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Instead of trapping yourself at a north coast resort, where the only Jamaicans are bar staff or security guards and the best music on offer is karaoke, head to Kingston to experience Jamaica at its most authentic. The teeming capital is home to nearly half the island's inhabitants, and has always been the focal point for Jamaica's creative industries. In addition to giving birth to reggae (and its computerised cousin, dancehall), Kingston is home to the island's most noteworthy artists, scholars and dramatists, and the culinary arts scene is based here too. For reggae fans, it is certainly Mecca, the music forming a nonstop soundtrack that defines the city's character, and now experiencing a resurgence that draws in many facets of Jamaican culture. Kingston, however, has never really been on the tourist map, since most visitors land at the other end of the island in Montego Bay. Personal safety is another factor – although you are unlikely to be in real danger if you keep your wits about you, treat people with respect, and avoid contraband – and with most hotels aimed at business travellers, Kingston has until recently been prohibitively expensive, too. Thankfully, Airbnb and Couchsurfing are opening up the city to the independent traveller in unprecedented ways. Rather than paying top dollar for a sub-standard hotel in the New Kingston business district, where crackheads and prostitutes roam the streets at night, visitors can now stay in homely dwellings with welcoming hosts, some of whom are active in the arts. Kingston can be daunting for the uninitiated and having a local host can make all the difference. From the moment of arrival, the varied facets of Kingston's character become apparent. Driving into town from the airport, you are confronted by a mammoth cement plant belching out frightful emissions, and just beyond it, the incongruous Rockfort mineral baths, reputedly with healing properties. A short distance further, you reach Rennock Lodge, where jazz jams at Count Ossie's Rastafari encampment helped create ska in the 1960s. The Mystic Revelation of Rastafari continue to hold "groundations" there each Sunday, playing spiritual music praising the "Most High". Then a gigantic electrical generating plant appears, towering over a former fishing village on the edge of Kingston's terribly polluted harbour. Nothing looks particularly enticing until you reach the more genteel uptown territory of Hope Botanical Gardens. And yet there is surprising beauty in the city, with a stunning mountain backdrop to the east and lush greenery to north and west. Goats grazing at bus stops and cattle wandering on football fields remind you that the countryside is all around, even if the city is a scorching cauldron of clogged traffic, speculative building work and urban idlers. The divide between rich and poor is striking: the palatial mansions of Beverley Hills and the gated communities of Norbrook and Havendale are but a stone's throw from the disenfranchised communities of Arnette Gardens and Trench Town, where Bob Marley and the Wailers first sang harmony more than 50 years ago. But the appeal of Kingston lies in its reggae and when it comes to nightlife, the city is second-to-none. There are now weekly sessions held every night in different locations, often with free entry. Some of the most popular are associated with the "Reggae Revival", a recent movement that aims to bring Jamaican music back to its traditional core values, with live instrumentation, a Rastafari focus, and an active agenda of social change. Painters, filmmakers and social activists are also associated with the movement, whose vanguard can often be found at the Kingston Dub Club's Sunday night sessions, held in the yard of a private home in the exclusive Jack's Hill district. The club's remote location and the absence of public transport means that an uptown crowd predominates; in contrast, Inner City Mondays, staged by Afrocentric bookseller I-Nation, is held in Tivoli Gardens, the infamous community that was stormed by security forces in May 2010, resulting in 73 deaths, after the US requested the extradition of neighbourhood kingpin Christopher "Dudus" Coke. Inner City Mondays aims to revitalise the community and to remove its stigma of social exclusion, as well as giving a platform to new local talent. On a Wednesday night, I checked out a session called Dubwise Jamaica, held at the shabby-chic Tiki Hut, a short walk down Hope Road from the Bob Marley Museum. It's a likeable space with a thatched roof and a wooden interior, its open side areas allowing cool breezes to waft onto the spacious dancefloor. A mostly local crowd was in attendance, with a good gender mix and a few old heads on the periphery, while the JA$300 entrance fee (about €3) kept out the riff-raff. A bearded young wonder called Yaadcore presided over this weekly session, and he displayed much style and panache on the record decks, dropping hot tracks by rising stars such as Protoje, Micah Shemaiah and Chronixx, some of which have yet to be released. As the night progressed and the dancefloor filled up, a grand entrance was made by guest selector Danny Dread. A veteran of the legendary sound system Volcano Hi-Power, Dread lined up his dub plates and shifted the music backwards in time. Soon, the stylistically superior rapper Lone Ranger began chatting cool rhymes in time to the rhythms, and the crowd showered the pair with rapturous whoops. Somehow, Dread and Ranger didn't seem to have aged one iota from their late-1970s heyday; each track sounded better than the last, and much of what was featured is completely exclusive. When the night drew to a close and everyone spilled out onto Hope Road, we all had grins plastered across our faces. Other noteworthy sessions include Vinyl Thursdays, an all-day marathon in Half Way Tree (staged beside Veggie Meals On Wheels, one of the best ital – vegan Rasta – restaurants in town), the Tuesday Sankofa live sessions held at alternative art space Nanook, and the live music sessions staged each Friday by guitarist Earl "Chinna" Smith at his home in St Andrew Park, where rising hopefuls rub shoulders with seasoned veterans. Dancehall fans can hit three different weekly sessions put on by leading sound system Stone Love. A foreign travel writer once described Kingston as "a city in decline", and although residents still grapple with a range of social problems, the city is clearly in the grip of an artistic renaissance. Reggae music requires contextual understanding, which is why so many outsiders are baffled by it; spending time in the island's capital is the best way to get to grips with it, and as the Reggae Revival breathes new life into Kingston's incredibly rich and varied music scene, there's never been a better time to be here. You could aim to visit in February, which has been designated Reggae Month, when all kinds of events take place on a daily basis, most of them free. July is another prime time, since the Jamaica Film Festival is held in Kingston then, inevitably featuring work shot in the city. But if reggae is your main bag, then you can travel to Kingston at any time and be guaranteed an amazing experience, since music booms out of every corner of the capital every hour of every day. Source:Newsweek

