RM Events August 2015 - DJRONNELSON.COM

AUGUST 2015 REGGAEMANIA EVENTS

Welcome to our August 2015 REGGAEMANIA EVENTS — We present to you a look through the lens of past August 2015 Reggae-Dancehall Events that took place the Toronto and surrounding areas. See event Flyers, Reviews, Videos and Pics, and listen/download our Audio Podcasts.

Chronixx at Sound Academy 08.21.15

See Hot Pics — I Remember — Chronixx at Sound Academy 08.21.15

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As a dancehall journalist I get to see many Reggae shows coming to the Toronto area. I’ll admit that over the years, I have witnessed the Reggae stage show scene enter into a state of regression in terms of failing to showcase any new or rarely seen before artists, rather there is a high repeat-return factor for the same shows and artists coming to town. Over the past ten years or so, many artists coming to town are artists that have been here many times before, for example, Sanchez performing at Jamaica Day; this will mark his third time performing in Toronto this year alone! Name the artist – Capleton, Beres, Freddie, I-Octane, Yellowman, Beenieman, Cham, Cocoa-Tea. Chances are they’ve been here before, which is why I often don’t get overexcited when I attend many of these stage shows that promoters have to offer. Not in the case of Chronixx.

I saw Chronixx in Toronto his first time here at a packed up Opera House in May of 2013; a great show at a time when Chronixx was still relatively unknown to commercial fans. But packing up the Opera House (1,100 people capacity for extremely packed events) was one thing but selling out the Sound Academy (2,800 people capacity when over packed) would be no easy feat for any Reggae Artist, including Chronixx I thought, especially seeing he did not have the traditional army of opening artists designed to strengthen a show in the eyes of the promoters and ticket buying public.

But as a testament to the power of Chronixx, the show sold out (or you could pay $80 at the door IF you arrived early. Door tickets sold out quickly) – as a ticket vendor, I tell no lie when I tell you that I could have sold one hundred additional tickets just on the show day alone. All of a sudden, the buzz in the city was all about Chronixx (calls to ReggaeMania.com for Chronixx tickets were coming in every two minutes), perhaps a delayed build up after blockage from the Redemption Reggae Festival that came a week earlier starring Beres Hammond, Tarrus Riley, Shaggy and the likes.

From the outside looking in, things seemed organized. There was a long and steady line up at the doors, and lots of people were rolling in, making promoters watching it all from outside joyous. Besides, it was a beautiful Friday night where the weather was nice in Toronto. I soon realized that what I thought was an early11:15 arrival time (doors opened 10 PM) for Lisa West and myself, was in fact not that early at all. The party had already started, and the venue appeared already close to full, with people getting settled in, vibing to a different style of DJ’ing courtesy of Yaadcore Sound repping for the very first time in Canada.

Yaadcore didn’t seem phased by anything this night. His style was cool, relaxed and laid back. Musically his selections were okay, a bit all over the place at times, but everything still fitting nicely under a love ‘n culture umbrella. For those used to that ‘other’ style of DJ’ing where songs last no longer than a few seconds before being replaced by a new one, well – that style would be M.I.A on this event. The crowd in attendance at Chronixx (perhaps 2,800-plus people) for the most part, were feeling this DJ’s ‘downtown’ or ‘alternative’ DJ style – other DJ’s that followed also had to switch from their regular hype to a slower, more conservative, and less exciting (to me) style of DJ’ing. For those unaware, Yaadcore is Protoje’s personal DJ on the road, and also plays at Dub Club in Kingston, Jamaica. He is credited as the first DJ to play Chronixx, Protoje, and Kabaka Pyramid on Jamaican radio.

Things moved quickly throughout the night, this was one show where there would be no long wait, no wasting time. Next up was the Riddim Up Band, who after doing their warm up set, would not leave the stage until night’s end. Blessed would be the first artist introduced to the stage by the night’s MC’s “Natty B” (ZionTrain) and Jason (Phllipino).

Blessed’s show (12:20 PM start time) was on point, and he had no problems on this night winning over an audience who understood, appreciated, and was moved by his talent, performance and words of wisdom. Ironically, Blessed had performed almost the exact same show (and same speeches) as he did the previous Saturday at Toronto Redemption Reggae Festival, except this time he was greeted like a star by the massive – sweet!

Blessed preached to the audience about senseless local gun violence, about why “Black lives matter”, and stressed that we as Black people have to stop killing each other. One of his biggest forwards came before his performance of “Empress (Natural African Black Woman…)” when he advised men in the audience to treat their empresses the same way they would treat their own mother. Blessed sounded better on this night, more seasoned and more confident than his Toronto Reggae Fest warm up the week before – now motors were in full gear.

