Entertainment: HIGH VIBES SET FOR US LABOUR DAY WEEKEND

Kingston, Jamaica,  – If all goes as planned, Jamaica looks to welcome the inaugural High Vibes Roots & Reggae Festival, the first of its kind in the Caribbean, at the Aqueduct in Montego Bay on US Labour Day weekend, September 3 and 4. Patrons will have the chance to experience the heart and soul of reggae music while learning about the pivotal role that cannabis has played in the birth of the Rastafarian religion and lifestyle. This two-day festival promises to deliver an exciting weekend celebrating Rastafarian culture, roots and reggae, featuring first class music events and stage shows alongside an unbeatable vendor exhibition, delectable culinary experience and the very finest cannabis.

Many may ask why another music festival? High Vibes Roots and Reggae Festival is different in its focus, it brings a first-class line up of the very best in reggae music like Kymani Marley, Beenie Man, Lee Scratch Perry and Emch Subatomic to name a few.There will be the best Ital cuisine along with exquisite global specialties, top wholesalers, growers and retailers, locally and internationally, along with interaction with the international cannabis movers and shakers as well as VIP service for an unforgettable elevated experience.  High Vibes Jamaica organizers have gone a step further to make the experience amazing and more convenient to enjoy by providing affordable accommodation packages in top class hotels with a range of budget options.

According to Douglas Gordon of High Vibes Jamaica, the island’s Marijuana Laws are finally being amended and have been relaxed in a number of areas. “These changes have opened up new avenues for us to create events that will attract many people who identify and embrace the Jamaican and Rastafarian culture,” Gordon said.

“High Vibes Roots and Reggae Festival goes beyond a live music experience; it will certainly be entertaining but it will also be educational as we want to share all aspects of Rastafarian culture and not limit our showcase to just the music.  We want to share the food, craftsmanship and the basic knowledge about Jamaican culture for the patrons to get an ultimate festival experience, in the heart of reggae music.” Gordon explained.

The exhibition space at the Festival is designed to keep patrons flowing through the event from the time it starts all the way to when the concerts end.  High Vibes Jamaica hopes to deliver to Montego Bay a music festival with the potential to grow and benefit the local economy. There will be a limit to the number of booths in each line of business to maximize the benefit to the exhibitors and patrons, with exhibition packages, sponsorship opportunities and partnerships that will be tailored to meet business objectives and budget.

“As a High Vibes Jamaica partner, you will reach a passionate and defined niche in a booming industry and benefit from our interactive and far-reaching pre-event marketing campaign. We hope to capture first hand some of the elements of the local reggae entertainment and music landscape and share that with the world,” he added.

High Vibes Jamaica will showcase another aspect of the Jamaican cultural experience and will impact the economy positively.

-End-

Lifestyle: Fox descends with "Empire" team for repeat of Mobay birthday bash

Montego Bay, Jamaica - 15 July 2016- July 30 marks the birth date of the accomplished and dynamic, Vivica Fox.  The American actress, producer and television host is open about her love for Jamaica, the cuisine, and the beauty of the island, which has drawn her back on a number of occasions to relax and rewind. This year she has chosen, for the third consecutive year, to celebrate her birthday in the Caribbean’s tropical paradise. Vivica will ring in her 52^nd birthday at the exquisite Secrets Resort in Montego Bay, where both the white sands of the beach and simplistic dress code of all white will be a sight to behold.

About her decision to return Fox stated: “I truly love Jamaica. In fact, I feel like I have earned the title Jamerican with my many visits here in the past few years.  I appreciate the culture, the people, the food, simply everything about this wonderful island.  It’s a real joy to be able to share this special day with my many family and friends how come do and celebrate with me and this year we’re looking to turn up the heat on the celebration!”

It’s a star-studded affair that will feature live performances by the highly acclaimed Yazz the Greatest of Empire fame and industry icon MC Lyte.  The turntables will be controlled by DJ Jermaine Russell from LA with the evening being hosted by popular Jamaican personality and designer Denyque.

