Come along take a ride on the Fantastic Voyage
Welcome to our August 2001 REGGAEMANIA EVENTS — We present to you a look through the lens of past August 2001 Reggae-Dancehall Events that took place the Toronto and surrounding areas.
AUGUST 2001 REGGAEMANIA EVENT LISTINGS
Friday August 31st @ The Base Niteclub
Black Chiney
King Turbo, Heatwave, Military, Nite Starr, Skimpy Boy
163 Carlingview Dr.
Friday August 31st @ Mirage Nightclub
Friday Night Reggaemania Live-To-Air Broadcast
Ron BUS DA DANCE Nelson, Fire`stone, Frisco
55 Nugget
Saturday August 25th @ The Base (On The Roof)
Fire Kid Steenie, Military, Rebel Tone, Soul-To-Soul
163 Carlingview Dr.
Saturday August 10th @ HHMS
Soundwave
Magnum Force, Glamourtone, Diplomat, Villa City
1468 Victoria Park @ O’Conner
Monday August 6th aboard the Enterprize 2000
Stonelove
Soul To Soul, Military, Barry Culture, Super 7
8 PM Boarding @ Lake Shore & Cherry St.
Cruize info: 416-520-5447
Sunday August 5th @ Mirage Nightclub
Malcolm X (Travellers)
55 Nugget Rd.
Sunday August 5th @ 5 Star Banquet Hall
Stonelove, Ron Bus Da Dance Nelson, Military
5 Star Banquet Hall
1811 Albion Rd.
Sunday August 5th @ Scarborough Civic Centre
Renaissance, Roy Cape, Yoruba
Finch Crew, Puppet, Carlene
Dancehall Queen Competition
150 Borough Drive
info: 416-740-9329
Sunday August 5th @ Chinguacousy Park
Fab Five, Culture, Nana McLean
Carol Brown, Wire, Steele, Xplosion,
Mission, Pamela Maynard
5 Star Banquet Hall
9050 Bramalea Rd. @ Queen, Brampton
Saturday+Sunday August 4th & 5th @ The Opera House
Half Pint, Chester Miller, Culture, Frankie Wilmot,
Donna Makeda, Leejahn, King Selah,
Sonia Collymore, Sensation Band
735 Queen @ Broadview
info: 905-452-1911
Saturday August 4th @ HHMS Niteclub
Blackat
Black Reaction, Magnum Force
1468 Victoria Park @ O’Conner
Friday August 3rd @ Mirage Nightclub
The Ultimate Reggaemania Live To Air Broadcast
Ron Bus Da Dance Nelson, Firestone, Frisco
55 Nugget @ McCowen
Friday August 3rd Aboard The Matthew Flinders
Metromedia, Soulville, Soul-To-Soul
Board 11pm @ Pier 6-York Queens Quay
INTERNATIONAL SOUNDS WHO PERFORMED IN TORONTO AUGUST 2001
INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS WHO PERFORMED IN TORONTO AUGUST 2001
Frankie Wilmot
POPULAR DANCES FOR THE MONTH of AUGUST Squichie | Zip It Up | Log On Pon It
POPULAR AUGUST 2001 SONGS God Is Standing By | Chi Chi Man | By His Deeds | Rock Away
REGGAEMANIA LIVE TO AIR @ MIRAGE CARIBANA FRIDAY AUGUST 3rd 2001
On Cariban Friday August 3rd @ Mirage Nightclub, Reggaemania was live-to-air. Over 400 people attended a night filled with positive vibes, and music by Bus Da Dance, Firestone and Frisco. The night was spiced up with pass throughs and appearnaces by Gee Fus from Stonelove, Skyjuice from Metromedia, and Kattarack Sound. Matterhorn was a no show, as he chose to chill at Epiphany that night. Blackat was also MIA, and would remain that way for the entire weekend, despite having been promoted for a series of nights at HHMS Nightclub.
METROMEDIA BOATCRUISE
The Metromedia boatcruise later that night aboard the Matthew Flinders (Metromedia, Soul-To-Soul, Soulville) flopped with just over 100 people attending, no surprize considering that the series of murders from days past were publicized as related to the recent Mampie Boat Cruise (July 22nd) where problems resulted when too many enemies bucked up on the boat and tensions led to fights and conflicts. The aftermath was a major shootout in the parking lot (people were shooting at the boat as well) that left people running for their lives.
CARIBANA SATURDAY AUGUST 4th 2001
Despite the anticipated excitement for the Caribana parade and the fun the traditionally follow, for Reggae-dancehall, it was a different story. This day would begin with the double funeral of Paul Watson and Natty Britz, an event in itself that had over 2,000 people in attendance, despite only 500 being able to fit inside the non-air conditioned church.
BLACKAT, METROMEDIA, MATTERHORN CANCELLED
Jamaica’s Blackat would fail to show for their two nights scheduled at HHMS, and promoters didn’t even bother opening doors for the Metromedia dance scheduled for Fortress North. Those who arrived for the Matterhorn dance at 5 Star were met by closed doors, and disgruntled security who were not informed of the dance’s official cancellation. Word had it that Matterhorn, feeling the gloomy T.O. vibes (and concerned for his own personal safety), refused to play. Whether promoters wanted it this way or not, most believe it was for the better.