After about a 12-minute show, Blessed was joined next on stage by Lindo P. After going back and forth a bit, Lindo would officially close all opening act duties with a performance that mostly focused on Ganga including a song about a ganja baby girlfriend. Lindo also preached consciousness, and demonstrated his rebellious anti-authority nature as well as his ‘dislike for police’. He spoke about his frustration with “Babylon”, a system he described as “killing the poor”.

When all was said and done, Lindo P. would be remembered as ‘that artist’ who lit a ganga spliff on stage and continued smoking it during the entirety of his performance. Lindo sounded good as usual, although on another night at another place, that same performance would’ve bus the place. I kept waiting for that huge forward during his show, and although he got a good one on his exit, it was not on the same amplitude as Blessed’s performance. Similar to Blessed, I will say that Lindo was also guilty of ‘repeating’ – seen that same show already Lindo. Still a good show for the many who don’t get around as often as yours truly. LOL.

When it came down to show time (1:15 am), Chronixx and his Zinc Fence Band were masterful on the stage, delivering a tight and well paced two hour performance that was entertaining from start to finish. There was no smiling at first; Chronixx was a “serious” and focused performer, somewhat static behind his mic during his first few minutes on stage, and turning his back to the audience after every song maintaining his cool demeanour, not getting too hyped. While pacing himself out, he would deliver his songs with extreme accuracy while feeling out his crowd. Once he and his band became comfortable on stage, they would soon prove how much they loved performing.

Chronixx explained to his fans that his show was “divided” into two parts; the first half for the fans who came to hear the “hits”, and the second to ‘please themselves’, because they loved the stage. It was at this post-midway point when the show went dub-style and many of the tunes performed were new or unheard free style dub material. This was when Chronixx let loose his lox and let himself go for his fans, even smiling occasionally now and then. It was in this later part of the concert that we saw the best of Chronixx and where he really put on a show, dancing, skanking and hi-kicking on stage, similar to how Bob Marley used to perform. It seemed that first, he had to feel out, trust and approve of his audience before unleashing in front of them.

Chronixx made the occasional revolutionary speech during the show but focused mainly on delivering tunes performed in perfect key and harmony with little rest or time wasted in between. The audience loved it, singing every word to every familiar song with fresh smiles on their faces (his voice is so tranquil). And what tune went over best? Overall I would say “They Don’t Know” probably gave him his biggest forward, but there were so many highlights that many will sport their own separate opinions of which songs earned the biggest forwards (“Ain’t No Giving In” and “Smile Jamaica” also received big forwards).

By the time the show was done, Chronixx had performed virtually every song from his limited library of material and was kind enough to return for an encore, unheard of for Reggae artists in this young stage in their careers. For me, it was just a pleasure to be in the front row, having the ‘best seat in the house’, with Chronixx performing directly in front of me and sounding as good live as he did in studio! As I snapped pics and recorded videos, I could virtually look him in the eye, read his vibes, moods and expressions as he performed.

Big up Chronixx for bringing his beautiful music, conscious lyrical prowess, and amazing vibe to Toronto – it’s not often that I get to experience a Reggae stage show performance on this level (normally you have to go to Jamaica for this). It’s amazing how quickly Chronixx has risen, a testament to his beautiful lyrics and music that he has been able to create and perform during a time in the industry when so many other artists are struggling to establish themselves and be heard.

And big up the Zinc Fence Band – paid tribute to by Chronixx when he took time out to introduce each member to the audience in a freestyle dj-pattern, truly brilliant and rarely seen. And finally, big up all the fans, promoters (IREMEMBER – the organizers who made this show happen), staff and everybody who played a part in making this show the success it was. Chronixx, who turns 24 this October, is here to stay, and as Dancehall’s newest and brightest star, he is now on a lifetime mission, essentially ‘chosen’ to help lead and help keep Dancehall music and culture alive and vibrant worldwide. Enjoy the Pics and Videos.

Friday August 21/2015 @ Sound Academy — I-Remember featuring
Chronixx & Zincfence Redemption Band Live in Concert

Friday August 21/2015
IREMEMBER

featuring
CHRONIXX & ZINCFENCE REDEMPTION

special live set by
YAADCORE

heavyweight selections by
SPEX + XIXGON INTL + ROOTS REDEMPTION

inside: SOUND ACADEMY (11 POLSON ST.)
19+ l Doors open @ 10pm l Style Code
for more info: info@irememberreggae.com

Early Online Release of limited Advance $40 Tickets Sold Out!!!
Advanced $50 TICKETS ARE ONLY AVAILABLE AT:

ReggaeMania.com (contact Ron Nelson)| 416.699.2900 | djronnelson@gmail.com
2275 Victoria Pk Ave., 2 Lights S. of 401 @ York Mills)

