Dancehall artiste Jason ‘IWaata’ Bailey, who continues to make his mark with his sharp-edged delivery and a sound that is described as “moving between raw energy and catchy, crowd-ready hooks”, recently signed a new management deal with Tameka...
The official celebration of life for reggae legend Glenroy ‘Ernie’ Smith – who would have turned 81 years old today – will be held on Saturday, May 16, at the Metropolitan Baptist Church in Hollywood, Florida, the state where Smith resided with his...
Multi-Grammy Award-winning producer, Stephen ‘Di Genius’ McGregor , is excited about his newest riddim, Hill and Gully, which is a spin-off of the original mento song and riddim of the same name. “I was just trying to tap into Jamaican culture on...
The name Earl Turner may not immediately excite, but drop the moniker ‘Biggy’ in the middle, and it’s a completely different reaction. Biggy isn’t just a name, it’s a brand. And, incidentally, for those who don’t know what he looks like in person...
If Fashion Elevation were a dancehall show, its full title might read something like ‘Fashion Elevation: Queens and Dolls’ or, perhaps, ‘Fashion Elevation: Di Dolly Dem Come Out’. Last Saturday night at The Summit in New Kingston, Miss World 1976...
The music fraternity is mourning the passing of legendary singer Ernie Smith, who died on Thursday evening at a hospital in Florida. “He’s gone. He’s no longer with us,” his wife, Claudette Bailey-Smith, told The Gleaner. Earlier on Thursday,...
Grammy Award-winning artiste, fashion designer and actor, Septimius The Great, headlines Fashion Elevation 2026: The Essence of Style, this Saturday at The Summit, 16 Chelsea Avenue in New Kingston. This showcase, presented by The Mahogany...
Fans of Buju Banton will be smiling ear to ear to learn that the Gargamel is back to his old ways, musically. His latest song shouts ‘90s dancehall meets the present, and it is sure to keep the dance rocking and give all “gal pickney” nothing but...
Jah9 came with words and, yes, sometimes she said the quiet parts out loud, creating that not-so-tiny bit of discomfort that often leads to self-analysis. But that is all part and parcel of The Open Heart Project, a neo reggae soul offering that...
Organisers of the Miss Universe Jamaica pageant have confirmed that Dr Gabrielle Henry, the 2025 queen, has been released from hospital, and is recuperating under the care of her medical team. “She has not yet returned to active Miss Universe...
What does a concert headlined by pop icon Shakira in Abu Dhabi have to do with Jamaica? “Well ... a little bit,” respected tour manager and author Copeland Forbes told The Gleaner. Shakira is the headline act for the Saturday, April 4 OFFLIMITS...
Reggae Sumfest 2026 will not be held at its home in Catherine Hall, Montego Bay. Instead, the festival heads to a new venue, Plantation Cove in St Ann for this year’s staging, for what the organisers say will be a one-off, one-night event, even as...
Whoever described Jah9 as “possessing a chilling yet bewitching vibrato evoking a young Ella Fitzgerald and a rootsy coolness à la Erykah Badu” was definitely on point. And, perhaps one could add to that a spiritual aesthetics that is totally her...
Jack Russell Music, a notable success in publishing, was founded in 2007 by Clare Ram with a handful of songwriters on her roster. Nearly two decades later, there are more than 1,300 signed writers and catalogues. On Tuesday, Ram hosted a free...
Chronixx, Jesse Royal, Naomi Cowan, D’Yani, Royal Blu, and David Slur were the advertised acts for Day 2 of the highly successful Lost in Time Festival on Sunday at Hope Gardens, and they gave patrons what they craved and more. Chief organiser...
At the thanksgiving service for Stephen ‘Cat’ Coore last Thursday, the Rev. Astor Carlyle asked a serious question, “Which musician will write a song for Cuba? For Haiti? For those whose rights are trampled upon?” Well, William ‘Willie’ Stewart,...
Generation Z and millennials, many of them dressed in white, descended on the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts on Ash Wednesday for Reggae Wednesdays Resilient Praise, staged by the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association (JaRIA)....
The thanksgiving service for Stephen ‘Cat’ Coore was not sad, but there were tears. It was the first time that many could recall ever seeing Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia Grange shed tears while giving a tribute, and...
The year 2026 is off to a flying start for reggae’s Messenger, Luciano, and he couldn’t be happier with how things are progressing. He has already performed at Goa Sunsplash, billed as India’s biggest reggae celebration, completed four shows in the...
Three days of roots, rocking reggae music right on the beach; craft and food vendors aplenty; campers adding that touch of freedom; patrons feasting on the musical selections and live performances; and the energy from a huge bonfire all contributed...
Valentine’s Day is special on a sombre note for the family of the late Joseph ‘Black Angel’ Buchanan. However, they have added an element of philanthropy to the day, which has served to light a flame that keeps his legacy and passion alive in a...
As that day when love is celebrated in a special way around the world approaches, 5 Questions With ... had a sit down with a vibrant couple — the cool Rastafarian singer Samory I and his stunning fiancée CeeCee. Seeing them out and about, the two...
The event was titled Back to Bass-es, and, officially, it was a “historical moment because we come fi nice up di area” as bass player Lloyd Parks declared. Just imagine: six bad bass players - three at a time - at the same venue, on the same...
Prominent Mexican ska band, Out Of Control Army, is currently enjoying Reggae Month in Jamaica. Their mission to the island includes recording an album and performing for the very first time at the Bob Marley Birthday Tribute concert, which takes...
