News
294 news in 2010
All reggae / dancehall news
December 2010
- Sinsemilia celebrates 20 years on stage
20 years deserves a celebration, all the more so when it is a career we are talking about. In 2011, Sinsemilia will celebrate two decades spent recording five…
- Elephant Man, new album coming soon
Two years after "Let's get physical", Elephant Man is back with a new album for early 2011. Entitled "Dance & Sweep: Adventures of the Energy God", this new…
- A new website for photographer Beth Lesser
She is one of the most renowned photographers: Beth Lesser, some of whose pictures have travelled the world, has a new official website. With her partner…
- A rather dull Sting 2010
Was it because of the announced absence of clashes, which built the event's reputation? The combined absence of Kartel and Mavado? Bounty's no-show? Whatever…
- Steely & Clevie honoured by VP
Another tribute is planned in VP Records' 17th North Parade collection, this time to the production duo Steely & Clevie, in the form of a box set comprising…
- Anthony B: ''It all started in Africa''
Visiting Senegal for the 3rd World Festival of Black Arts (news of 13/12/2010), Anthony B, who performed in St-Louis on Christmas Eve, spoke about the African…
- ''Book of Job'', the new album from Richie Spice
We had discovered Black Woman, the first track from this new Richie Spice album, due next year. The figurehead of the new-roots generation (or what is left of…
- Wicked haffi run, OBF's first maxi
Residents of the DubQuake and Top Ranking nights in Geneva and regulars at Dub Station in France, OBF Sound System are moving into production. Having set up…
- Glen Adams has passed away
Reggae loses another pioneer with the passing of Glen Adams. Singer, organist with the Hippy Boys and the Upsetters, author of the lyrics to Marley's Mr Brown…
- Jamaica All Stars back in 2011
After four years away, they are back: the Jamaica All Stars return with a new album and a tour of France in March 2011. After the deaths of Justin Hinds and…
- Danakil, the new album
We had discovered the singles Non je ne regrette rien (a Piaf cover with U-Roy) and Quitter Paname, as a prelude to their new (and third) album. "Echos du…
- Dennis Brown tribute box set
Dennis Brown is honoured in the next release in VP Records' 17th North Parade collection: 4 CDs, almost sixty tracks, the box set coming out on 10 January…
- Ninjaman to stay in prison for Christmas
Incarcerated since March 2009, Ninjaman appeared in court yesterday seeking release on bail. The request was refused by the court because of written threats…
- New album from Gappy Ranks
While his first album, "Put the Stereo On", came out in the autumn on Greensleeves, a new Gappy Ranks album is announced for early 2011 on his label Hot…
- Malouda announces the One Love Festival DVD
June 2010. After indigestible performances, the French football team is knocked out of the World Cup. All the players fly home to France. All except Florent…
- Diplo selects Greensleeves
Regularly, Greensleeves entrusts a selection to a musical figure whose world is far removed from reggae. After Andy Smith, this time it is Diplo, one half of…
- A new Dub Station in Lyon
A sign of the success of the sound system dub scene in France, a new Dub Station is born. After Paris, Marseille, Rennes, Toulouse and Nantes, the dub train…
- Bob Marley's last concert soon to be available
As 2011 marks thirty years since the death of Bob Marley, who died on 11 May 1981 in Miami, the recording of his last concert, given in Pittsburgh in…
- A reggae night at the Printemps de Bourges
It's a good habit at the Printemps de Bourges: for several years the festival has put on a reggae night. The 2011 edition, to be held from 20 to 25 April…
- Ivory Coast: Tiken Jah Fakoly and Alpha Blondy take a stand
As the international community grows more pressing in the post-election crisis Ivory Coast has been going through since the presidential elections, Tiken Jah…
- Buju Banton well surrounded for his return to the stage
On 16 January, Buju Banton will make his return to the stage, after a year without giving a single concert. Entitled Before the dawn, like his latest album…
- Jamaican Roots, a new online reggae database
Jamaican Roots is the latest of the archive and database sites. Like Roots Knotty Roots, it lets you browse thousands of references. Its special feature? It…
- Bob Marley dresses Billabong
The surf-wear brand Billabong has announced the release of its new spring 2011 collection. Nothing unusual so far, except when you come across the Bob Marley…
- Iration Steppas at Dub Station #29
The English are back at the Dub Station. For its 29th edition, the celebrated dub rendezvous will welcome Iration Steppas. With a "techno-dub" sound, the…
- Tiwony at the World Festival of Black Arts
On Friday 10 December the 3rd World Festival of Black Arts kicked off in Dakar, Senegal, as part of the fiftieth anniversary of the independence of…
- Sting line-up revealed
The Sting has unveiled its line-up. We already knew that the landmark concert was giving up this year what built its success, the clashes (news of…
- Luciano and Mikey General at the Marseille Dub Station
So there will be no Scientist at the Marseille Dub Station. Musical Riot's statement, released the day before yesterday, announced his cancellation but not…
- Patrice drops by Taratata
On tour in France to mark the release of his new album, One, Patrice has not slacked on promotion. After the showcase at the Virgin on the Champs-Élysées…
- Scientist cancelled in Marseille
It is rare to receive this kind of statement: most of the time, when it comes to cancellations, organisers cite organisational or visa problems, which often…
- Jamaica, no problem?
