Reggaeuprising scheduled for this Saturday at the Hammerstein Ballroom in NY has been cancelled…promoters site competition from other festivals as the reason.

I'm sure people were waiting with baited breath for the outcome of Mavado’s performance in Dominica this past Saturday. From all reports the show was incident free. Some factions of society were requesting a total ban of the artist from the Dominica Labor Party government.  They included The Evangelical Association of Dominica as well as local DJ DJ Alfy.

Instead, he was allowed to perform with certain restrictions: According to Police Comissioner Mathias Lestrade,  “In the interest of the public peace and general safety,” he should  “Refrain from singing any song that can be deemed by the local authorities which tends or may tend to incite,” not “perform any illegal act on the stage or in the vicinity of the show,” and not “incite the crowd to commit any offence at the show for example requesting the crowd to light up their spliffs/marijuana or consume any other illegal drugs.” According to Tourism Minister Ian Douglas a ban on Mavado would not be in keeping with the spirit of CARICOM, seeing that Mavado  he is a CARICOM national and has not yet committed any offence in Dominica. Show patrons were asked to leave all weapons at home.

Mavado spoke to the Media the day of the show stating. “I come to Dominica to do a show and to sing the songs that I sing. It doesn’t matter to me which authority wants to watch and do whatever,” …... “I just came here to do my work and if they feel they don’t like my songs then don’t listen to my songs

Finally show time came around and 5,000 plus fans were singing his songs word for word. Mavado took time to thank the Dominica government for not banning him..

Mavado, born David Constantine Brooks is so far banned in St Vincent, Grenada, Guyana, and Trinidad

The Western Consciousness musical extravaganza, will mark its 20th Anniversary on April 26th, 2008; the theme for this year’s extravaganza "2000 and Great."

The Worrell King-led King of Kings/Juciful musical jamboree, as it has done in the past 19 years, will feature some of the leading Jamaican acts. And according to promoter King, in celebrating this special milestone, the line-up will highlight some of those artistes whose outstanding performances over the years have helped to build the reputation of the event, along with a new cadre of stars who already started to preserve that rich tradition.

The veterans slated for the 20th anniversary of Western Consciousness are Edi Fitzroy (who has been on every year) Brigadier Jerry, Josey Wales, Mykal Roze, George Nooks, Tony Rebel, Anthony B, Beenie Man and Bushman. The younger stalwarts, some of whom are first-timers, include Etana, Queen Ifrica, Carol Gonzales, Heather Cummings, Little Hero, Turbulence, I Wayne, Lutan Fyah, Richie Spice, Dez I Boyd, Black Judah, Chuck Fenda, Demarco, Teflon, Courtney John and Andrew Tosh among others.

Alright now in Awards news I have mentioned the IRWAMAs but this upcoming show is a long time in the making…its been over a year now I have been googleing the Caibbean Music awards and now its official here, the site is up, hope you guys logged on to vote for your favorite artists…the show will take place April 26 at James Bond Beach in Jamaica and will be hosted by Spragga Benz

The Caribbean urban Music awards is one of several awards show that have branched out of the urban mucic awards. The UMA’s celebrated its 5th anniversary in 2007 by launching for the first time in New York on the 7th of July 2007. The Urban Music Awards was born out of the need to build a worldwide and independent awards ceremony to recognise the achievement of 100% urban based artists, producers, club nights, dj’s , radio stations, record labels and artist that are a product of the current Urban music scene..

Performers at next weeks show include ; Voicemail, Sizzla , Erupt performing his international hit ‘Click My Finger’, Cherine Anderson, Cecille, Malica, Spragga Benz. Bobby Valentino and more

Voting for Round 1 of the 2008 Zig-Zag Live Band Competition has officially been narrowed down down to nine worthy finalists from a fleeting pool of musicians, spanning various genres.

This year’s remaining candidates comprise an eclectic mix of talent, like Tucson-based rockers Mostly Bears—an experimental prog-rock group that won “Best New Band” at the Tammies, Tucson’s version of the Grammys—and the Barbados-based David Kirton Band—an alternative reggae group that swept the Barbados Music Awards in 2008, winning Reggae Artist Of The Year.

In line with last year’s competition, these artists are vying for a grand prize to jump-start their career, featuring an opportunity to play the CMJ Music Marathon 2008 in New York this October, as well as a $2,000 cash prize and ads in CMJ New Music Report, CMJ New Music Monthly and the CMJ Music Marathon Festival Guide. Get yourself acquainted with the finalists, listen to their music and make your opinion heard by April 30 to vote for your favorite!

Finalists:

A Brief Smile

Billy Joe and the Dusty 45s

David Kirton Band

Dignan

the Frontier Brothers

Honey Claws

Kid Theodore

Mostly Bears

Sparky Quano.
http://www.zigzaglive.com/
Story by Joshua Pressman

check out this video promoting Obama'ss Campaign set to Daid Kirton's "Time for Some Change"

Black Entertainment Television (BET) has joined TeamJamaica'a "On the Road to Bejing" Campaign, joining Jamica Bickle and VP Records to sponsor the Reggae charity concert which will take place on the 20th of April at the Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College. The network will be filming the event.

Featured artists include Richie Stephens, Etana, Duane Stephenson, and Jamaican sports legend Donald Quarrie, and a host of other music and sport ambassadors, for airing on both BET and BETJ. Proceeds from the charity staging will assist Team Jamaica Bickle continue to provide annual financial support to the Island’s promising high school athletes competing at Penn Relays this month well as fund Jamaican athletes competing in the XXIX Olympics in Beijing this August.

Past Team Jamaica Bickle alums include Olympic Gold Medalist Veronica Campbell, often dubbed one of the world's fastest women; Olympic Gold Medalist Sherone Simpson; World Championship Silver Medalist Usain "Lightening" Bolt; and Olympian Aileen Bailey, sister of Dancehall legend Capleton.
officialsite

Update on the International Reggae and World Music Awards (IRAWMA) which will be at the Apollow theatre May 4th


Shaggy will perform as well as Freddie Mcgregor

Shaggy is nominated for Best album, for Intoxication and 'Church Heathen' is nominated for best song and best video…. so far the performers and presenters include Beenie Man, Ky-Mani Marley, Shaggy, Doug E. Fresh, Janet Hubert (the original Ms Banks from the Fresh Prince), Tarrus Riley, Etana, Machel Montano, Billy Ocean, Miss Jamaica 2007 (Zahra Redwood—first ever rasta miss jamaica), Buju Banton, Macka Diamond, Lady G, gospel artist Claudelle Clarke, Tony Rebel, Lady Ann, Dean Fraser, Winsome Benjamin, D’Angel, Queen Ifrika, Mutabaruka, Cecile, Junior Reid, Shelia Hylton, Dwight Pickney and a Soca mix featuring Hot 97FM D. Life, Jadine and other top Calypso/Soca nominees

official site

Mighty Crown again are the victors at the Death before dishonour sound clash at Pier One in Montego Bay, over the Easter weekend. They beat out Black Cat six dubs to three… Other sounds and DJs who took
Part in this years event were Tony Matterhorn, Hype Zone, Downbeat, King Jammys Black Scorpio and David Rodigan

They were also victorious at Judgement Day Clash in Houston TX beating out Shashamanie Sound.

photo source

So here are some pics from the First Ever Reggae Academy Awards! I was gonna caption each pic. but you know what .....go to the official site where they are all captioned and show some love!