Kingston, Jamaica: Popular monthly series Girlfriendz – Cocktailz and Conversationz returns to Triple Century on May 31, 2015. Host and promoter, Shelly-Ann Dr Sexy-Ann Weeks , Sex Educator and Media Personality says that this staging is significant because it gets the men involved. “We have invited a panel of men to join the conversation about love sex and relationships – a segment we are calling Ask Him. We want to hear directly from the men about stereotypical expectations and opinions about them,” she says. “There are many misunderstandings between the sexes and this is a great opportunity to get the discussion started.” The panel will include artists, media personalities and businessmen. In addition to Ask Him, this staging will feature Seduction, Self Defense and Strip Tease Classes, games, giveaways and so much more. Of course Dr Sexy-Ann will be engaging the conversation about Sex Love and Relationships in addition to the fun and games. Admission for entry is $1000 (Buy 3 tickets get 1 free – Presold only) $1500 at the door and cocktails are at 6:30pm. Tickets are available at www.yardticket.com and Triple Century or call 798-0820 for more information. Girlfriendz – Cocktails and Conversations is sponsored by LIME, Smirnoff Vodka, and Baileys Irish Cream. “It’s important that the ladies not just have fun at Girlfriendz, but actually leave with something that she can use to make her life happier,” says Dr Sexy. Girlfriendz targets women but men are definitely invited to attend.

