Rotorua International Stadium • DAMIAN MARLEY • SHAGGY • MORGAN HERITAGE • GROUNDATION • REBEL SOULJAHZ • COMMON KINGS • TIKI TAANE (ft OPTIMUS GRYME) Thousands of reggae fans will be heading to Rotorua this Friday for Raggamuffin 2014 to catch acts including reggae megastars Shaggy and Damian Marley. The full two-day schedule for the festival has been released showcasing 17 artists including nine international acts and 12 top DJs performing this weekend at Rotorua International Stadium. Raggamuffin 2014 kicks off on Friday at 4.40pm … Read entire article »

Jet Skis in Negril.—- A tourist who was struck in the head by a Jet Ski and was battling for life at the Savanna-la-Mar Hospital in Westmoreland has died. Reports are that the man, who arrived in the country four days ago, was swimming at the Negril seven-mile beach when he was hit. The operator of the Jet Ski fled the scene. According to hoteliers, there was no ambulance available to take the tourist to the hospital and the … Read entire article »

   India Arie— Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter India Arie has lashed out against the award show saying that the best black artists are not being recognised for their talent. In a letter posted on her Tumblr page (soulbird-journal.tumblr.com), Arie said the Grammys and other award shows have become more concerned with popularity and sales, with the musical quality only coming as an afterthought. Her rant came after upcoming rapper Kendrick Lamar left the award show empty handed although … Read entire article »

Eric Donaldson A Jamaican top reggae artist, Eric Donaldson, is set to headline two major musical concerts in Ghana. According to the organizers, the first concert dubbed, ‘Big Man Dance’ will be held on February 1, at the plush Mensivc Hotel in Accra for very important personalities (VIPs) who would want to have their private session with the Reggae legend in a serene environment. The second show which is for the masses will also be held on February … Read entire article »

By Howard Campbell— Aaron Neville— BORN in New Orleans, Grammy-winning singer Aaron Neville’s sound is defined by the diversity of his hometown. The 73-year-old has earned a remarkable 15 Grammy nominations in 11 categories. Neville — who performs on Saturday at the Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival at the Trelawny Multipurpose Stadium — has been recording as a solo act having been a member of the Neville Brothers for over 50 years. He started in the late 1950s when soul … Read entire article »

  Veteran reggae singer Marcia Griffiths addressing yesterday’s Jamaica Observer Monday Exchange. Griffiths, who is celebrating her 50th year in music this year, will perform this Thursday night at the Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival. At right is Junior Taylor, associate producer of the festival— THE vulgar display by female deejays Lady Saw and Macka Diamond at the 2013 staging of the one-night reggae show Sting in December has left one veteran reggae artist sorely disappointed. Singer Marcia … Read entire article »

By JON PARELES— Pete Seeger at the Beacon Sloop Club in Beacon, N.Y., in 2010. Andrew Sullivan for The New York Times Pete Seeger, the singer, folk-song collector and songwriter who spearheaded an American folk revival and spent a long career championing folk music as both a vital heritage and a catalyst for social change, died Monday. He was 94 and lived in Beacon, N.Y. His death was confirmed by his grandson, Kitama Cahill Jackson, who said he died of … Read entire article »

Peter Lloyd— By Sadeke Brooks— While some entertainers throw grand events for fans to help them celebrate their birthdays, singer, Peter Lloyd, wants everyone to help him mark his special day tomorrow by doing an act of kindness. And he intends to build a virtual treasure trove of the diverse individual acts as Lloyd explained to The Gleaner that he wants those who grant him his birthday wish to write about it on his Facebook fan page (facebook.com/peterlloydfanpage), or mention … Read entire article »

By  Brian Bluesky A lot of great bands have come out of San Diego’s music scene—and one of the latest is reggae group Tribal Seeds, performing Saturday, Feb. 1, at The Date Shed. The band—consisting of Steven Rene Jacobo (lead guitar and vocals), Victor Navarro (bass), E.N. Young (keyboards and vocals), Tony-Ray Jacobo (keyboards and vocals) and Carlos Verdugo (drums)—formally came together in 2005. During a recent phone interview before a show in Fresno, Tony-Ray explained that he … Read entire article »