News
2,789 news, 2001-2015, page 12 of 40
All reggae / dancehall news
March 2012
Tarrus Riley, the acoustic album and the tourJust when we were expecting the follow-up to "Contagious", Tarrus Riley and Dean Fraser deliver an acoustic album. The French label Soulbeats is producing the…
Rude Boy Story, the Dub Inc story on the big screenDub Inc is the story of a gang of teenagers who formed a reggae band with no idea that ten years later they would be among the most popular groups in France…
Kanka still on the roadOn the road constantly since September 2011, Kanka has no intention of putting down his bags any time soon. The spearhead of the French dub steppa scene keeps…
Sizzla and Mavado live in ParisAn exceptional bill awaits Parisians in early April: the Paris leg of Sizzla's tour (news of 13 March 2012) will see him cross paths with Mavado! It is only…
Yaniss Odua on tour while waiting for the albumYaniss Odua's new album is almost ready. Recorded at the Mixing Lab studio in Kingston under the guidance of Clive Hunt (with Dean Fraser, among others), this…
Sizzla back in EuropeSeriously injured in an accident last September, Sizzla was forced to pull out of his European tour, which was due to take him through France before the end…
Clinton Fearon, the tour datesTo mark the release of his new album, "Heart and Soul", on 26 March, Clinton Fearon is touring France (news of 09/01/2012). The Heart & Soul Tour, which kicks…
World Clash New York 2012: RESETThe promoters Irish & Chin are relaunching their World Clash in New York after four blank years with a watchword: “Restoring Exciting Sound system…
Rototom unveils its line-upRototom has unveiled the first names of its 2012 programme: Derrick Morgan, Alborosie, Protoje, Tanya Stephens, Max Romeo, Zion Train feat. Jazzmin Tutum, Sis…
''The System'', Romain Virgo's new albumAfter the promise of his first album, "Romain Virgo", released in summer 2010, Romain Virgo is back with a new album that could well be one of this year's…
Summerjam, the line-up fills outThe German festival is ahead of the game and already has a very full bill. See for yourself: the organisers have already announced Sean Paul, Burning Spear &…
Natty Jean, the first album and the tourThe Senegalese singer Natty Jean is releasing his first solo album on Danakil's new label, Baco Records (read our Focus). Due this month, the release of this…
European Reggae Contest: the finalistsThe votes have been counted, and the European Reggae Contest France has delivered its verdict. Nearly a hundred entrants for three winners: the bands who will…
February 2012
London's calling!To mark the 50th anniversary of Jamaican independence, the London International Ska Festival will take place from 3 to 6 May 2012 for four days of ska…
''Reggae Music Again'', Busy Signal's new albumWe now know more about the release of Busy Signal's new album. Planned for 2011 but regularly pushed back, this new album, billed as 100% reggae by Busy and…
Mighty Crown Shoe SystemThe best-known sound system of the Land of the Rising Sun has just celebrated 20 years of existence. And those two decades deserved a special celebration. So…
First album for trumpeter TribumanThis is the big moment for the French trumpeter Tribuman. After recording horns for several artists (Apple Gabriel, Earl 16, Tippa Irie, Dr Ring Ding, Vernon…
Help Jamaica Reggae FestivalA fine initiative gives rise to a fine night: 25 February offers the chance to kill two birds with one stone. The Help Jamaïca! Reggae Festival is back for…
The documentary ''Marley'' soon in cinemasA Bob Marley film in cinemas is a bit like the Arlésienne: you always hear about it, but few projects ever materialise. "Marley", Kevin Macdonald's film, has…
The Rototom documentary is onlineFrom its birth in Italy to its move to the south of Spain, the documentary Exodus: Finding Shelter retraces in 55 minutes the history of Rototom Sunsplash…
The Reggae Splash Tour will not take placeIt was an open secret: the Reggae Splash Tour, which was due to take place on 24 and 25 February, will not go ahead after all. We reproduce below the…
Lee Scratch Perry and Mad Prof, a summit meetingA fine night is in prospect at La Bellevilloise for lovers of reggae dub. On 19 February, two of the greatest legends of dub, Lee Scratch Perry and Mad…
''Man Free'' available on DVD and Blu-rayDream beaches, coconut palms and reggae... For the vast majority of people, this is the image associated with Jamaica, but behind the façades of the paradise…
