News
138 news in 2014
All reggae / dancehall news
December 2014
Broussaï sheds its skin on its new album ''In The Street''For the release of its fifth studio album, Broussaï takes a turn in its musical direction. After four albums eyeing the Jamaican reggae of the golden era…
Clinton Fearon on tour this spring03/04/2015 : Le Moloco in Audincourt (25) 04/04/2015 : Le Silex in Auxerre (89) 05/04/2015 : Chorus Des Hauts De Seine - La Défense (75) 08/04/2015 : Le Fuzz…
Set Up Shop vol2, the Marley brothers' compilationThere is news from the Marley brothers: their label Ghetto Youth International announces the release of the second volume of the compilation "Set Up Shop"…
Grammy Awards 2015: the nominees in the reggae categoryThe 57th Grammy Awards ceremony will be held on 9 February 2015 and has revealed the list of artists nominated in the "Best Reggae Album" category: - Ziggy…
Reggae cruise, here we go again!After the success of the Welcome to Jamrock reggae cruise this year, it did not take long for confirmation of a second cruise in 2015 to come through. The…
''Paname Skank'', Jahill's new albumPreceded by the EP "Paname Yard" last year, Jahill is releasing his new album, "Paname Skank". Just out, "Paname Skank" picks up where "Une époque formidable"…
First names for Summerjam 2015"The Everlasting Festival" is the slogan of the new edition of the Summerjam Festival. The venerable event from across the Rhine, which is celebrating its…
''Objectif Sound'': when photography meets the sound systemThe publishing house Afromundi announces the release of "Objectif Sound: From Jamaica To The UK", a book devoted to the English sound system scene. The many…
Supersonic back in ParisOn Saturday 20 December, just days before Christmas, the German sound system Supersonic will return to the capital. After Sound Quake, City Lock and Heavy…
November 2014
U-Roy and Big Youth on tour23/01/2015 : Wolkswagen hall - Istanbul (Turkey) 24/01/2015 : File 7 in Magny-le-Hongre (77) 25/01/2015 : Le Plan - Ris Orangis (91) 27/01/2015 : 2 Pièces…
Reggae Vibes 39: Reggae Revival with Chronixx, Protoje and Jesse RoyalThis month, Reggae Vibes looks at the renewal of reggae in Jamaica that marketing experts have labelled "Reggae Revival". Chronixx, Protoje and Jesse Royal…
Reggae Sun Ska announces its dates for next summerThe Reggae Sun Ska association, which will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2015, has just announced the dates of the 18th edition of the famous festival…
Tchong Libo (Broussaï) still on tour21/11/2014 : Le Live Club - Liège (Belgium) 22/11/2014 : Le Bateau Ivre - Mons (Belgium) 06/12/2014 : Le 22 d'Auron - Bourges (18) 12/12/2014 : Au Temps Perdu…
The Marley family launches its own ganja brandA ganja brand will bear the name of Bob Marley: always good at marketing coups, the Marley family has distinguished itself once again by announcing the launch…
''Uprising Live!'': Bob Marley's Dortmund concert reissued on CD and DVDAs we prepare to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Bob Marley's birth on 6 February 2015, the Tuff Gong's concert in Dortmund during his last European tour is…
Gentleman competition: 5 ''MTV Unplugged'' albums to be wonEric Clapton, Nirvana, Lauryn Hill… the famous MTV Unplugged show has lost count of the heavyweights who have appeared on its set. But in the 25 years since…
Rare and unseen photos of Bob MarleyArmed with his camera, he has photographed hundreds of celebrities: Michael Jackson, Lauryn Hill, Daft Punk, Bruce Springsteen, John Lee Hooker, Miles Davis…
Rootz Underground back in FranceThe Jamaican band Rootz Underground is back on the Old Continent for a tour organised ahead of the release of their third album, "Return of the Righteous"…
Tiken Jah Fakoly, last call for the tourTiken Jah Fakoly is back on tour to defend his latest album, "Dernier Appel", on stage. The Ivorian singer will notably play the famous Olympia venue in…
Bost & Bim: ladies firstWhile waiting to hear them on the next albums from Morgan Heritage or Pierpoljak, Bost & Bim present their new project: "Ladies First". An EP that, as its…
October 2014
The documentary ''Escape To Ste Croix'' is available on DVDThe DVD of the documentary Escape To Sainte Croix (news of 02/05/2014) is finally available. On the menu: 68 minutes of film (and no less than 52 minutes of…
Stylo G wins the 2014 MOBO AwardWho was the best reggae artist of the year: Popcaan, Tarrus Riley, Chronixx, Alkaline or Stylo G? For the MOBO Awards, held every year in England for 19 years…
Reggae mourns the loss of John HoltReggae has just lost one of its keepers of the flame: John Holt died on Sunday in hospital in London. He was 69. His health had worsened this summer, and he…