Taste of the Caribbean returns to Miami for its fourth consecutive year and will take place at the Hyatt Regency , Miami, June 12 – 14, 2015, where foodies and fans can enjoy the culinary and cocktail creations created by the talented teams during Taste of the Islands, the popular culinary and cultural showcase. There will be 10 teams for the various islands participating this year, there will be samples of at least 20 different recipes and ten different cocktails at A Taste of the Islands. During a series of competitions, chefs and bartenders from each country will present a variety of Caribbean entrees and cocktails as they battle for top honors including: Caribbean Culinary Team of the Year, Caribbean Chef of the Year, Caribbean Pastry Chef of the Year, Caribbean Bartender of the Year and Caribbean Junior Chef of the Year There are currently 10 culinary teams that will be in attendance for the event from Anguilla, Bahamas, Barbados, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, St. Lucia, Suriname and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Live music, cooking demos, as well as booths with destination information for Caribbean islands fill the grand ballroom creating a night of fun, food and festivities. Taste of the Caribbean is staged by CHTA in conjunction with sponsors Anco, Aloutte, Esser Wines, International Dairy Farms and Interval International. Tickets are $40 per person and can be purchased online with Evenbrite .

Jamaican singer OMI has been making waves with his mega hit song 'Cheerleader ', and is slated to perform at Capital FM Summertime Ball with Vodafone in London. OMI ‘'Cheerleader' has topped charts in over 18 countries with since the release of the song. He will join the likes of One Direction, Ariana Grande and Avicii . Also set to appear on the line up for this summer's extravaganza in front of 80,000 people include Ne-Yo, Kelly Clarkson, Flo Rida, Olly Murs, Jason Derulo, Carly Rae Jepsen, Jess Glynne, Meghan Trainor, Martin Garrix, Pitbull, Rita Ora, LunchMoney Lewis, Fifth Harmony, Nick Jonas, Rixton, Little Mix and Nathan Sykes. The Summertime Ball will be held at London’s Wembley Stadium on Saturday June 6. OMI tweeted that it's "a dream come true."

Phil Nessy and his LOVE YOUR LIFE FOUNDATION have just released the first promotional video for their ‘LOVE YOUR LIFE CAMPAIGN’, and would like to take the opportunity to share it with everyone. Nessy has embarked on this campaign as part of an effort resulting from the numerous suicides and murders that have taken place recently which is destroying our families and communities. The campaign is applicable to everyone but emphasis is placed on the youth as they are the ones who need the most guidance. If children can embrace this concept of ‘Love Your Life’ they are less likely to get into trouble, and would be more willing to make the necessary efforts to achieve their goals and become productive members of society. We must invest in the children self-esteem just as much as we invest in their education. Nessy who is one of St Lucia’s best artist/songwriter based in the USA, is getting ready to release his fourth album entitled 'My Life' in the summer of 2015. His love for humanity has propelled him to write songs about equality, love and freedom. Since we are challenged with the experiences of our society, Nessy strongly believes in the advocacy of sharing and caring for all people and emphasizes that we must learn the key lesson that life is worth living. The foundation is getting ready to release a series of videos promoting the concept of ‘LOVE YOUR LIFE’ and is also working with other organizations towards activities that promote the same.

Jawara McIntosh , the son of Peter Tosh is headed to trial in September for Marijuana possession in Mahwah, NJ. On Father’s Day Weekend 2013, Jawara, 35, was who driving a rental car was stopped by police for recklessly cutting off other motorists on Route 17, 65½ pounds of pot was found in the trunk. He was travelling with passenger, 24-year-old Carlotta Z. Leslie, who both “denied any knowledge that the marijuana was in the vehicle,” police said at the time. The officer who pulled over the 2013 Nissan Maxima said McIntosh was traveling without a license a, had open bottles of booze on the front seat and appeared to be under the influence of some type of drug. McIntosh and Leslie also gave conflicting accounts of where they’d come from and where they were headed, he said. The vehicle was searched, with McIntosh’s consent, after other officers arrived: They found two large pieces of luggage in the trunk that reeked of pot, Mahwah Police Chief James Batelli said at the time. The officers found two bundles of marijuana inside one and a third in the other, Batelli said. One was shrink-wrapped, he said, and the other two were wrapped in duct tape. Both were arrested on charges of marijuana possession with the intent to distribute the drug. McIntosh also was charged with two counts of driving under the influence of drugs, driving with a suspended license, improper passing and having an open container of alcohol in a vehicle. Having refused to accept pleas, both were brought to court in Hackensack on Monday (May 18th) to begin the process of scheduling a trial. Assistant Bergen County Prosecutor Keith Travers previously said he’d offered the Dorcheste, Mass. couple five years in state prison each, 12 months of which they must serve before being eligible for parole, if they pleaded guilty to first-degree possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute it. McIntosh , also known as Tosh 1 has been free since posting a $200,000 cash bond in December 2013.