It is one of the most common clichés about Jamaica: this tourist slogan developed in the 1980s dies hard and, along with the words "ganja" and "irie", remains…
- Dance with Beenie Man and Sean Paul
The Kinect, that motion-recognition peripheral for the Xbox, opens up new video-game horizons, notably for dance games. With the game Dance Central, you have…
- New album for Alpheus
There was a wait of almost ten years between his first and second albums; fortunately, it will not take that long to get Alpheus on his third. Two years after…
- Buju Banton will be able to play his concert after all
Buju Banton will finally be able to take the stage before his new trial in February. A request first rejected by the judge (news of 26/11/2010) but granted on…
- Grammy Awards: and the nominees are...
Last year, the Reggae category of the famous awards ceremony was given little chance of survival (news of 19/02/2010). So a lot was expected of this year's…
- Summerjam 2011, the first names
It is only December and the deadline is still far off, but Summerjam, true to form, is the first to draw. The German festival has already announced the first…
- Danakil: buy one ticket, get an album free
Soon on tour with the Zénith de Paris in their sights (after selling out the Olympia last year), the French band Danakil present their new album, "Echo du…
- Romain Virgo in Paris
Jamaican singer Romain Virgo will be passing through Paris on Thursday 9 December for the first time, as part of a short European tour. Now 20, he stunned the…
- War of the East in Holland
A big bill for the 2011 edition of the War ina east clash, to be held on 26 March in Enschede in the Netherlands: after Supersonic against Mighty Crown in…
- Two new albums for Luciano
After United States of Africa this summer, two new Luciano albums will be released in 2010. That is what the Messenjah, passing through Paris, told us. The…
- Irie Ites pay tribute to Gregory Isaacs
A few weeks after the passing of Gregory Isaacs, the tributes continue. The Le Mans-based label Irie Ites announces the release of a 45 dedicated to the Cool…
- After Mos Dub, Dub Kweli
After the insolent success of the "Mos Dub" project, released in April 2010, Max Tannone is back with "Dub Kweli". The concept? Combine a hip-hop artist's…
November 2010
- Alton Ellis's son signs with the Marleys
It is a "son of" story: Christopher Ellis, son of Alton Ellis, has signed with Ghetto Youths International, the label of Ziggy and Stephen Marley, founded in…
- Dub Inc in great form... and still on tour
On the road since the start of the autumn season to present their new album, "Hors Contrôle", Dub Inc have not been idle. Playing to packed houses, notably…
- The Gregory Isaacs Foundation to launch soon
He never boasted about it, but Gregory Isaacs devoted part of his fortune to helping the poorest. For nearly 15 years, the Cool Ruler made donations to…
- An EP ahead of the album for Etana
After the success of her first album "The Strong One" in 2008, Etana returns with her second, "Free Expressions", due in February 2011 on VP Records. A new…
- Buju won't be singing for Christmas
Released on bail and under supervised release while awaiting his new trial in February, Buju Banton reportedly asked Judge Anthony Porcelli for permission to…
- Luciano, Junior Kelly and Mikey General on the road
After Nantes and Grenoble, Luciano and Mikey General's tour continues in France with a concert tomorrow in Lyon, before the trio heads abroad. They will go…
- Reggae Vibes #15
Black Uhuru are in the spotlight in the fifteenth issue of Reggae Vibes. No fewer than 25 pages of the magazine are devoted to them, from their beginnings to…
- Garance Festival 2011: tickets on sale
After the success of the previous edition (35,000 festival-goers), the Garance Reggae Festival is back at Bagnols-sur-Cèze next summer. The line-up has not…
- Zebra gets 30 years in prison
