Welcome to our February 2002 REGGAEMANIA EVENTS — We present to you a look through the lens of past February 2002 Reggae-Dancehall Events that took place the Toronto and surrounding areas.
See Hot Pics from Steenie Birthday Bash @ Travel Lodge Hotel 02.02.02..The 2nd Annual Steenie Birthday Bash attracted about 1,000 people, which is amazing for an all-Canadian DJ Line-up! Featuring Military, Black Reaction, Bus Da Dance, Wiz, Fully Loaded and live performances by Blessed, Spida and Lloyd, Steenie, Lindo P., and more.
DANCE OF THE MONTH – STEENIE BIRTHDAY BASH
The 2nd Annual Steenie Birthday Bash (Saturday February 2nd @ Travel Lodge Hotel, Ron Nelson AKA Bus Da Dance, Fire Kid Steenie, Military, King Turbo, Kamal, Soul Controllers, Fully Loaded, Blessed, Spida) was the best dance in Toronto for all of February. With almost 1,000 people in attendance, Steenie proved for the second consecutive year that an all-Canadian DJ-entertainment line up is good enough to outdraw some of the best efforts starring popular Jamaican and international sounds and artists.
Despite King Turbo. being a no-show for this event, the line-up was still over-crowded with DJ’s. Lindo P. played as a replacement for King Turbo, while DJ Wiz and a funky female DJ (forgot her name) played but were not advertised. Fully Loaded and Soul Controllers only got a few spins in the final part of the dance after most people had left (they showed up very late). Military played very well, as we knew they would, as it was Allan Lad’s first big dance since returning from Yard. It might be fair to say that he bus the dance, but Kamal and Black Reaction was the first to get decent wheels. Bus Da Dance, as usual, held his own, but only managed to play once because of the overloaded DJ line-up.
In the dance’s late hours, Blessed, Spyda & Lloydie, Jason (from Jaydees), Lindo P., and a few other artists touched the mic. In the end, most of the people who attended left having been satisfied with the quality and quantity of the entertainment, and of course, very happy that the incidents and gunplay that happened at last year’s Steenie Birthday Bash, did not repeat. This time, Police we at the door, and everyone behaved themselves.
STAGESHOW OF THE MONTH VACEUM
Strange, but true, this was the first February that we could remember where not even one international reggae artist performed live in Metro Toronto, despite it being Black History Month, the month of Bob Marley’s birthday, and the month of Martin Luther King’s birthday. One can’t help but get a feeling that things are finally starting to change for T.O.’s promotion scene, as many of the fly-by-night ‘promoters’ are either dropping out because it’s February (the coldest month of the year) or because they have seen that promotion is not an easy or profitable game and what seems simple on the outside is actually quite difficult within. Despite the lack of international performing artists, Toronto seemed quite content as pocket books were finally given a break from the heavy onslaught of musical entertainers visiting our city.
SURPRISE OF THE MONTH
The suprise of February was the lack of International Shows and Events happening in the T.O. Nitetraxx (from Clarendon, Jamaica) played a couple of flop dates over a 2-week stay in the city (courtesy of Creation Promotions), and Stonelove, despite not having come to Toronto for about 4 months, only managed to draw about 350 for their Valentine’s affair at 5 Star Banquet Hall.
INTERNATIONAL SOUNDS WHO PERFORMED IN TORONTO FEBRUARY 2002
Saturday February 23 @ Base Niteclub
Creation, Night Track
King Turbo, Military
163 Carlingview
info 905-678-8423
Saturday February 23rd
@ Stages Niteclub (Kitchener)
Ron Nelson AKA Bus Da Dance
Legal E.
312 King St. W.
519-807-0104
Saturday February 16th
@ HHMS Niteclub
Ron Nelson AKA Bus Da Dance
Lindo P., Shortman, Fully Loaded
1468 Victoria Park @ O’Conner
Saturday February 16th
@ Golden Palace Banquet Hall
Stonelove
Military, Fire Kid Steenie, Rufus
1811 Albion Rd. @ #27
info: 416-834-7496
Friday February 15th
@ Players Sports Bar & Lounge
REGGAEMANIA LIVE TO AIR
Ron Nelson AKA Bus Da Dance
King Turbo, Xtra Stock
3400 Danforth @ Danforth
Friday February 15th
@Club Continental
King Turbo, Glamorous Movements,
Lindo P., Baby Blue Soundcrew,
The Outsiders
17 Gertrude St., Hamilton,
Info: 416-680-1396
Thursday February 14th @ CB3 Niteclub
Ron Nelson AKA Bus Da Dance
3611 Mavis Rd @ Burnamthorpe
info: 905-454-0576
Saturday February 2nd @ The Opera House
Majestic Warriors
LeeJahn, Sensation Band
Glamorous Movements
735-a Queen @ Broadview
info: 905-452-1911
Saturday February 2nd @ Travel Lodge Hotel
Ron Nelson AKA Bus Da Dance
Fire Kid Steenie
Military, King Turbo, Kamal,
Soul Controllers, Fully Loaded
Blessed, Spida
2737 Keele @ 401
Friday February 1st @ Friends Niteclub
Ron Nelson AKA Bus Da Dance
Ian The Mixmaster
Golden Touch
226 Queen @ Kennedy, Brampton