分类： entertainment

The season finale of the Jamaica Observer’s popular series ‘Market Bag’ is set to deliver thrilling entertainment as Burgerman, a prominent radio personality from The Edge 105 FM, steps into the vibrant atmosphere of Coronation Market. Hosted by Carlysia Ramdeen, the episode will feature an intense shop-off challenge where both competitors must strategically stretch their budgets to demonstrate who can achieve optimal value for money.

Burgerman has entered the competition with bold confidence, promising an explosive performance, while Ramdeen remains equally determined not to yield in this high-energy face-off. The episode promises a dynamic blend of strategy, humor, and local market culture.

Viewers can catch the action live this Friday at 6:30 PM on the Jamaica Observer’s YouTube channel and all its social media platforms.

In related news, shoppers at Coronation Market—affectionately known as ‘Curry’—are currently enjoying a continued decline in produce prices. This week, tomatoes have dropped to as low as $30 per pound, with cabbage and pumpkin selling for just $100 each.

Corey Bailey, a data collection officer from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, confirmed the favorable market conditions. ‘Overall, prices are very encouraging,’ Bailey noted. ‘While items like sweet potato and dasheen have remained steady at around $300 to $350, many other products have seen significant price reductions. Now is an excellent time for shopping at the market.’

SOAK’D, Jamaica’s premier water festival, is elevating its entertainment offering by transforming its upcoming Friday event into a dual celebration—both as its latest staging and as a birthday extravaganza for dancehall sensation Skeng. The event will take place at Stadium East, featuring an impressive lineup of performers including Govana, Spice, and Tommy Lee Sparta.

Fyahman, a director of SOAK’D, revealed to the Jamaica Observer that the event represents more than just a typical water party. “Patrons can anticipate a high-energy, performance-driven water experience,” he explained. “SOAK’D is a comprehensive production that integrates live performances, immersive visuals, premium sound engineering, and an electrifying atmosphere. It combines the intensity of a major dancehall concert with the liberating excitement of an authentic water fete.”

Contrary to assumptions, Fyahman emphasized that SOAK’D isn’t confined to a single musical genre. “While this edition highlights dancehall, our brand embraces soca and broader Caribbean influences,” he stated. “We’re preparing a major future staging that will heavily incorporate that energy. Our long-term vision positions SOAK’D as a multi-genre, culturally rich water experience within the regional carnival and festival landscape.”

The musical programming features carefully curated segments with Bloodline Franco, Kevi the Kinetic, and Bahamian DJ Rann leading the soca components with authentic carnival energy. Dancehall segments will be managed by JJ Deadlock, DJ Mac x Baba, Deva Kidd, and Bad Twin x Pickett, ensuring sustained intensity throughout the event.

Fyahman noted SOAK’D’s evolution from its inception three years ago: “What began as a personal celebration with a clear water-based theme immediately demonstrated potential for significant growth. We’ve transitioned from a birthday concept into a structured, scalable event brand with enhanced production quality, expanded artist lineups, intentional DJ programming, and matured marketing strategies.”

Jamaican singer-songwriter Fiona has demonstrated her commitment to creating enduring musical works through the recent reissue of her romantic EP ‘In The Mood.’ Originally recorded five years ago in collaboration with renowned producer Hopeton Lindo, the six-track project was re-released on January 23rd by Zojak Worldwide, strategically timed three weeks ahead of Valentine’s Day.

Despite the commercial timing, Fiona maintains a philosophical perspective on the holiday of love. ‘Valentine’s Day represents a single day of extravagant gestures toward one’s partner,’ she commented. ‘While it might sound cliché, I genuinely believe every day should embody the spirit of Valentine’s Day.’

The EP showcases Fiona’s artistic versatility, featuring both original compositions and reimagined classics. Her penmanship appears on ‘Love Won’t Let Us Wait,’ while the collection includes distinctive reggae interpretations of Barbra Streisand and Barry Gibb’s 1980 smash hit ‘Guilty,’ along with the Grammy-winning ‘You Don’t Have to Be A Star’ originally performed by Billy Davis and Marilyn McCoo, and Barbara Mason’s ‘Yes I’m Ready.’

Lindo contributed two original compositions to the project—the title track ‘In The Mood’ and ‘In Your Eyes’—both released through his Irie Pen Records label. These tracks benefited from collaborative production by legendary rhythm duo Sly and Robbie alongside Rorey Baker under the Taxi Records/One Pop Music banner.

Hailing from West Kingston, Fiona brings substantial experience to the project, having pursued her musical career since age 17. While she has established herself as a solo artist, her cover of Adele’s ‘Hello’ remains her most recognized work to date.

Grammy-nominated reggae artist Etana has culminated Jamaica’s Reggae Month with a powerful reinterpretation of Bob Marley’s iconic anthem ‘I Shot The Sheriff.’ Her rendition serves as both a tribute to the genre’s most influential figure and a demonstration of reggae’s continuing global resonance.

As the inaugural Reggae Month Ambassador, Etana dedicated February to promoting Jamaica’s musical heritage through various performances and cultural engagements. Her newly released single emerges as a profound musical homage to Marley’s enduring legacy, whose revolutionary compositions continue to inspire artists and audiences across generations.

Originally composed and recorded by Marley in 1973, ‘I Shot The Sheriff’ gained international recognition through Eric Clapton’s 1974 cover version. Etana’s interpretation revisits the classic with emotional depth, blending her distinctive vocal warmth with contemporary production elements while maintaining reverence for the song’s roots.

Produced through her independent label Freemind Music Records in partnership with Eclectic Productions, the track masterfully balances authentic reggae essence with modern refinement, creating appeal for both traditional reggae enthusiasts and new audiences exploring the genre.