Buju Banton: the appeal is off to a bad startHis lawyer was confident, but the US prosecutors have not changed their line on Buju Banton. The appeal launched by his legal team (news of 19/12/2011) looks…
Broussaï prepares its new album in JamaicaAlways criss-crossing the roads of France, the French band Broussaï have flown to Jamaica to record their new album at Harry J studio in Kingston. They will…
Stephen Marley wins his third Grammy AwardIs it really a surprise? Stephen Marley won the Grammy Award for best reggae album at the famous ceremony held on Sunday in Los Angeles. The Marley son was…
Paris gets its Dub Station backWhile the Dub Station nights are doing well all over France, Parisians have been deprived of the event for almost a year. The wait is nearly over, as the…
Brittany gets its Dancehall NightA big night is in prospect on Saturday 18 February in the Rennes area: a Franco-Jamaican Dancehall Night organised by Les voix de la rue. On the programme, on…
Marseille Dub Station #18Buoyed by the growing enthusiasm for the Marseille Dub Station (on 14 January, MDS #17 drew more than 1,200 people), Musical Riot is doing it all over again…
Spring Reggae Fest, sixth editionThe Spring Reggae Fest, organised in Le Mans every year by the French sound system and label Irie Ites, returns on 3 March 2012 for its sixth edition. Judging…
Reggae Vibes #22 on newsstandsFor once, it is Buju Banton on the cover of the bimonthly. Reggae Vibes looks back at the deejay's long career and, of course, at his trial last year, from…
Hollie Cook on tourShe is the revelation of 2011: Hollie Cook left her mark on last year. Her first album, crafted by Prince Fatty, is a gem of grace. After several French…
January 2012
European Reggae Contest: time to voteIt is now time to vote for your favourite band entered in the European Reggae Contest 2012: entries closed last week, and voting has already begun. You have…
Horace Andy, a tour in MarchA great regular on French stages, Horace "Sleepy" Andy will be back in France in early March for a series of concerts, backed by the Homegrown Band. 15/03/12…
Dub Me Crazy, the first in ParisAfter Rennes, the Dub Me Crazy nights organised by the sound system Legal Shot are landing in Paris. The Glazart will host this new dub gathering in the…
Fantan Mojah and I Wayne on tourTwo of the finest representatives of the one drop generation of 2004, Fantan Mojah and I-Wayne, will be passing through France in February. With I Wayne…
Khalifa's new album on the wayAfter two albums with Positive Radical Sound, this is already Khalifa's second solo album. The French singer from Caen, who had already been backed by Sly &…
Winston Riley has diedThe singer and producer Winston Riley died at the University Hospital of the West Indies on 19 January 2012. He had been in a coma since November 2011, after…
Ijahman Levi on tour in FranceThe veteran Ijahman Levi will tour France in February. The author of the magnificent and essential albums "Haile I Hymn" and "Are we a warrior" for Chris…
Dubmatix gives away the album ''Atomic Subsonic''For the new year, the Canadian producer, engineer and multi-instrumentalist Dubmatix is giving away his second album "Atomic Subsonic", released in 2006…
A teaser for Groundation's new albumGroundation's new album, "Building an Ark", due in March, is unveiled in a video with a first teaser. Titled "Built by the Crew", this first episode aims to…
Biga Ranx, the tourA fine tour awaits Biga Ranx. The young newcomer, who released his album "On Time" in autumn 2011, got back on the road at the end of the year. In 2012 he…
Channel One at Nantes Dub Club #3The Dub Club is back in Nantes. For its third edition, the dub night organised by the association Get Up! has pulled out all the stops and summoned a fine…
Groove n' Beat night at the Printemps de BourgesAs every year, the Printemps de Bourges opens the festival season. This year it runs from Tuesday 24 to Saturday 28 April 2012. The Sunday Reggae is gone…
New album and tour for Clinton FearonAfter the excellent "Mi De Yah", released in 2010 on Makasound, Clinton Fearon is back with a new album on Chapter Two. One of the last representatives of the…
King Stitt takes his bow (edit)EDIT: Coxsone Dodd's son stated today, 10 January, in the pages of the Gleaner that King Stitt had not passed away, contrary to what our sources told us. "He…
David Rodigan honouredDavid Rodigan has been awarded the fourth-highest British honour. The famous radio presenter and selecta is now a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the…
