Free concerts at Edna Manley College during February

Jamaicans can enjoy free concerts on Wednesday evenings in February, at the Edna Manley College of Performing Arts, in Kingston, as part of activities to celebrate Reggae Month 2011, under the theme: ‘From Di Root…To Di World’.

The concerts will be held on February 9, 16 and 23, beginning at 7:00 p.m.  This  Wednesday’s concert, labeled ‘Classical Rhythms’ will feature rocksteady, ska, gospel and drums, featuring Chinna Smith and Inna Di Yaad, Horsemouth and Crew, Grace Thrillers, Carlene Davis, Edna Manley Dancers and Edna Manley Band.

On February 16, the concert dubbed, ‘Reggae Gone Global’, will feature performances of dub, dub poetry, rockers and gospel drums, while the last concert called, ‘Fusion’, on February 23, will feature dancehall, drums and alternative music.

Director, Cultural Policy and Monitoring Culture and Entertainment Division, Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, Tanya Batson-Savage said the concert series cover a wide gamut of genres, both those intrinsically Jamaican and those to which Jamaica has made important contributions.

“These concerts will look at a wide range of forms, not just reggae, because although it is reggae month, we take into consideration that it is about Jamaican heritage,” she said.

Each event will present a blend of folk mento, jazz, classical, drumming, gospel, rocksteady, ska, dub, dub poetry rockers, dancehall and alternative forms of music, according to Mrs. Batson-Savage.

Another major event during the month is the Jamaica Industry Honour Awards scheduled to take place on February 26. Persons who have made major contributions to the development of reggae music will be honoured at this event. 

Mrs. Batson-Savage said the ceremony will be very important, as it allows the country to pay homage to many of the persons who have made significant contributions to the Reggae Brand, but are often unknown outside of the Reggae community.

“It’s ensuring that Jamaican icons who may not have been sufficiently celebrated in their own space, are so celebrated,” she said.

The Director said the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association (JaRIA), formed out of Reggae Month in 2009, has been given the responsibility for co-ordinating Reggae Month activities.

CONTACT: E. HARTMAN RECKORD