TREAJAH ISLE
1514 Eglinton Avenue West
(416) 787-7615

GENESIS ONE
14 St. Andrews Street (Kensington Market)
(416) 913-9470

PLAY DE RECORD (Toronto)
357A Yonge St
(416) 586-0380

2LINED MUSIC HUT (Scarborough)
31 Tapscott Rd
(416) 264-3999

CHARLIES WEST INDIAN FOOD MART (Mississauga)
3057 Hurontario St
(905) 896-3663

NICEYS (Brampton)
107 Kennedy Rd S
(905) 450-6045

DRUPATIS (Etobicoke)
975 Albion Road
416 745 4189

VIP Tickets include VIP Section, food and swag (if purchased online, you will be emailed for your t-shirt size, if purchased in-store, your t-shirt size will be taken at time of purchase) – working on some things for our VIP guests. Stay tuned…

Friday August 21/2015
iREMEMBER

featuring
CHRONIXX & ZINCFENCE REDEMPTION

special live set by
YAADCORE

heavyweight selections by
SPEX + XIXGON INTL + ROOTS REDEMPTION

inside: SOUND ACADEMY (11 POLSON ST.)

19+ l Doors open @ 10pm l Style Code
for more info: info@irememberreggae.com

Early Online Release of limited Advance $40 Tickets Sold Out!!!

Advanced $50 TICKETS ARE ONLY AVAILABLE AT:

ReggaeMania.com (contact Ron Nelson)| 416.699.2900 | djronnelson@gmail.com
2275 Victoria Pk Ave., 2 Lights S. of 401 @ York Mills)

TREAJAH ISLE
1514 Eglinton Avenue West
(416) 787-7615

GENESIS ONE
14 St. Andrews Street (Kensington Market)
(416) 913-9470

PLAY DE RECORD (Toronto)
357A Yonge St
(416) 586-0380

2LINED MUSIC HUT (Scarborough)
31 Tapscott Rd
(416) 264-3999

CHARLIES WEST INDIAN FOOD MART (Mississauga)
3057 Hurontario St
(905) 896-3663

NICEYS (Brampton)
107 Kennedy Rd S
(905) 450-6045

DRUPATIS (Etobicoke)
975 Albion Road
416 745 4189

Redemption Reggae Festival Day One 08.15.15

See Hot Pics — Redemption Reggae Festival Day One 08.15.15

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Toronto Redemption (2-Day) Reggae Festival Sat Aug 15/Sun Aug 16-2015, Outdoors @ Polson Pier Parking Lot, Downtown T.O. | Beres Hammond, Tarrus Riley, Beenie Man, Luciano, Shaggy, Marcia Griffiths, Romain Virgo, Christopher Martin, & more!

Toronto Redemption (2-Day) Reggae Festival 2015

Saturday August 15th
& Sunday August 16th

@ Polson Pier Parking Lot
10 Polson Street, Downtown Toronto

TORONTO…you LOVE REGGAE and you LOVE DANCEHALL; Well the festival you loved last year RETURNS for 2015…and this year we’re going bigger and better than last year…and we’re going outdoor again!

Day 1: Saturday August 15th (3pm – 11pm)
Beres Hammond
Tarrus Riley
Luciano
Yellowman
& other Canadian Artists

Day 2: Sunday August 16th (3pm – 11pm)
Beres Hammond
Shaggy
Marcia Griffiths
Romain Virgo
Christopher Martin
& other Canadian Artists

Saturday Schedule:

Richie Flo 3:30pm (Canadian Act)
Luciano 4:00pm;
Natural Fyah (Canadian Act)
Yellowman 5:30pm;
Kenny Blake (Canadian Act)
Aria Zenua (Canadian Act)
Tarrus Riley 6:45pm;
Blessed (Canadian Act)
Beres Hammond at 8:30pm

Sunday Schedule:

Richie Flo 2:30pm (Canadian Act)
Romain Virgo 3:00pm;
Blizz featuring Lenn Hammond (Canadian Act)
Kafinal (Canadian Act)
Marcia Griffiths 4:15pm;
Elaine Lil’Bit Shepherd (Canadian Act)
Christopher Martin 5:00pm;
Kirk Diamond & Bob Da Builda (Canadian Act)
Shaggy 6:30pm;
Beres Hammond 8:00pm;

See our Reggae Village | Seated VIP Areas | Room for 10,000 Each Day
Big Outdoor Festival Stage | The Beautiful Toronto Skyline as a Backdrop to the Stage

Hosted by Jay Martin & Others..
Music by D’Bandit | Mr. Presto | DOC | Whitebwoy | & more TBA

General Admission Saturday/Sunday: $65
VIP Admission Saturday: $105
VIP Admission Sunday: $105
VIP Tickets include separate entrance, separate washrooms, separate bar, seating, lunch and dinner.
(You can ONLY buy VIP for each day you cannot buy VIP combo tickets).