Groundation on tour in the springAs the new album, "Building An Ark", begins to take shape (release announced for 20 March 2012), Groundation will tour France in the spring. The Californian…
December 2011
Jah Jah man riddim by Irie ItesIt's in the old pots that the best soups are made, and the French label Irie Ites knows it well. After Prince Alla and Trinity on the Bucket Bottom riddim…
- The fine line-up of the Reggae Splash Tour
Organised by Garance Productions, the Reggae Splash Tour looks splendid and brings together a host of artists: Bounty Killer, Admiral T, Anthony B, Elephant…
A Sting with no appealYou had to be keen this year for Sting. The showpiece event has seriously lost artistic credibility in recent years, and the clashes have often served as a…
- New names for Summerjam 2012
After Burning Spear, Summerjam has dropped a fresh salvo of artists booked for the 2012 edition of the festival across the Rhine. Besides the fiery spear, the…
Legal High Zik Festival, second editionAfter its first edition last year (with Lutan Fyah, Kanka, Caporal Nigga & Mickee 3000, Irie Ites feat Ilements…), the Legal High Zik Festival is back in…
Sean Paul promises fans a surpriseSo Sean Paul did not adopt the Mohawk for nothing: announced for 30 January, Sean Paul's new album is called "Tomahawk Technique". In an interview with the…
Ras Naya in concert at La JavaRas Naya will play La Java in Paris on Friday 30 December 2011. A chance to discover the musical world of this Kenyan artist, who left his country for England…
Buju Banton has appealedSince the announcement of Buju Banton's ten-year prison sentence last June, his lawyer David Markus had been saying they would appeal. It is now done: last…
Sherkhan launches the Brain Freeze ProjectBack in Jamaica after a stay in France, where he released his first book among other things (news of 18/11/2011), Sherkhan announces the launch of the Brain…
Vybz Kartel will have to payImprisoned for almost three months now while awaiting trial for murder, possession of a firearm and marijuana, Vybz Kartel does not escape his past for all…
Marseille Dub Station #17 with Mungo's Hi-FiAfter the success of King Jammy's visit, the Marseille Dub Station returns in 2012 from 14 January. The city of Marseille may well never recover from this…
''Vibrations Jamaïcaines'', the history of the island's popular musicThe author of a thesis on the history of Jamaican popular music, Jérémie Kroubo has drawn a book from it, "Vibrations jamaïcaines". A 768-page magnum opus…
Philip ''Fattis'' Burrell bows outThe reggae world has suffered another sad loss: Philip Burrell, the prolific producer better known by the nickname Fattis, died yesterday at the University…
- Grammy Awards 2012, the nominations
Although the organisers raised the possibility in 2010 of scrapping the Reggae category for fear of seeing it perpetually dominated by the Marley family…
While awaiting the appeal, Buju Banton changes prisonBuju Banton has been transferred from the Texas prison where he was held. He is back at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) in Miami, Florida…
November 2011
No police fault in the death of Smiley CultureThe investigation into the death of Smiley Culture found no fault on the part of the police, the IPCC (Independent Police Complaints Commission), the British…
Le Premier Rasta on DVD on 15 DecemberReleased in cinemas in April, "Le Premier Rasta" will be available on DVD on 15 December 2011. Co-directed by Christophe Farnarier and the journalist and…
''Midnight Walkers'', the first album from Stand High PatrolTen years after their debut, Stand High Patrol release their first album, "Midnight Walkers". Reggaefrance got a first listen, and this eclectic debut is true…
Hollie Cook competition: 5 concert tickets to winHollie Cook's first album was one of the loveliest surprises of the year. The daughter of Paul Cook, the Sex Pistols' drummer, has slipped perfectly into the…
Reggae Vibes #21 on newsstands nowThe new issue of the bimonthly Reggae Vibes is out. On the cover, Bob Marley, with a previously unpublished interview titled "The man behind the legend"…
Barry Llewellyn has left usHe was probably the most discreet of the three members of the Heptones: Barry Llewellyn has left us. He passed away yesterday morning at Kingston Public…
''Forward Ever'', the future of digital by Mungo Hi-FiAfter "Soundsystem Champions" in 2008, the Scots of Mungo's Hifi release their second album, "Forward Ever". A selection of 15 tracks played at their nights…