Culture Night

Culture Night at the Taino Cove Guest House where performers will include international story teller Amina Blackwood-Meeks, Cen'c Love, the Shane Drummers and traditional performers from Westmoreland, St. Thomas and Maroon Town. This will be followed by..

The celebrated 'Bumpy Head Gal' Joan Andrea-Hutchinson headlines an impressive array of poets and storytellers who will be appearing at the Talking Trees Literary Fiesta at Tourism Service Award finalist Two Seasons Guest House on Saturday, starting at 9 a.m. She replaces Nigerian writer Igoni Barrett, who has had to pull out at the last minute because of a delay in obtaining a UK transit visa.

The line-up includes Malachi Smith, Garfield Ellis, Keiran King, Nova Gordon-Bell, Tomlin Ellis, Robert Lalah, Pamela Marshall, Judith Falloon-Reid, Veronica Blake-Carnegie and Sonia King. There will also be a special children's programme, an open mic segment and recorded talk - a mix of the spoken word and music. Admission is free.

Saturday night's first offering, 'An Evening of Song' at Frenchman's Restaurant and Bar, starts at 7 and will be a classical recital featuring soprano Sharon Martini and accompanist Denny Davis. There is no cover charge but donations will be accepted for the Fund for Abused Women.

At 9 p.m. Jack Sprat Restaurant will host 'A Night of Great Entertainment', a big, free show featuring Tanya Stephens, Protoje and Rootz Underground Band with Code Red Disco.

Sunday's events open at 9 a.m. with the Bread Basket Brunch, an offering of delectable St.Bess cuisine at Sunset Resort and Villas. Entertainment will be provided by Jah Squad Band.

Bringing down the curtain is an Art and Fashion Show at Calabash House, starting at noon. Jackie Cohen of Mutamba will be presenting her new line, 'Fashions by Masii', and there will also be designs by Elizabeth Eyre Seltzer. Artwork by Jamaican artists will also be on display. This event is also free

Jah Snowcone, Dubtonic Kru team up

Platinum-selling producer Rohan 'Jah Snowcone' Fuller has joined forces with Global Battle of the Bands winner Dubtonic Kru for his latest musical stew, the 'Susumba' rhythm.

The savoury one-drop rhythm features the Dubtonic Kru, roots reggae warriors Nazine, Nesbeth, Nature, and Faya Star, versatile Gully Squad deejay Savage and reggae sirens Sophia Squire and Chantelle Ernandez.

The 'Susumba' rhythm is reminiscent of the bass and guitar driven riffs that elevated bands like the Wailers and Culture from local musicians to international icons in the 1970s. Dubtonic Kru brings back an organic sound that is rare and sorely missed, what with the computerised 'island hop' sounds that have invaded reggae/dancehall over the past few years.

"I want to bring the reggae and dancehall back into Jamaican music. Over the past few years, the sound has become watered down and drowned out," says Jah Snowcone, best known for producing Sean Paul's Billboard topping hit Temperature. "The Susumba rhythm has that real reggae sound, that sound that reminds us of what reggae music is all about."

"Un..." more time!

Veteran comedian Blakka Ellis unequivocally stamped his mark with a riveting return to the stage for four shows last weekend in the first of a new series called "Un..." at the Centre Stage Theatre in New Kingston. And in response to public demands, the show will go on for two more nights

Blakka was in his element in the two-hour show, which saw him playing a variety of characters and provocatively probing a range of issues. Ellis was particularly hilarious (and courageous) in his many comments about gender issues, Jamaican masculinity and sexuality. And if their remarks on some social media networks are anything to go by, women seem to love what Blakka is saying.

Some comments on Facebook said "he'll make you laugh and he'll make you think and reflect" posted broadcaster and actress Fae Ellington. "I laughed for a full two hours," said attorney and former Member of Parliament Aloun Ndombet-Assamba. One day after seeing the show, actress and teacher Gracia Thompson posted "I'm still buzzing from the laughter and the food for thought" and PR and communications guru Jean Lowrie-Chin said "it will go places - un-questionably brilliant! Un-believably entertaining".

Blakka provided laughter-infused social and political commentary as he poked fun at well-known public figures from parliamentarians to people like TVJ's Simon Crosskill.

The producers have decided to extend the run for two more nights, Saturday, May 28, at 8:30 p.m. and Sunday May 29 at 6 p.m.

3 Star Shoots Video for Mr Top Shoota

3 Star shot the video for his latest release, Mr Top Shoota, recently in New York. The single is the second release off the album Nothing But Real Talk.

The video, which is the second part of a storyline started with the video for No Bad Man, was shot on various locations in the Bronx and Harlem. It is the story of a man who had the option, early in is life, of choosing between music or the life of the gun. He chose the gun and becomes a 'top shoota', creating a lot of mayhem and trauma in other people's lives along the way. He keeps killing people, but in the end he wishes to change to do music. It is too late and he ends up in confinement.

3 Star makes music sharing his experiences in life and he channels his memories of warfare into positive energy. As a US soldier, he has experienced war first-hand in Iraq and Afghanistan and promotes positive music and anti-violence messages, especially to the youth of his native Jamaica.

The video, directed by Paulie Pop It Off, will be released internationally soon.