Purchase Tickets at:
Toronto:
Play De Record | 416.586.0380
Trea Jah Isle Records | 416.787.7615
Drupati’s | 416.487.7684

West:
Charlie’s | 905.896.3663
Shine Barber Salon | 905.790.3031
Lloyd’s 1hr Photo | 416.749.0433

Purchase Tickets Online: http://www.dbandit.com/#/event/toronto-reggae-fest-2015

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Wow, what a festival! Big up the promoters, artistes, staff and patrons who made this year’s Redemption Toronto Reggae Festival a huge success! I attended Day One only. Arriving in the early evening on Saturday, entering the Polson Pier Lot, I caught the introduction for Tarrus Riley. I quickly maneuvered through the crowd to the VIP section, then, made my way backstage to start work. I took some pics and videos (I apologize in advance for the sound quality – I’m having a problem with my external mic), I hope you enjoy them!

Now, on to my review! Since I arrived in the early PM, I had already missed Day One’s opener – Luciano as well as veteran artiste, Yellowman. Yellowman took the place of Beenie Man, who was slated for the festival, but, due to work permit issues, couldn’t make it. It’s too bad really, I would have loved to have seen Beenie perform again. Tarrus Riley was the ultimate showman! For those of you who haven’t seen him perform before, you don’t know what you’re missing! His stage performance and his lyrical prowess engaged the crowd from start to finish. He got a big forward when he threw in a Vybz Kartel sample (“Mi Nuh Trust People”) while performing one his own tune of the same riddim.

Next up, Toronto’s own, Blessed. What a great slot on the bill for Blessed, the last performance before the headliner – Beres Hammond. Blessed has been laying low the past few years since rising to become one of Canada’s best artistes. I’m not sure if the audience remembered him or not – some of his ‘anthems’ seemed lost to them, but, he trodded on and remained on point during his set. While far away from ‘rusty’, Blessed’s voice was not as tight as it used to be, nonetheless, he was consistent whilst delivering his chunes. It would be nice to hear a new ‘hit’ song from Blessed again, to keep him relevant in the scene. Who knows, he might just give Exco Levi a run for his ‘Juno’ money!

Night was starting to fall, it was that time, time for Beres Hammond to take the stage. By this point and time, there were upwards of 4,000 people in attendance – all waiting with smiling faces for Beres. As usual, Beres Hammond’s son blessed the stage with a nice juggling set before his father arrived. He’s a part of Beres’s show – a touring member that lights the way for his father. I was once told, he carries a list of songs for his juggling set, and, as part of his contract, those are strictly his chunes to play – as in, hands off to any other DJs on the bill that might want to spin them too. This may be a rumour,but, true to course, year after year, he usually plays the same set with the same speeches – hey, if something works, why fix it?

Fortunately for Beres, he has an incredible catalogue of which to choose from; even if he wasn’t able to sing full force, the audience had no problems doing it for him. Besides, his band was tight! He would later make amends by having his fraternity brothers – Luciano, Tarrus and Lenn (Hammond) appear on stage with him to perform for 20 minutes or so. It was truly entertaining – true legends in action! Beres ended the show himself and did not return for an encore.

So that was it, another year of attending the Redemption Toronto Reggae Festival. Thanks to the Promoter (D’Bandit) for granting me my back stage pass, and for advertising with ReggaeMania.com. I got some great pics and videos for ReggaeMania fans to see so enjoy. The question now is what will next year have in store – are we going to see Beres Hammond again, or is three years in a row of two nights in a row of Beres Hammond (Dancehall’s most expensive yet most loved and highest drawing reggae artist) enough for the Toronto people who are completely spoilt in their tastes and expectations. Toronto is a very unpredictable urban business market, and finding an ample replacement for Beres Hammond will be difficult, yet probably not impossible, we’ll have to wait and see.

For those wondering about Day Two – Sunday day and night coverage, I didn’t attend. I heard the attendance was close to the same as Day One – Saturday and the lineup featured: Christopher Martin, Romain Virgo, Shaggy and Beres Hammond. Talk of the town…Romain Virgo stole the show! If you’re interested, visit our facebook page to view pics from Day Two courtesy of Vivian Barclay.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/wwwreggaemaniacom/114120627947?ref=h

Jambana 2015 (Day 1) @ Markham Fair Grounds 08.02.15

See Hot Pics — Jambana 2015 (Day 1) @ Markham Fair Grounds

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Our ReggaeMania.com team arrived just before 2:00 PM at the Markham Fair Grounds for Jambana 2015 – Day One. The day seemed promising; the weather was holding up – sunny and hot and everything was well organized at the entry gates. Once inside the grounds, surveying the crowd, it seemed a bit sparse, but, it was early still. The festival kicked off at 1:00 PM. Our crew had already missed a few performances, one being, The Human Rights Band.