LIVE @ THE GUINESS PAVILION
During this sunny afternoon on Caribana Saturday, Reggaemania’s own Bus Da Dance was live at the 1st Guiness Pavilion on the Parade Route. Between 12 noon and 7 pm, Caribana goers were treated with music (and MC services) by Bus Da Dance and Darryl Alize Murray (Rennaissance was scheduled to play but didn’t show) and free performances by The Epiphany Bad Girl/Dancehall Queen Simone alongside dancers Venom and Mad Skills. While Puppet was a no-show, Kardinal Offishal performed a powerful 35 minute set that had the place rocking. The event concluded with a dynamic assembly of soca greats courtesy of promoter Elseworth James, who would later flop that weekend at Lamport Stadium (people fled to the Docks).
REGGAEBANA MEETS HARD TIMES
This same Caribana Saturday (and Sunday ) also featured Jones & Jones Promotions presenting Reggaebana at the Opera House with Jamaica’s Half Pint headlining. This show also featured local performers Chester Miller, Culture, Frankie Wilmot, Donna Makeda, Leejahn, King Selah, Sonia Collymore, and Sensation Band split up over the two nights. Unfortunately for promoters Jones and Jones, this show would fail to attract even 100 people on the Saturday. On Sunday (Culture Night), attendance rose to about 300 people, still far lower than promoter expectations. Despite the small turnout, those in attendance made the best of it and had a good time.
While Toronto’s dancehalls seemed to be flopping to start of Caribana, the city’s top reggae nightclubs were reaping the benefits. People who did go out chose the safety and security of their favourite reggae nightspots. Epiphany, for the second consecutive night, was rammed to capacity and actually had to turn away people. Paradise was also busy, but not as rammed as expected. In the city’s East-end, Malcolm X played for a full house inside Mirage Nightclub (55 Nugget), and was actually the only Yard selector who got to play for the T.O. massive during the big Caribana Saturday in Toronto.
2001 EPIPHANY SUNSPLASH CARIBANA SUNDAY AUGUST 5th 2001
On Sunday August 5th @ the Scarborough Civic Centre, Club Epiphany presented their first ever Sunsplash, a day-time/night time event featuring Jamaica’s Rennaissance and Dancehall Queen Carlene showing down against Canada’s (Epiphany) Dancehall Queen Simone. Roy Cape and Yoruba also performed, adding to the internationally of the event, and local artists Puppet, Carlene and Finch Crew also threw down. Despite a strong promotion, less than 400 people attended, a dissapointment for promoters who make take the event into the West next year.
80 NASHDEEN
Kattarack and Bus Da Dance both threw down at 80 Nashdeen in a daytime-nightime outdoor block-rama. About 250 people attended, many staying by their cars to enjoy the huge sound systems blasting music throughout the entire commercial-industrial area. A good time was had by all, despite a complete lack of security present for the event.
BRAMBANA @ CHINGUACOUSY PARK
In another daytime-early evening event this Sunday in the city’s West end, Jones and Jones were presenting Brambana, a live showcase at the beautiful Chinguacousy Park (9050 Bramalea Rd.) featuring Fab Five, Culture, Nana McLean, Carol Brown, Wire, Steele, Xplosion, Mission, and Pamela Maynard. This event featured classic performances by all artists, although the 700 people in attendance was a dissapointment to promoters (many people enjoyed the vibes from outside the gated area where they didn’t have to pay).
NIGHTCLUBS WIN AGAIN
Caribana Sunday also was a night belonging to the clubs, as both Club Epiphany (with Rennaissance and Crew) and Club Mirage (Soulville and Soul 2 Soul) were rammed to capacity and had to turn away people.
STONELOVE + AFRIQUE @ FIVE STAR
Meanwhile, Stonelove and Afrique (alongside Military and Bus Da Dance) only managed to draw 200 people across from Five Star. There, one could really feel the gloomy vibes, but those who gathered were able to relax a bit with 5 pay duty police offers stationed at the front door. Despite the small turnout, this was one of the best that Stonelove has played in a while.
STONELOVE + AFRIQUE @ FIVE STAR
Meanwhile, Stonelove and Afrique (alongside Military and Bus Da Dance) only managed to draw 200 people across from Five Star. There, one could really feel the gloomy vibes, but those who gathered were able to relax a bit with 5 pay duty police offers stationed at the front door. Despite the small turnout, this was one of the best that Stonelove has played in a while.
LENN HAMMOND @ HARBOURFRONT
Lenn Hammond performed one of his best shows ever in front of a capacity audience at Harbourfront Caribana Sunday.
EPIPHANY RAMMED AGAIN CARIBANA MONDAY AUGUST 6th 2001
Caribana Monday belonged to Club Epiphany, who rammed daytime and nightime with their traditional barbeque and after party.
STONELOVE BOATCRUISE
There was only one other event that would matter Cariban Monday, the Tri-Star Triple A presentation of the much hyped Stonelove Boatcruise, an event whose original line up featured Stonelove, Afrique, Black Reaction, Super Fresh, Soul To Soul, Military, Barry Culture, and Super 7. This cruise only attracted 50 people, and was the final sign that the violence from recent incidents past had made people turn off from the dancehall, boatcruise or no boatcruise. But like life must go on, so did the cruise, and those who were aboard all had a nice time incident free.