He had left his cell in 2008, released after serving an eight-year sentence for rape. Sadly, prison evidently had no effect on Zebra, who is going back behind…
- Fantan Mojah returns to Downsound
A U-turn for Fantan Mojah. After noisily slamming the door on Downsound Records, the label that launched him, in the summer of 2006 (see news of 20 July…
- Patrice showcase in Paris
To mark the release of his new album, One, Patrice is currently touring France. As part of this, he will give a showcase at the Virgin Megastore on the…
- Rodigan back in France
The famous and inimitable David Rodigan will be back in France in early 2011. The gentleman of sound system will headline two fine nights. It starts in Paris…
- No clash at the Sting this year
This year the Sting is giving up what built its reputation: the clashes. Isaiah Laing, the event's promoter, has confirmed that clashes will not be on the…
- Marseille Dub Station #12
For its twelfth edition, the Marseille Dub Station pulls out all the stops by welcoming Scientist. The disciple of King Tubby, the man behind the mixes of a…
- Apple Gabriel back with a new solo album
It has been a very long time since we last heard from him, so long that rumours about failing health had begun to circulate. Apple Gabriel is back with a new…
- Bounty Killer to stand trial in January
He made headlines at the end of September by raising his hand to his partner, and more than that, hitting her with his chain and a hammer (news of…
- Salim Jah Peter leads reconciliation in Niger
A native of Niger, Salim Jah Peter has put his artistic career at the service of humanitarian causes. After his album Hold-up de pouvoir was censored by the…
- Horace Andy and Scientist in Paris
Soon in France for a tour marking the release of his album Serious Time (news of 15/10/21010), Horace Andy will kick it off on 30 November in Paris, at the…
- Jamaica awaits Gregory Isaacs
Having died of lung cancer at his home in London, England, Gregory Isaacs' body is expected tomorrow in Kingston, where a national funeral is being prepared…
- Boulibaï Vibration, the programme of upcoming shows
Following the strike in October, the schedule of the show Boulibaï Vibrations on France Inter has undergone several changes. Here is the programme of the…
- Gentleman in concert
As a prelude to his tour, already announced for April / May 2011, Gentleman will play three concerts in France and three more just across the border before…
- Toulouse Dub Station #6, the programme
With its Dub Station nights, Toulouse has established itself as one of the strongholds of dub in France. The sixth edition of the Pink City version will…
- Soul Vybz Rub A Dub Party
Junior Kelly, Luciano and Mikey General make up the fine bill of the fourth Soul Vybz Party, taking place on Saturday 4 December 2010. All three will perform…
- Sonia Pottinger has passed away
Although her name is not the best known among reggae's players, she is nonetheless behind some of the finest successes of Jamaican music: Sonia Pottinger, a…
- Stone Love in France
The most popular sound system in Jamaica, founded almost 40 years ago, will be passing through France for two dates. In Rennes on 10 November, the show will…
- Furybass wins the SoundClash Run Di Killing Machine
Last weekend, Caen hosted a competition between three French sound systems: Roots Fayah, the rising new sensation from Caen, Positive Irie, based in Orléans…
- Admiral T on tour
Back with his third album, "Instinct Animal", Admiral T is touring France. He will play the Zénith in Paris on 21 November, with Kalash opening. 05/11/2010…
- France wins the Undertaker Trophy
It was the event of the clash scene: the Undertaker Trophy, organised by Kawulé, delivered its verdict on Sunday night. In the competition pitting France…
- Irie Ites revisits the Billie Jean Riddim
Irie Ites is not idle. After the releases of the Take a Lick and Party Time riddims at the start of the season, the Le Mans label is putting out a new riddim…