Backstage, things looked good. Anyone and everyone had a role to play and everything seemed to be running smoothly. We were ready for whatever Jambana 2015 had in store, or so we thought. Big up the Day One MC’s, including the latest Internet sensation – Majah Hype (by the way, great job!), Vibe 105’s Alan Jones and CIUT’s Patrick Roots (no Oliver Samuels this year)! Also, big up the Mountain Edge Roots N Culture Band – always a hard working band, yet, still underrated!

The first performance we saw was by the Black Stars dancers. Black Stars are real pros, they delivered a choreographed piece that was tight and highly entertaining; the only drawback, not enough people were in attendance to witness their performance.

Following Black Stars was a Rapper who I had never heard of, ‘Nevahurd’(no pun intended). I was skeptical at first, but, after a few minutes, it was clear to me that he had talent – a skilled entertainer. I loved his beats, not to mention, his ‘live’ drummer, who, by the way, was ever so incredible – on point and very funky. A big shout out to ‘Nevahurd’! This local Scarborough Artiste put on a good performance, especially considering the crowd was mostly made up of diehard Reggae fans, not Hip Hop heads.

George Banton, a Jambana favourite, is ever the crowd pleaser! There’s not much I can say about George that hasn’t been said already. He communicated with his audience – mingling and smiling while singing his songs. The crowd loved him and he loved the crowd; a testament to his skills and positive vibes. His delivery was executed with extreme precision and his set was well thought out and very appropriate for the time of day. This was a very graceful performance by the classy Gospel-rooted, George Banton – good show my man!

This year, a few more DJs were added to the lineup to play between sets – this made total sense to me, less talk, more groove. Up next, ‘Jambana Idol’; five contestants rallied for a cash prize, writing and recording sessions with internationally acclaimed musicians plus a performance spot at Jambana 2016. First up was Nathan, aka ‘Gifted’, who, by the way, placed 2^nd in the overall competition.

Lady Share followed. For most of her song, she was somewhat static and sang off key. I must say, her voice is somewhat unique and with some good vocal training behind her, there is promise. Who knows, sometimes the same artist who is ‘weak’ on the stage could be ‘great’ in the studio.

Taking the stage next, Little Edward and his crew. This kid is 7 years old and was dressed to impress and ready to go! He took the mic and sang Survivor’s – ‘Eye of the Tiger’ while performing a dance routine with his two backup dancers. He got the crowd up on their feet – all were screaming, laughing and having a really good time. Watching Little Edward was something else, if he keeps it up, he’ll have a really bright future ahead of him. Looking back, I will say, that despite the quality of performances that would come from Kiprich and Kabaka Pyramid, it was Little Edward’s performance that earned him the undisputed title of the biggest forwards for the Jambana (Day One) event.

It was now time for Civalect the Healer – a sing-jay from Boston who drove all the way up here with family in tow to participate. He seemed happy to be on stage, performing. It was clear to me, it wasn’t about ‘winning’ for him, it was about making a connection to the people and his love for the business. Near the end of his song, he brought his beautiful wife and two children out on stage and sang to them – clearly, this was the highlight of his set. MC Majah Hype put it best when he said something to the effect of…Civalect was smart because the previous performer had his “family” on the stage during his performance, so, he would do the “same” (jokingly of course). As we say, it was a good look! The crowd ate this up and all appreciated his show of life, love and unity.

Last but not least, Dancehall Dons who were mistakenly announced as “Dancehall of Canada”. This crew worked extremely hard and just like Black Stars before them, had a tightly choreographed show. It’s fair to say the Dancehall Dons had many tricks up their sleeves, you could tell by watching their performance. All their moves were very technical, allowing the highly skilled crew to strut their stuff effortlessly across the stage, all the while, smiling and having fun – pretty cool, I thought. They ended up winning Jambana Idol via a crowd vote. I look forward to seeing them perform alongside local and international artistes next year as part of the Jambana 2016 lineup – I wonder what they’ll think up next?!

Jambana Idol had just finished and before the next artiste could arrive, it began…the rain! All of a sudden, it was raining cats and dogs. A fierce dark storm with a great lightning show took over the festival. The promoters, artistes and fans tried to brave it out, but, despite their best efforts, the weather ended up highjacking Jambana. The crowd literally scrambled, running for cover wherever they could – umbrellas, jackets, tents, vendor booths, cars, porta potties, you name it. Vendor booths started to collapse under the intense winds as did some of the temporary fencing that was put up around the perimeter of the stage, it seemed like a mini tornado had just touched down.