Reggae in the Desert , Las Vegas’ largest Reggae festival showcasing both the unifying power of Reggae music and the Caribbean lifestyle, announces the 14th annual music festival on Saturday, June 13 at the Clark County Amphitheatre The all-ages music festival features J Boog, Maxi Priest, Yellowman, Anuhea, Etana, Stick Figure, Sister Nancy and more. Vendors in the Caribbean Islands Vendor Village will have a wide assortment Caribbean-style food including jerk chicken, peas & rice and fried plantains. In addition to water and non-alcoholic refreshments, domestic and imported beers will be available. Various exhibits and Caribbean-inspired vendors will also be on site. ATMs are available. Blankets for lawn seating are permitted, as well as one unopened/factory sealed bottle of water per person, still cameras (no video) and sunscreen. No weapons (with or without permit) are allowed. Other forbidden items include blow horns, balloons, umbrellas, lawn chairs, squirt and water guns or video equipment. No video equipment, unauthorized vending, concessions, merchandise or promotions literature. Reggae in the Desert is presented by Frederic Apcar Productions. Sponsors include Miller Lite, Bin 702, Southern Nevada Toyota Dealers Association, VintageVegas.net and Backstage Bar & Billiards.

Reggae fans are in for a treat this month end as four reggae icons gather for what is being described as an iconic concert. Beres Hammond Beres Hammond, Jah Cure, Anthony B and Jamelody will go one together at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on May 30 to bring a concert of love and unity to fans. “Redemption 2 ”, the concert, is another production being done by Ricky Raghunanan Group of Companies and Tropix Entertainment. “Through these artistes and their vast catalogue of hits, we promise to ignite love, harmony and unity in the hearts and minds of the thousands we are certain will attend,” the event’s organisers said in a media release. Last year’s Redemption featured Hammond, Sanchez, Gyptian, Duane Stephenson and Jamelody. Each artiste comes with a vast songbook of songs. Hammond is known for hits such as, “I feel Good, Rockaway, No Disturb Sign” and “Sweet Lies”. Jah Cure, who began singing from the age of three, will entertain the audiences with hits such as “Unconditional Love, Stronger, Before I leave” and “That Girl”. Similarly, local reggae sensation Jamelody will entertain his fans with “For Your Love, I wanna Love You” and “Love Crazy” which are just a few from his songbook. Source:Trinidad News

Basseterre, St. Kitts – Award-winning R&B artist and Hollywood film actor Trey Songz will be performing at the 19th Annual St. Kitts Music Festival, which will take place from Thursday, June 25 to Saturday, June 27, 2015. He joins Bounty Killer, Christopher Martin, Aswad, Roy Cape, T-Vice, Tono Rosario, Ricardo Drue, Kerwin DuBois, Patrice Roberts, Blaxx and Benjai , who will all be performers for the event. This announcement was made by Minister of Tourism, the Hon. Mr. Lindsay F.P. Grant, who noted that he was thrilled to welcome Trey Songz to St. Kitts for the first time. “Trey Songz is a renowned R&B artist, with international appeal. Having him perform at the St. Kitts Music Festival will certainly reinforce the event’s reputation as a dynamic Caribbean music festival with exhilarating performances and an experience like no other.” Born Tremaine Aldon Neverson, Trey Songz is an American singer, songwriter, record producer and actor. Having been consistently nominated for awards since making his debut on the musical scene, he won a BET Award for Best Male R&B artist 2010 and a Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Artist, Male, 2010. That same year, he was nominated for Best Contemporary R&B Album at the 52nd Grammy Awards and won a MuchMusic Video Award for MuchVibe Hip-Hop Video of the Year. He won a second Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Artist, Male, in 2014. In 2013, he appeared in feature roles in the films Texas Chainsaw 3D andBaggage Claim. Trey Songz is best known for his hits Bottoms Up featuring Nicki Minaj, Say Aah featuring Fabolous, I Need a Girl, Gotta Go, I Invented Sex featuring Drake, Girl Tonite, Can’t Help but Wait, Gotta Make It and Heart Attack. His seventh studio album, Slow Motion, debuted earlier this year.