Etana recently performed alongside prominent artists at the One Love Bob Marley Concert on February 6 in Kingston, part of Jamaica’s annual Reggae Month celebrations honoring Marley’s cultural impact.

Regarding the song’s significance, Etana explained: ‘I consistently honor legends like Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff, and Dennis Brown in my live performances. This particular song resonates deeply with me—Marley intended it as a metaphor for justice, self-defense, and resisting oppression rather than literal violence. Its message remains profoundly relevant given ongoing global injustices.’

Her interpretation maintains the original narrative intensity while emphasizing themes of justice, survival, and moral conviction that retain contemporary relevance. Etana’s vocal performance seamlessly transitions between vulnerability and strength, reinforcing her status as one of reggae’s most compelling contemporary voices.

As Reggae Month concludes, this release symbolizes both celebration and generational transition—honoring the pioneers who established the genre while showcasing its ongoing evolution through artists like Etana.

The iconic 1990s dance track ‘I Like To Move It’ by Reel 2 Reel featuring The Mad Stuntman has achieved platinum certification in the United Kingdom. The British Phonographic Industry awarded this prestigious recognition on Friday after the song surpassed 600,000 units in combined sales and streaming equivalents.

Originally released during the golden era of house and techno music, the track became a defining anthem of the decade. It achieved remarkable international success, topping music charts in multiple European nations including Belgium, France, and the Netherlands, while also reaching number one in Zimbabwe. The song secured top-10 placements across numerous countries including Australia, Austria, Canada, Germany, Ireland, Spain, and Switzerland.

In the United States, the track reached #89 on the Billboard Hot 100 and achieved an impressive #8 position on Billboard’s Dance Music Club Play chart. In its home market, the song peaked at #5 on the UK Singles chart.

The vocalist behind the hit, The Mad Stuntman (born Mark Quashie), contributed to subsequent Reel 2 Reel chart successes including ‘Can You Feel It?’ and ‘Conway,’ both of which entered both the UK Singles chart and Billboard Dance chart. Now 60 years old, Quashie resides in New York.

This UK platinum award adds to the song’s existing international certifications, having previously earned gold status in Australia, France, Germany, and the Netherlands, while achieving platinum recognition in New Zealand.

Belgian music enthusiast Maarten Hostyn is channeling two decades of passion for Jamaican sound systems into a new venture: promoting his first major festival on the island. The Ostend native, who operates the East End Rock sound system, will present the Reggae Garden Cultural Festival on February 27th at Kingston Reggae Garden in Golden Spring, St. Andrew.

Hostyn’s transition from performer to promoter represents a significant milestone in his decade-long engagement with Jamaica’s music scene. “I had it in mind for a few years but I wanted the right people behind it,” Hostyn explained to Observer Online. “With people like Ahpuku and Jah Over Evil we had the right team to organise this event.”

The festival lineup showcases both established and emerging talent, featuring dub specialist Clive “Dubking” Jeffrey, roots singer Micah Shamaiah, and rising artists including T’Jean, Zhayna, Jah Vezl, Zaudib and Ahpuku. The involvement of Jah Over The Evil—a collective instrumental in launching neo-roots stars like Chronixx from Vineyard Town—adds substantial credibility to the event.

Despite this being his Jamaican promotional debut, the 45-year-old Hostyn brings considerable experience from producing live events in his hometown of Ostend, where he has featured renowned acts including Fantan Mojah, Richie Spice and Bitty McLean.

Founded twenty years ago, East End Rock has become a fixture at major European reggae events including Belgium’s Reggae Geel, Spain’s Rototom Sunsplash, and London’s Notting Hill Carnival. In Jamaica, the sound system has graced stages at Dancehall Fridays and Reggae wi Sey.

Hostyn’s philosophy emphasizes musical diversity and emotional connection over crowd size: “We play everything from classic reggae to Skillibeng, we bring the full package of Jamaican music. It can be 10 or 50 people in the venue I don’t care, as long as I can bring a vibe and make people happy.”

CHICAGO – A groundbreaking orchestral and dance production honoring an ancient African warrior queen is set for its global debut in March 2026. Acclaimed composer and cultural activist Shirley Thompson will present ‘Seventh Sense: Incidents in the Life of Queen Amanirenas for Orchestra & Dance’ as the centerpiece of International Women’s Day celebrations.

The Chicago Sinfonietta has commissioned this innovative work for its ‘Still I Rise’ celebration series. Thompson’s composition chronicles the extraordinary legacy of Queen Amanirenas of Kush, the formidable leader who successfully defended her kingdom against Roman expansion through military prowess and diplomatic acumen.

Under the baton of Music Director Mei-Ann Chen, the Chicago Sinfonietta will collaborate with the Deeply Rooted Dance Theatre to bring this multidisciplinary performance to life. The production merges symphonic instrumentation with contemporary dance, creating a powerful narrative experience that transcends traditional opera boundaries.

Thompson, who holds the distinction of being the first composer of African descent to receive an OBE and to create music for a British royal coronation (King Charles III’s 2023 ceremony), continues her ‘Heroines of Opera’ series with this work. The series specifically highlights historically significant women of African heritage whose stories have been largely overlooked.

Previous installations in Thompson’s acclaimed series include ‘Sacred Mountain: Incidents of the Life of Queen Nanny of the Maroons,’ ‘Dido Elizabeth Belle,’ ‘Women of the Windrush,’ and ‘The Woman Who Refused to Dance.’

The world premiere performances are scheduled for March 6, 2026, at Wentz Concert Hall in Naperville, Illinois, followed by a March 7 performance at the Harris Theatre in downtown Chicago. Both evening performances will begin at 7:00 PM.