Some people left the festival immediately, not knowing when or if this storm would ever subside, others, held out in hope. I did see a firetruck and ambulance enter the grounds, but, I think that was more of a precautionary measure less an emergency. After fifty minutes or so, the clouds seemed to pass and the rain stopped. Allan Jones came on stage to announce that the show would go on and announced the next artistes. This had to have been a tough call for the promoters to make as one has to take into account the health and safety factor for all involved. If there were 1,000 people on the Markham Fair Grounds before it rained, it’s fair to say that less than half of them returned.

In a matter of less than an hour (as the equipment got checked, the stage got swept (rain water) and set up again), the festival continued under clear skies and a slightly lower temperature. The night was upon us. Jamaica’s Ki Rich was the next artiste to take the stage. Big up the very talented Kip Rich! Despite the drop in numbers (attendance wise) Kip Rich brought a vibe that created a happier atmosphere for the remaining audience members – a sign of a true professional! His set was entertaining and funny, his lyrics were clear and concise, naturally flowing. Kip Rich got several forwards before he concluded his show. I would have liked to have heard more chunes, but, time was of the essence. He definitely earned some new fans that night. Loved his red sneakers too!

Kabaka Pyramid came on next, the final Reggae artiste to perform on Day One of Jambana. Big up Kabaka! – a truly gifted Jamaican artiste who is quickly rising through the ranks of cultural Dancehall. His show was flawless – a very confident performer who would earn more than a handful of forwards before leaving the stage to a standing and cheering crowd who didn’t seem to mind the drop in temperature. Backstage, before and after the show, Kabaka had been stress free and wearing a slight grin. I’m sure he’s had fun making an impression for himself up here in Canada, this will not be the last time we see or hear of this shining star!

After a disappointing long delay, the final performance of the night belonged to the ‘Queen of Soca’ – Alison Hinds – and storm number two! The ominous clouds returned just as Alison took the stage. Suddenly, a downpour of rain! A handful of the crowd left, but those remaining were ready, willing and able to enjoy Alison’s edited show. I’m assuming these brave people remaining were mostly Soca-Alison Hinds fans who were jumping up front and centre – nothing was going to stop them from having fun Caribana-Jambana weekend. Some had umbrellas, some rain ponchos and others, nothing – they were clammering to hear the sweet, sweet sounds of Alison regardless of the intense falling rain – talk about dedicated fans!

Less than 10 minutes into her set, during her third song, Alison Hinds had no choice but to leave the stage, the rain was spitting with rage! Sad to say, it ‘rained on her parade’, but, with weather like that, there was simply no option to continue on – Jambana 2015 had come to a premature halt; but it was a little before 10 PM anyway, and (from a promoter point of view) the majority of the artistes ‘promised’, had been ‘delivered’.
Unfortunately, Day One of Jambana 2015 will always be remembered for the torrential rain storms, not, the fine quality of performances that we saw by many local and international artistes. I have to big up the promoters – Jones and Jones Productions for offering compensation to any audience member that had left previously due to the weather. An announcement was posted on their website stating that anyone who was in attendance Sunday, could return on Monday, free of charge with proof of ticket. I think that was a pretty fair deal given that one can’t be responsible for mother nature.

Jambana 2015 (Day 2) @ Markham Fair Grounds 08.03.15

See Hot Pics — Jambana 2015 (Day 2) @ Markham Fair Grounds

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Day One of Jambana left me and my crew tired. Despite plans to arrive by 2:00 PM the following day, we didn’t actually arrive until 3:15 PM. Spying the crowd, it was clear that this was going to be ‘the’ day. Lots of good vibes were flowing through the air and the sun was shining bright! One could not have asked for a better day.

After holding court stage left, our first priority was to find out who we missed. We had just missed Nattali Rize & Notis (Australian singer), whom we heard performed really well. We had seen Nattali back stage on Sunday, but, didn’t know who she was. Big her up the same way! We also missed Gerry Thompson, the Arsenals, Dance Caribe and Donette Thompson Hall.

Tasha T was the first artiste that I caught. A seasoned veteran performer – just another show to add to her impressive list of shows worldwide. She showed us her progressive side – the woman, not, the girl, with her performance. I liked her show, but, this is nothing new for me – I am biased, Tasha T should have been scheduled to perform later!

Kirk Diamond (Don Dem Crew) was next up. I would describe Kirk Diamond (this was my first time seeing him live) as being a little ‘ahead of time’. There’s a lot of potential here, and I like his work with Don Dem Crew. But clearly, as a solo artiste, Kirk Diamond is in his own world, and as a lyricist and performer, seems not to be influenced by any past or current Reggae styles or trends (a good thing sometimes). It’ll be interesting to monitor the progression of Kirk Diamond. All in all, a solid performance; considering the audience, were for the most part, unfamiliar with the Kirk Diamond library.