Jamaica reggae singer Oneil “Vytamin” Allen will perform at the Redemption the Concert at Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port-of-Spain, on May 30. A Jamaican star is about to make the kind of debut, all of the Caribbean will forever remember. The reggae love-rockers vocalist, Oneil Allen, has a story unlike any other breakthrough artiste on the Caribbean music circuit. And added to the attained opportunity to perform at the upcoming Redemption the Concert event in T&T, this new buzz maker will likely inspire many who never thought they could make it in the music business. Allen is best known by his musical sobriquet, Vytamin. With humour, he says he’s the girls’ vitamin. His humble demeanor speaks volumes but his story is even more interesting. “It’s tough to break through in Jamaica,” he explains when questioned as to why he hasn’t made his debut onto the music scene in his Spanish Town birthplace. He says the difficulty lies in the financial challenges often faced by up and coming acts, further explaining that the right music industry connections are required. In Trinidad, while on a recent visit, Vytamin got the attention of someone who was willing to invest in what he heard. Constantly in songbird mode, the budding love-rockers superstar is working arduously to ensure that the Caribbean population becomes familiar with his voice. This week, he releases two cover versions of popular songs done by R&B artistes, Bruno Mars and James Ingram. “He has a great voice and a lot of potential,” said Millbeats Entertainment’s David Millien, the producer responsible for recording the cover versions. Millien said he feels success is imminent for Vytamin and upon learning that he would be performing at Redemption the Concert on May 30, at the Hasely Craford Stadium in Port-of-Spain, the producer became excited. “That’s great! That’s a great look,” he said. Vytamin meanwhile continues to keep his eyes to the heavens. “I’m a person from humble beginnings. My messages will always be about peace, love and unity,” said the artiste. He anticipates sharing the stage in Trinidad with Beres Hammond, known as the king of reggae love rockers, and Jamelody, the T&T reggae star whose voice he loves. A new video for the James Ingram cover song, I Don’t Have The Heart is currently being finalised. He has also done the cover version of Bruno Mars’ When I was You Man. Beyond that, Allen will deliver his own songs in the weeks ahead. Having received tremendous support and encouragement from friends in T&T, he’s now hoping that everyone who gets a taste of what he’s capable of, will soon be rocking away to his very own vibe. Follow Vytamin on Instagram and Facebook @oneilvytamin Source:Trinidad Guardian

LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - While Beatles fans will converge on the Belvedere for this weekend's Abbey Road On The River, reggae fans will take over the area around the Louisville Water Tower. The Kentucky Reggae Festival begins Friday at 5 p.m. Caribbean food and drinks will be available, and there will be arts and crafts vendors selling their wares. Roots Of A Rebellion, a reggae band from Nashville, is scheduled to play from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. And Saturday, Cincinnati-based The Cliftones take the stage at 9 p.m. For ticket prices and other information, visit the event website. Source: WAVE 3 News

Game of Thrones actress Emilia Clarke did a reggae song about being a “ Rastafarian Targaryen ” as part of NBC’s “ Red Nose Day ” telethon to help raise money for children’s charities. The teaser was released earlier Thursday on YouTube, just before Coldplay's Game of Thrones musical aired in full on NBC as part of the first Red Nose Day US. Watch it below. Hundreds of celebrities have supported Red Nose Day US which has so far raised upwards of $10 million. www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfI_mUIvYq8