Joseph Israel hits club ahead of debut album Roots reggae artist Joseph Israel will launch a headlining tour in January ahead of the March release of his debut full-length album, “Gone Are the Days.” Israel–born Joseph Montgomery Fennel in the unlikely reggae hotbed of Tulsa, OK–will kick off his tour Jan. 15 in Denver, and [...]
Gyptian held at airport Jamaican reggae artist Gyptian was detained at Grantley Adams International Airport yesterday, but no one seems to be able to say why. The 23-year-old, real name Windel Deneto Edwards, was returning from St Vincent where he performed, en route to Jamaica, when Immigration held him and five other members of his [...]
Junior Byles: Mr Curly Locks Probably the most bizarre moment at Rebel Salute 2004 was the appearance of Junior Byles. The mentally incapacitated singer of classic songs like Curly Locks and Fade Away seemed dazed when he hit the stage and saw the sea of fans. After a stuttering start, Byles brought the house down [...]
The Caribbean: cruise-ship free On islands the ships bypass, empty beaches and authentic charms await. On my first trip to Tortola in the British Virgin Islands a decade ago, I was struck by the island ‘s laid-back north coast, ribboned with tranquil coves of plush white sand. One that stayed planted in my memory was [...]
Dub poetry on, off main stage Although dub poetry, combining often rebellious poetry and music, is a critical success, is there really a stage to get the message across? A number of dub poets have resorted to the mainstream arenas, such as stage shows, to perform their work. Dub poetry is a form of performance [...]
Intense roots reggae When Edi Fitzroy first recorded and released The Gun in the 80s, (this writer witnessed a searing performance of that song during a Reggae Sunsplash of that era), he may or may not have any inkling that the cautionary tale would take on even greater importance some two decades later.
Fans Hail Sean Paul Jamaican reggae star Sean Paul last week stormed the stage at the Accra International Conference Centre amidst cheers and catcalls from the audience. Followed closely were his dancers – cute, sexy and funky ladies with gyrating bodies that kept the audience in suspense as they waited and tried to anticipate their [...]
Jamaica for swingers The “grand ladies” of Grand Lido Braco are more than just servers of coffee and orange juice to those who look beyond their morning paper on a sun-drenched day at the oceanfront Victoria Market breakfast area. Give the women a smile, or joke with them, and they quickly enhance a visit to [...]
Dutty Wine denied entry Tony Matterhorn and the ‘Dutty Wine’ dance has been the victim of yet another attack, as the latest onslaught has come from Orlando Smith, the British Virgin Islands (BVI) Chief Minister, who says his government has pulled the plug on the Dutty Wine dance there.
Caribbean Maidens The only snowballs are those sickly-sweet cocktails. The only skis are the ones that whizz across the clear, turquoise water. This is the Caribbean in winter – a necklace of sunshine islands a world away from the cold, grey UK skies. Cricket is still king and the pace of life is slower than [...]