Reppin’ for Montreal – Mikey Dangerous. Mikey is another Jambana favourite and Juno Award winner. He’s always been one of my favorite Canadian Reggae recording artistes, simply because, he’s good at what he does! Big up Mikey for being an unselfish artist – during his set, he brought up Ras Demo aka Demolition Man UK and let him have a go! Ras Demo, outfitted in red and white, used his time wisely and was well received by the crowd.

On this day, I would say that Mikey Dangerous’s show would be best described as average. Like many of our Canadian artistes, it’s often a difficult task to win over a crowd that is unfamiliar with your material. If given enough stage time (Mikey had a long stage time), artistes facing this situation can sometimes better garner the attention of a crowd by performing their own tunes in combination with a mix or sample of classic and familiar chunes that audiences can sing along with because they know them.

The next show I took in featured Steele. No one knows the Jambana crowd better than Steele. A Jambana veteran, who performs classics and covers and is always ready to push the envelope when it comes to his performance. He’s a party rocker! Big up Steele on yet another classic Jambana performance, and big up the female singer that he gave some great exposure to on stage! By the time Steele exited the stage, the crowd was riding high.

By time the Steele show was complete, Jambana was on a high, the atmosphere was nice and celebratory and there was a lot of love and unity in the air, nothing but smiling faces and people having a great time! Following Steele was Markham’s own, Lucas DiPasquale (also an internet sensation). Lucas is famous for his Popcaan covers. Armed with a classical guitar and a mic, he played an acoustic set consisting of original material as well as a few Popcaan covers – the crowd was bowled over by the sheer beauty of his voice. I’m curious to see where Lucas goes from here.

It was now time for Exco Levi – a four time Juno Award winner. Fresh off his successful European Tour, he put it into high gear and put on a decent show for the Jambana crowd. Exco is a seasoned performer who always leaves his mark wherever he goes. I noticed a few technical difficulties with his mic, but, not enough to take you away from his performance. During his set, he brought out Keisha Chanté and the two of them did a duet. Big up Exco Levi , Canada’s best ‘lyrical’ performing artist!

Dance Caribe were up next. I could have sworn that I had just witnessed the same routine that they performed last year at Jambana, hope I am wrong! This Dance group were crowd pleasers, but they were ill-timed, and would have been better suited for a early afternoon time slot.

The pace of Day Two was right on point! It was veteran artiste, Ernie Smith’s time now, a regular performer on the Jambana circuit who had no problem keeping the crowd while delivering a graceful and memorable show. Big up Ernie!

Darkness had now started to set in, and people were getting hyped for Gully Bop; bad timing for The Arsenals and Iley Dred who the crowd tolerated, but for the most part was not interested in seeing at this point. Fab Five took the stage, did the shortest show I’ve seen them do at Jambana, then it was time for the show.

It was time…MC Nuffy took to the stage to introduce, the one, the only, Gully Bop to the screaming crowd – he teased us, not quite yet. He introduced Jamaican Reggae/Dancehall/R&B songstress and song-writer, Ikaya to the stage. She took command of the stage right away and immediately started to belt out her hit, ‘Ugly Girl’ – rewind!!!

Last but not least, Gully Bop! I have to give him credit, his ‘performance’ started a few hours earlier as he was constantly hounded and rushed for autographs, pics, interviews and jingles by a media and VIPs backstage. Dressed in all white (top, pants and hat) with the exception of a red bandana that he had tied around his neck, he met and greeted all. I’m not sure where he gets his energy from, but, he’s got lots of it. It seemed he was running on pure adrenaline – you could tell that he was just so happy to be given this opportunity. He’s humble and down to earth (that’s rare these days) and throughout his performance, he constantly gave thanks to God for blessing him.

One thing is clear, there is nothing fake about Gully Bop; behind the scenes and off the stage, he is genuine, rooted and friendly. Once you get him started, he keeps delivering, and eats up every media and publicity opportunity that comes to him. Gully Bop worked the backstage and press both before and after his show. I’m not sure where this man gets his energy from, but throughout the night, he kept referring to how God had truly blessed him.

On to the show! This was my second time seeing Gully perform. The first thing that I noticed was his entrance – somewhat anticlimactic, this could have been better. Once at the front of the stage, Gully started to work the crowd – free stylin’ to the delight of the crowd who were so curious to see Dancehall’s most talked about new artiste.

At one point, while working the crowd, Gully spotted a hefty man and convinced him to come up on stage despite there being no strategic way of doing so. What followed?, crowd members hoisted him up and eventually Gully grabbed his hand. Gully engaged with him and so, it was a bit like the game, Simon Says, except, it was Gully Says. He put on a few dance moves, waved his rag and had fun with Gully. The crowd loved it!

