4 months ago
38
JaRIA kicks off Reggae Month with Dennis Brown concert
The Jamaica Reggae Industry Association (JaRIA) will officially kick off Reggae Month on February 1 with a tribute concert to the Crown Prince of Reggae Dennis Emmanuel Brown, at the UDC Festival Marketplace on Kingston’s waterfront. Born on February 1, 1957, Brown died on July1, 1999. During his career, which began at age 11, he recorded more than 75 albums and was one of the major stars of lovers rock.
The prolific singer will be celebrated with live performances by some of Jamaica’s greatest reggae artistes. Errol Dunkley, Dean Fraser, Benjy Myaz, Tarrus Riley, Richie Stephens, Christopher Elliott, Gem Myers, Stevie Face, Hezron, Anthony Cruz, Fahrenzi, Ryan Bailey, Deh Deh Blacks, Andrew Paul, Matthew Malcolm, Glen Ricks, Boris Gardener, Clement Gordon, Marlon Brown, Sampalue, Bling Dawg, DMedz, Akeen Fennell, Andy Livingston are all advertised for the free concert which takes place from 6 - 10 p.m. on Saturday.
Tribute to Dennis Brown at Heroes Circle
At 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 1, at National Heroes Circle in Kingston, a special tribute to Denis Brown will unfold. The first entertainer to be buried in Kingston’s National Heroes Park, Dennis Brown was posthumously awarded the Order of Distinction in 2011 by the Government of Jamaica for his contribution to reggae music.
Reggae Month, an annual celebration dedicated to recognising and appreciating the influence of reggae music on Jamaica’s social, cultural, and economic landscape, was made official in 2008 with a proclamation from the then Governor General Sir Kenneth Hall.
Since its inception, the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport in partnership with industry stakeholders, has hosted month-long festivities that have become a cornerstone in honouring the genre’s rich history and its impact on global music culture.
Reggae Month 2025 is being observed under the theme “Come Ketch Di Riddim”.
Essence of Reggae Festival February 1
The Frankie Music production, Essence of Reggae Festival will be in full swing on February 1 at the Ranny Williams Centre on Hope Road.
A Music Business Workshop will run from 12 noon to 6 p.m. after which the live showcase takes over. Experience electrifying performances from I-Wayne, Tanya Stephens, Yaksta, Munga Honourable, Lutan Fyah and Singer J. Groove to the beats of DJ Kurt Riley and JJ Wizzle
Hosts are Bishop Escobar and Badda Bling.
Reggae in the Park for Linstead
Fans of reggae music will have an outstanding event to attend and enjoy during Reggae Month. The seventh staging Reggae In The Park at the Rose Duncan Park in Linstead St Catherine will have the town centre buzzing with activities on February 7, 14, 16, 21 and 28. Each week will have its own theme. Action gets under way with the official opening on Friday February 7 starting at 3 p.m.
On Friday, February 14, there will be the Reggae ITP Film Fest (viewing of Short films by Jamaicans) at 7 p.m.
Sunday the 16th the Reggae ITP 5K ‘Umbuntu’ Love Run/Walk takes place between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m.
Action continues on Friday, February 21, with the Reggae ITP Art Walk & Fashion Night Out starting at 7 p.m.
Activities will come to a climax on Friday February 28 with the Reggae ITP Food Expo & Festival.
There will be musical presentations by various sound systems and radio disc jocks each week.
Coordinator of Reggae In the Park, Lacksdean Anderson, aka Ras Andy, explained that the event was conceptualised in 2018 as a response to the crime in the Linstead area.
SKOOL’s Out: A Celebration of Jamaican Music and Heritage
SKOOL Jamaica presents SKOOL’s Out, a groundbreaking live instrumental music experience showcasing Jamaica’s rich musical heritage on February 21 at Johnny’s Place in Kingston. Inspired by the legacy of the late Desmond ‘Desi’ Jones, SKOOL’s Out will feature Jamaica’s top instrumentalists performing traditional Jamaican music without vocals. This intimate event promises to be an immersive experience, celebrating the artistry and craftsmanship of Jamaican musicians.
“We are thrilled to bring SKOOL’s Out to the Jamaican public,” said Joshua Jones, CEO of SKOOL Jamaica. “This event is a testament to the power of music to bring people together and celebrate our shared heritage.”
Proceeds will support SKOOL Jamaica’s mission to preserve and promote Jamaican music and culture.
English (US) ·