Groundation on tour for the new albumTo mark the release of their new album, "A Miracle", Groundation are back in Europe. The Californians will play around ten shows in France: 22/10/2014…
In Jamaica: the water pipeIn Jamaica, no need to vape. A coconut, a little bamboo and clay, and there you have a handmade water pipe: in the new episode of his « A la Jamaïque »…
September 2014
VP Records signs Ghanaian singer Blakk RastaRecently established on the African continent, the label VP Records has announced it has signed Ghanaian artist Blakk Rasta. Aged 40, Blakk Rasta has put his…
Midnite on the cover of Reggae VibesIssue 38 of Reggae Vibes magazine honours Midnite, with its singer Vaughn Benjamin on the cover. A long interview traces the history and discography of the…
- The nominees for the Reggae category at the 2014 MOBO Awards
Chronixx, Tarrus Riley, Popcaan, Alkaline and the English deejay Stylo G are the five nominees in this year's Reggae category at the MOBO Awards. The 19th…
Sound system documentary ''United We Stand'' seeks fundingThe documentary « United We Stand » aims to dive into sound system culture, whose popularity keeps on growing. Questioning the specificities of the medium and…
Jackie “Kingstonian” Bernard has passed awayThe Jamaican singer Jackie Bernard, for a time the leader of the group The Kingstonians, passed away on Tuesday 16 September, in Kingston. Formed around 1966…
Competition: ''Les hommes illustres de Jamaïque'' in a limited editionTo mark the release of the English version of Thibault Ehrengardt's book, "Les Hommes Illustres de Jamaïque" ("Jamaican Greats", hailed by the Jamaica Gleaner…
Hopeton Lewis has taken his leaveJamaican singer Hopeton Lewis died on Thursday 4 September at his home in Brooklyn, New York. He was 66. « Take your time, take it easy, take your time, no…
Under threat, Les Zuluberlus rally supportFounded in 1992, the association Les Zuluberlus works to promote contemporary music in the town of Colombes (Hauts-de-Seine). Championing an eclectic…
August 2014
Uziah ''Sticky'' Thompson has passed awayThe celebrated Jamaican percussionist Uziah “Sticky” Thompson died on Monday 25 August 2014, at his home in Florida (United States). His contributions to…
July 2014
''Royally Speaking'', the mixtape from Jesse RoyalWe were expecting a debut album, but what Jesse Royal, the singer from the Xterminator stable, is putting out is a mixtape. Walshy Fire, Major Lazer's…
Vybz Kartel sues Commissioner Owen Ellington and broadcaster TVJSentenced to life in prison, the deejay Vybz Kartel is to file a lawsuit against former police commissioner Owen Ellington and the television channel TVJ. «…
“Get Up Stand Up”, the novel by director Perry Henzell, translated into FrenchWe know Perry Henzell the filmmaker, director of the cult film "The Harder They Come" with Jimmy Cliff and of "No Place Like Home"; we know Perry Henzell the…
- In Jamaica: the painter
It strikes you the moment you set foot in Kingston: murals, frescoes and slogans cover the walls of the Jamaican capital. The new episode of the "A la…
June 2014
Ky-mani Marley on tour in FranceKy-mani Marley is back in France as part of his European tour. He will play many dates across the Hexagon (see below), notably on the stage of the Festival…
VP Records expands into AfricaVP is stepping up its development in Africa: in a statement, the label announced it has hired a "territory manager", Jay Jules, whose task will be to develop…
Meta & The Cornerstones on tourMeta Dia and his band The Cornerstones will be back in France this summer. They will play a few shows in France, notably for the Fête de la Musique in Reims…
Garance Reggae Festival: full line-up and day-by-day programmeThe Garance Reggae Festival has put the finishing touches to its 2014 programme. Jah9, Dubtonic Kru, Iba MaHr as well as Cedric "Congo" Myton feat. R. Zee…
Outlook Launch Party with Stand High Patrol, Marina P and Kahn & NeekAs every year for the past four years, Skank It Up at the Glazart in Paris hosts the launch party for Outlook Festival. 2014 is no exception, and visitors are…
Tiwony: free mixtape while waiting for the roots albumAfter "Cité Soleil", released in 2011, Tiwony promised a roots album. Three years later, that album, titled "Roots Rebel", is about to come out: it is…
Wailing Trees win the Reggae Contest Europe finalThe band Wailing Trees have won the Reggae Contest Europe final, organised every year by Rototom. The day before, they had won their ticket to the grand final…
- Garance Reggae Festival: the (almost) complete line-up
The Garance Reggae Festival 2014 is taking shape: a new batch of confirmed artists has been announced. Tiken Jah Fakoly, Sanchez, Black Roots, Michael…
The day-by-day programme for Reggae Sun SkaWith six stages and four days of festivities, the Reggae Sun Ska programme is particularly generous for its 17th edition. Thursday 31 July 2014: Midnite…