Gully Bop next called on a female in the audience to come up on stage. Same deal as before, except this time, she had to rub his belly, scratch his back and wine ‘pon ‘im. Laughter ensued – everyone was having a good time. He then spotted a White woman center stage and engaged in dialogue – something about dating a Black man; to his surprise, without hesitation, she responded something like, she exclusively dates Black men. This kind of audience interaction was met with cheers, laughter, salutes and whistles.

More or less, this was the Gully Bop show, one that he appeared to be truly satisfied with. The show ended on a paltry note, I was hoping for an encore. The crowd wanted more! I looked around back stage, no sign of him – gone! The audience (5,000 – my estimate) cleared out quickly in an orderly fashion and so, that wraps up our coverage of Jambana 2015. See you at Jambana 2016! Don’t forget to check the Pics in the Gallery below. Big up the crew – ‘DM’ and Lisa West for helping out with Pics.

Jones & Jones Presents the 7th Annual (2-Day) JAMBANA™ One World Festival–“Fun For The Family- A Fusion of Cultures in Canada at Markham Fair Grounds” (10801 McCowan Rd @ Elgin Mills, Markham, ON) Sunday August 2nd & Monday August 3/2015 (1:00pm to 9:30pm) . Info: 905.452.1911

Jones & Jones Productions Presents:

The 7th Annual (2-Day) JAMBANA™ One World Festival
“Fun For The Family- A Fusion of Cultures in Canada at Markham Fair Grounds”

Sunday August 2/2015
(1:00pm to 9:30pm)

and Monday August 3/2015
(1:00pm to 9:30pm)

The Markham Fair Grounds
10801 McCowan Rd @ Elgin Mills (Markham, ON)
Free Parking (Gates Open At Noon – Take a Chair:)

Performing Live: Sunday August 2/2015

Alison Hinds
Kabaka Pyramid
Nana McLean
Kip Rich
George Banton
Tasha T
Fab 5
Mountain Edge
The Human Rights
Black Star
Neva Hurd
Maja Hype
Pan Fantasy Steel Band

DJs: Joshua Lucas | Grandmaster Rosa
MCs: Patrick Roots (CIUT) | Alan Jones (Jambana) | Rudi Blair (680 News) | DJ Cool

Performing Live: Monday August 3/2015

Gully Bop
Exco Levi & Hi Priest
Ernie Smith
Mikey Dangerous
Kirk Diamond
Steele
Maja Hype
Hardcore Band
Nattali Rize & Notis
Fab 5
Gerry Thompson
Arsenals
Dance Caribe
Donette Thompson Hall

VIP Adult Admission $40 Advance / $50 Door
VIP Childrens Admission $30 Advance / $40 Door
VIP Adult 2-Day Passes $75 Advance / $85 Door
VIP Children 2-Day Passes $55 Advance / $65 Door
(VIP Tickets includes free Meal, Drink & Seat)

Tickets Available at Community Outlets across the GTA & at Ticketgateway.com (purchase online)

No In & Out Privileges | No Food or Drinks Allowed on Site at Markham Fair Grounds
Enjoy Delicious food and drinks in the Jambana Food Village

Info, Sponsorship & Vendor Info: 905.452.1911
www.jambana.com | info@jonesandjones.ca| facebook.com/jambana | twitter.com/jambanafestival | #jambana

Directions-to-Jambana

From East: Exit McCowan Rd. N., after crossing over Elgin Mills Rd. entrance to Jamabana on right…or 404 north to Stouffville Rd., E., Right on McCowan Rd. to Jambana on left

From West: Exit 404 North to Elgin Mills Rd. E; left on McCowan Rd., entrance to Jambana on right…or Exit 404 North to Stouffville Rd. E., Right on McCowan Rd., entrance to Jambana on Left

From North: 404 South to stouffville Rd. left or East; right on McCowan Rd. to Jambana on Left…or 404 south; exit left on Elgin Mills Rd; Left on McCowan Rd., entrance to Jambana on Right

From South: Don Valley North to 404 North; to Stouffville Rd. Right or East; Right on McCowan Rd. to Jambana on Left….or Don Valley North to 404 North; exit right on Elgin Mills Rd; Left on McCowan Rd., entrance ot Jambana on Right

Shuttle Bus JAMBANA Festival – $25
JAMBANA Round Trip shuttle Bus Tickets
Purchase Your Shuttle Bus Tickets: http://kingshuttle.ca/jambana/

Toronto’s Union Station (10:30 am)
The Pick-Up and drop-off Location at Toronto’s Union Station is at Maple Leaf Square (South Entrance of Union Station).
If coming from Union Station, follow the signs for the “Air Canada Centre”.
The Shuttle Bus will be parked along the roundabout just outside the Union Station Doors.

Scarborough Town Centre (10:40 am)
Markville Mall (11:00 am)
Jambana (site arrival – 11:59 am)