Fox has partnered with OCEAN Style, once again, to bring this event to life, which promises to be like no other. OCEAN Style’s Douglas Gordon, who said the company has a great relationship with the star, going back a number of years, expressed how pleased they were to be on board to celebrate yet another milestone.

“It is always great fun working with Vivica.  She’s a consummate, yet fun-loving professional.  We’re delighted she is coming back to Jamaica and are working with the team at Secrets to put together a most memorable evening.” Gordon promises.

Fox celebrated her 51^st birthday in Montego Bay last year, with family and friends at the elegant Club House at White Witch Golf Course. It was a highly anticipated event, bringing out locals and tourists alike. 

The expectancy is growing as guests wait to see if this year will top last. The event kicks off at 8pm and the party is slated to go until 2am.

Busness: Micro gets "massive" in Mobay

FOROMIC 2016

Date: 24 Oct 2016 to 26 Oct 2016

Time: 8:30 AM

Location: Montego Bay, Jamaica

Latin America and the Caribbean's most important annual event on microfinance and entrepreneurship will take place in Montego Bay, Jamaica.  FOROMIC is a space for business and financial innovations and in particular a platform for microfinance, has demonstrated that serving low-income households and small businesses is possible, sustainable and profitable. 

Over 41 countries expected to attend as well as experts in microenterprise, small and medium enterprise,  representatives from financial institutions, entrepreneurship associations, governments, NGOs, academic and others.  FOROMIC 2016 is organized by the MIF, with the support of the Jamaican Ministry of Finance and Planning.

FOROMIC will be held on October 24-26, 2016.

Auto: Selling cars in "House and Land" country" at the Wealth Auto Show

'No way I buying a car fort that price," exclaimed the budget conscious lady, "not when I can't live outa car."

The"car" in question was actually the excellent (almost liveable) Jaguar F-Pace SUV, the venerable car maker's first foray intothe category and - from this writer's perspective - an unqualified winner and the occasion was the third iteration of the Wealth magazine Auto Show, held in the suitably massive hall of the Montego Bay Convention Centre.

But the other details could practically be shifted to anywhere, and could have come from almost anyone, male or female. the long-held convention of  property and personal real estate (in Jamaican parlance "house and land") has stubbornly persisted, despite some intermittent shifts among younger, upwardly mobile.

Its stil la challenge getting people sold on the idea of parting with their presumably hard-earned money for something that depreciates the moment it leaves the showroom or convention floor.

Still, the Show was powerful enough to attract a fair sized crowd on Sunday's final day, with all the usual ooohing, ahhhing and seated testing, helped along by the presence of two visiually distinct autos, a silver Bentley Continental GT and a flame-red (what else?) Ferrari 458 Italia, the latter really a rolling piece of automotive art, around which entertainment hosts Ity and Fancy Cat built a very humouorus impromptu skit later in the afternoon.

For the regular "car mart" aspect of it, the show tended to hit the mid to high-end ranges, but there were value-conscious models.

there was also a fair amount of corporate automotive video, and literature, one aspect I believe could be beefed up for the next time.

After all, a knowledgeable buyer is an aspirational buyer  - one who's less likely to make the statement at the start of this piece.

Music bio: Amnesia, the Musical name You Won't Forget

31-year old Kevin Williams, whom you will come to better know as Amnesia, is an entertainer at heart and loves to joke around and make people happy.

Kingston-born and raised, Kevin started singing - where else? - in the church; the Seventh Day Adventist Church choir to be specific and has been beloved from an early age for his vocal range and natural energy.   Jamaica.

Whilst pursuing his music career he also became involved in street dancing and has developed his other talent as a Magician.

He has worked as a Magician and Musician on shows and in Hotels all over the Island.  Staying for six months at a time during the tourist season in Negril from 2011 to 2015.  During this period he had regular work as a singer at venues such as Bourbon Beach, The Boat Bar, Drifters Bar and Roots Bamboo.  He often also worked in the surrounding towns as well as Montego Bay and is as well known on the West Coast as he is in his home City of Kingston.

