the work of creative and technical persons in the local and international reggae music communities, such as producers, songwriters, vocalists, engineers and music video directors.”
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Ace Jamaican deejay Beenie Man will be going on an extended tour of Europe this month which will see him perform at clubs and venues across the continent. He will be performing alongside new reggae sensation Collie Buddz on at least two of these events in Germany. And will be sharing the stage with Stephen Marley at a festival in Munich in July.
Even though he has parted ways with his recording company, Virgin Records, Beenie Man is plowing ahead in his bid to establish Mafia House Records as a strong independent player in the marketplace. It is not clear whether his wife, D
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