- In Jamaica: leather shoes
The new episode of Sherkhan's "A La Jamaïque" series is devoted to a classic of the streets of Kingston: the little workshops where you can have leather shoes…
May 2014
Daryl Thompson, guitarist of the Taxi Gang, has passed awayThe Taxi Gang is in mourning: the American guitarist Daryl Thompson died on 19 May 2014. Born in 1955, he joined Sly & Robbie in the late 70s and never left…
Reggae Vibes #36 with Tiken Jah FakolyAfter Alpha Blondy in the previous issue, it is now Tiken Jah Fakoly's turn to make the cover of Reggae Vibes magazine, on newsstands now. The Ivorian griot…
A dizzying line-up at Rototom Sunsplash 2014As every year, Benicassim (Spain) will host the biggest reggae gathering in Europe: Rototom Sunsplash 2014 will run for eight days, from 16 to 23 August 2014…
- In Jamaica: the Rasta School of Vision
While waiting for the new episode at the start of the month, Sherkhan presents a special edition of his mini-series "A La Jamaïque", devoted to the Rasta…
''Destiny'', the new album from Raging FyahAt last, here is the follow-up to Raging Fyah's excellent debut album, "Judgment Day": titled "Destiny", it will be available from 17 June. Among the 11…
No Logo Festival with Jimmy Cliff, LKJ, Midnite, Luciano, Anthony B…Riding the wave of the first edition's success (19,000 festival-goers reported), Médiacom is bringing back its No Logo Festival at the Forges de Fraisans, in…
Stand High Records celebrates five years in BrestIt is on its home turf in Finistère that the label Stand High Records is preparing to celebrate its five years of existence, on Saturday 31 May 2014. At La…
Help Jamaica! Festival with Randy Valentine, Caporal Nigga, G Mac and Don CamiloThe Help Jamaica! association, which works for access to education in Jamaica, is organising the second edition of its festival to raise funds for its work…
- New names at Garance Reggae Festival 2014
The Garance Reggae Festival has announced a fresh batch of names for its 2014 edition: Capleton and Yellowman will play Bagnols-sur-Cèze for the first time…
Picos in the spotlight at Toulouse Dub Club #13Again this year, Toulouse Dub Club is holding a special edition in the courtyard of the Abattoirs museum. After the Jamaican sound systems last year (Channel…
First names at Reggae Geel: Beenie Man, U-Roy, Midnite, Protoje, Chronixx...After its fine edition last year, the Reggae Geel festival has set off on the same footing for its 2014 vintage. The Belgian festival has just dropped the…
- Escape To Sainte Croix, the documentary on Virgin Islands music
"Escape to Sainte Croix" is the first documentary devoted to the music of the US Virgin Islands. This one-hour documentary, made by two Frenchmen, Tom Caruana…
- New episode of A la Jamaïque: making a motorbike out of lighters
In the vein of the first episode, which showed us young Sean building a kite from a bamboo cane and a plastic bag, this new episode of the mini-series "A La…
April 2014
Dub Camp Festival: the line-up day by dayOrganised by the Get Up! association, the Dub Camp Festival is shaping up as the unmissable meeting place for dub lovers this summer. For three days (4, 5 and…
Vybz Kartel calls for an end to threats against journalistsYesterday, the Jamaica Observer reported that one of its journalists, Karyl Walker, who covers the courts, as well as Abka Fitz Henley of the radio station…
- Garance Reggae Festival: first artists finally announced
After staying mysterious about its line-up for a long time, the Garance Reggae Festival has unveiled the first confirmed artists for the 2014 vintage. On the…
Pentateuch revisit ''The Genesis'' in acoustic formJamaican group Pentateuch will record an acoustic version of their first album, "The Genesis". Like Richie Spice and Tarrus Riley before them, the young…
French reggae buds at Le PrintempsAs every year, the Printemps de Bourges gives reggae a large place in its programme. On 25 April 2014, the Printemps will also succumb to French reggae by…
Festival Insolent opens wideAn unmissable event for reggae fans in Brittany: this year the Festival Insolent will bring together some of the biggest locomotives of the French and…
New concert dates for TaïroRiding the wave of his latest album, "Ainsi soit-il", Taïro just keeps piling up concert dates. Having clocked up the miles for months, the singer has a very…
- Life in prison for Vybz Kartel
Found guilty of the murder of Clive Williams, the deejay Vybz Kartel has been sentenced to life imprisonment. Almost three weeks after the verdict of 13…
Black Uhuru back in FranceThe group Black Uhuru, led by Derrick "Duckie" Simpson, is back in France this spring as part of its European tour. After its cancelled appearance at Reggae…