In 2008 Kevin entered Rising Star as the lead singer as part of a trio called R3.  They reached the top ten.  Following Rising Star R3 disbanded and Kevin again pursued his solo career.

Keep Shining is his first single released in March 2016 under his new name of Amnesia.

Never forget. Amnesia is the voice of note in Jamaican popular music

Culture and Society: Lest We Forget, Recalling Coral Gardens

The Rastafari Coral Gardens Benevolent Society invites everyone to the 53rd Commemoration of the Coral Gardens Atrocities on Friday, March 25, 2016 at Jarrett Park, in Montego Bay. 

As a result of the acts of a few persons in Coral Gardens in April 1963, the entire Rastafari community was officially targeted by the State of newly-independent Jamaica, which led to extreme brutality, imprisonment and the death of many Rastafari sons and daughters across Jamaica by the police, army and other citizens of Jamaica. The Rastafari community has never received any apology or compensation for those atrocities committed by the Government of Jamaica. We continue to demand that the Government of Jamaica apologize, pay compensation and make other reparations to the individual victims and the Rastafari community for the Coral Gardens atrocities and the denial of fundamental human rights and freedoms.

The purpose of the Commemoration event is to highlight on-going efforts in the process of agitation for compensation, salute those victims of the 1963 atrocities who are still alive, and raise funds to assist and care for the Ancient Elders in Montego Bay and its environs.

It will be a day and night event starting at 10:00 am with a health fair for patrons as well as the Ancient elders. This will include blood sugar, blood pressure eye tests and naturopathic advice. Gerontologist, Dr. Paul Rhodes, will give a talk on best practices for eldercare. There will also be a fun day for children to include storytelling and workshops in drumming, poetry, bead stringing and pastry making. Other forms of entertainment for children will include bounce-about, slides and trampoline. Popcorn, snow cones and cotton candies will be on sale.

At 4:00 pm, the Society will treat the Ancient Elders in the form of a banquet. During the banquet, survivors and witnesses of the 1963 atrocities will give their testimonies. At the end of the banquet Matriarchs and Patriarchs will be given certificates of recognition for their pioneering work in the Rastafari movement. At 7:00 pm we will host a symposium to discuss the Public Defender’s report and recommendations for compensation of victims of the 1963 atrocities. The Public Defender will participate in the panel discussion along with Attorney at Law, Miguel Lorne, Dr. Clinton Hutton, and Dr. Leroy Binns. 

At 9:00 pm there will be a cultural presentation for family entertainment with clean and positive expressions. Artistes include Mackie Conscious, Paul Elliott, Terry Ganzie, Mikey General, P Zed, Mister Views, Marley Fire, Jah Spiryt, Ras Jaja, Pinkie Dread, Major Lloyd, Tenshan Invasion, Rankin Punkin, Jah Ranks, Changa Changa, Rasta Village, Iwad, King Chavez, Visaya, Asante Amen, Prof I, Rock Top Chanters and many more. Sound by Pulse Sound System and Mutabaruka Blackk Music. MC‘s will be Isha and Steppa.

Live Music: Reggae Sumfest "gets Common"

Organizers of the Reggae Sumfest Music Festival recently announced Oscar and Grammy-winner, rapper/actor Common has been added to perform at its 20th staging at the summer music festival taking place from July 12-18 in Montego Bay.

"We are elated to have a performer of the magnitude of Common on the Reggae Sumfest stage. He is a versatile artiste, and undoubtedly he will add something very special that our audience will be able to appreciate. He has a unique and vibrant style that will excite patrons," explained executive director of Summerfest Productions, Johnny Gourzong.

The artiste comes as the first announced international act billed to take the stage at its Catherine Hall home on International Night 1 (July 17).

Common recently received an Academy Award win for the song Glory, a collaboration with singer John Legend which was featured in the film Selma, directed by Ava DuVernay and starring David Oyelowo and Oprah Winfrey.

In addition to "Selma" his screen credits include "Smokin' Aces" "American Gangster" "Just Wright" and "happy Feet Two"

localjoe.myorganogold.com

Art: return of the Dreamer, Lisa Lej,at Liguanea Club

painter and all-round creative Lisa Lej sees her life as the unfolding of dreams. "I have had this happen since I was very young<" she shares, The continuing results of some of those dreams are now on show at Kingston's Liguanea Club, where the Montego Bay-born artist has manged to secure an artist-in-residence status, this after 2 previous showings











www.localjoe.myorganogold.com

Mobay Calling: Diaspora Conference on for June

With an estimated 3m Jmaicans said to be living outside the island's 4.5 thousand square mile limit, the occasion of the 6th Biennial Diaspora conference, scheduled for June 13-18 in Montego Bay, is undoubtedly  a beacon for business and commercial types, and thud today's launch at the Jamaica Pegasus (in Kingston) drew a wide spectrum of business and social interests.

They got a recap of the previous conference (also held in the west), which generated investor interest in 17 projects, which one can expect will be followed up this time around.

Amid the "confabbing" there'll also be a golf tournament, an Expo dubbed Marketplace, and an entertainment showcase dubbed Marketplace Live.

See you in Mobay this June

And now... "K-Flix": Korean Film fest

THE Thieves, the third highest grossing movie in South Korean history, is one of four flicks scheduled for the 2014 Korean Film Festival at the Palace Cineplex in St Andrew on November 24 - 26, and the Palace Multiplex in Montego Bay, St James, on December 9 -10, 2014.

Jong Seon Lim, South Korean ambassador to Jamaica, said the event will contribute greatly in enhancing the bilateral friendship which began 52 years ago.

"It is expected that the 2014 Korean Film Festival will not only strengthen the existing cultural bond between Korea and Jamaica, but also bring the two countries a step closer," said Lim.

Seong Hoon Kim, third secretary at the Korean embassy, said the festival will give Jamaicans the opportunity to learn about Korean culture with Jamaica.

"We want Jamaicans to learn more about our culture through movies. Not many Jamaicans know about Korean culture," he said. "It will be on a first come, first served basis."

All events are free to the public, except for November 24 which is invitation only.

The Thieves, an action film, tells the story of a South Korean gang which teams up with a Hong Kong crew to steal a diamond necklace from a heavily guarded casino.

In addition to The Thieves, the other movies -- which range from comedy to romance are All About My Wife, Marriage Blue, and The Front Line.

Shows will be at 5:30 pm and 8:30 pm at the Palace Cineplex and 6:00 pm and 9:00 pm at the Palace Multiplex.

- from Jamaica Observer

Crazy Good: the Fishbone story is "Everyday Sunshine"

We begin our pre-event coverage f the upcoming Reggae Film Festival (May 23- 27) with a look at a docu-film covering one of the best bands that 99.9% of Jamaicans have never heard of. http://www.traileraddict.com/trailer/everyday-sunshine-story-of-fishbone/trailer






From the shifting faultlines of Hollywood fantasies and the economic and racial tensions of Reagan's America, Fishbone rose and became one of the most original bands of the last 25 years. With a blistering combination of punk and funk they demolished the walls of genre and challenged the racial stereotypes and the political order of the music industry and of the nation.

Narrated by acclaimed actor Laurence Fishburne (close eh?) the film is true to the spirit of the band, in which founder Norwood Fisher looks back at its tumultuous 25-year history. By turns self-reflective, frustrated, and philosophical. “Fishbone could be a band that doesn’t use profanity, goes and does the festival circuit, plays the oldies and rakes in a ton of dough,” he observes. “But we chose to try to forge new ground, go into uncharted territory on some levels. We are where we are because the path that we walk.” 


Part biography, part cultural history, and part funky-form experiment, the film has generated such enthusiasm at the Los Angeles Film Festival that it’s been booked for an additional screening on 26 June. Its vibrant, unusual form is a function of its multiple approaches. While it includes interviews, family photos, and footage of the band’s electrifying performances, it also features animated sequences and competing accounts of particular events.