分类： entertainment

Fifteen years after his last live appearance on British stages, celebrated Jamaican dancehall artist Charly Black is gearing up for what he calls one of the most pivotal performances of his decades-long career. Fresh off the reinstatement of his UK travel visa, the hitmaker behind the global fan favorite *Party Animal* is scheduled to take the stage at August’s Reggaeland Festival, marking his first in-person performance in the country since 2009.

For Black, the confirmation of his visa approval brought unfiltered, long-awaited joy. “I was over the moon when my manager broke the news,” he shared in a recent interview, recalling the moment he received the update while touring in Germany. “I threw my hands up in the air and gave thanks right there on the spot.”

Over the 15 years he was barred from entering the UK, the travel restriction presented undeniable professional hurdles, but Black says he never let the setback dim his creative drive or enthusiasm. What kept him grounded and optimistic throughout the period, he notes, was the unwavering loyalty of his British fanbase, who continued to stream his tracks, share his work, and embrace his music even when he could not visit to perform live.

“It meant the world that my music could still reach audiences there even when I couldn’t be there in person,” he explained. “I never saw this as a permanent bad break – it was just a matter of waiting for the right time. Knowing people were still streaming my tracks and loving my work when I was gone was such an incredible feeling. It told me they cared about the music and were waiting to see me, and that time is finally here.”

While Black maintained his optimistic outlook through the years, he acknowledges that the absence of in-person performances did limit his ability to deepen his bond with UK fans and grow his brand in one of his most consistently strong markets. “There’s no comparison to performing for an audience in person – it’s a thousand times more impactful,” he said. “Live performances are far more engaging; fans get to interact with you directly, and that connection makes them leave the show even more invested in your music. Things might have progressed further if I’d been able to perform there all these years, but the situation wasn’t a total loss.”

Now, with the visa issue firmly in the rearview, Black is turning his full attention to what comes next, with no interest in revisiting the frustration of the past 15 years. “We’re not looking back – that chapter is closed for good, and it’ll never be repeated,” he stated. “My fans kept me going through that whole period, and I’m endlessly grateful for their support.”

This quiet resilience has been a cornerstone of Black’s career from the start. Even without the consistent backing of major record labels for much of his journey, he has steadily released new music and cultivated a devout global following that refers to themselves as Team Unstoppable. “Perseverance is everything to me, because I’m an artist that never stops pushing,” he said. “Even when I didn’t have the backing of big labels, I kept putting out new music, and people have showed up for me every step of the way.”

His upcoming set at Reggaeland is far more than just another festival booking for the dancehall star. It is the payoff for 15 years of patience, persistence, and unshakable faith that he would one day get the chance to perform for his UK fans again. “This is such an important performance – it might just be the most meaningful one of my entire career, because of how long we’ve waited for it,” Black said. “I’ve heard about Reggaeland for years, and I’ve always dreamed of performing in England.”

Black added that the UK has long stood out as one of the top-performing markets for his music globally, which makes his long-awaited return even more special. “Every time I release a new track, the UK is always one of the countries where it gets the most love,” he said. “British fans have always supported me so much, so I’m going to give this performance everything I have.”

If Black’s confident prediction holds, fans in attendance are in for an unforgettable, high-energy reunion. “It’s going to be absolutely insane,” he said with a grin. “I know the crowd’s energy is going to be incredible.”

After years of waiting on both sides, the artist and his loyal British audience are finally set to share the same stage again – a moment that promises to be every bit as emotional as it is explosive.

This summer, two iconic luxury brands have joined forces to craft an unparalleled immersive experience for discerning travelers in Jamaica, marking the first exclusive year-long premium partnership between legendary Champagne house Moët & Chandon and the iconic Round Hill Hotel and Villas. The groundbreaking collaboration was officially introduced to a curated guest list on Thursday, June 4, during an intimate, invitation-only launch event hosted by Select Brands, Moët & Chandon’s local Jamaican distributor, alongside senior leadership from both partnering brands.

Adrian Locke, known professionally as reggae artist Jahfrican, is opening an exciting new chapter in his decades-long music career with the launch of his deeply personal new extended play, Coming Back Home. More than just a compilation of tracks, this thoughtful project stands as a public declaration of creative rebirth, weaving together classic reggae rhythms, Afro-fusion sonic textures, and intimate personal narrative that reflects on his decades-long journey through the global music industry.

In a historic ceremony held Saturday night at Kingston’s Douglas Orane Auditorium on the Wolmer’s Boys’ High School campus, 20-year-old University of the West Indies student Hannah Collings-Myers made history as the first titleholder of Miss Universe Jamaica Kingston & St Andrew.

Twenty-one aspiring beauty queens took the stage to compete for the inaugural crown, with Collings-Myers ultimately claiming the top spot. Following her win, the new titleholder secured an automatic berth in the national Miss Universe Jamaica finals, a major beauty and wellness competition slated to take place this August. She will be joined at the national event by her fellow top three competitors: second-runner up Tiyana Mowatt, a practicing medical doctor, and third-place finisher Shaniece Douglas, who also earned automatic advancement out of the regional preliminary.

Though Collings-Myers was born in the central Jamaican town of Mandeville, she later moved to the popular coastal tourist hub of Montego Bay. She is an alumna of Kingston’s renowned Immaculate Conception High School, bringing a deep connection to multiple regions of the country to her new title.

Shortly after accepting her sash and crown, Collings-Myers shared her excitement with local outlet Observer Online, expressing gratitude for the experience of competing alongside her fellow contestants. “I’m excited to take on the journey that’s ahead of me. I enjoyed working with all these girls and I’m sorry to see it come to an end,” she said.

Jermane Blair, franchise manager for the Miss Universe Jamaica Kingston & St Andrew competition, was the one who first encouraged Collings-Myers to enter the pageant circuit two years ago, when the regional preliminary operated under its former name, Miss Universe Jamaica East. Blair opened up about the months of coordination and preparation that went into pulling off Saturday’s historic event, emphasizing that the core mission of the competition extends far beyond the stage.

“A lot of work went into this production. We were trying to ensure that the young ladies that entered the competition, would have been amazing. We also wanted to ensure that our patrons were appreciative of the show, and how we put it together. Without the team, this would not have been possible,” Blair said.

Blair called the evening’s crowning moment the undisputed highlight of the event, adding that he entered the competition with no set expectations for the outcome, thanks to the rigorous preparation all contestants received ahead of the preliminary. “For the first time, I had no expectations. Our ladies have been so well developed and prepared for tonight, so that they could show up and make me proud,” he shared.

Inside South Florida’s Miramar Cultural Center, a sudden collective intake of breath rippled through the sold-out crowd of reggae fans on the opening night of Spragga Benz’s ‘Journey to Kingston’ birthday concert series. As three attendees lifted a visibly stunned Stacey Mirander onto the venue’s stage, even the most seasoned concertgoers in the audience had little idea they were about to witness a landmark moment in the young artist’s burgeoning career.

Mirander was quickly greeted by two familiar figures: Miramar City Commissioner Maxwell B. Chambers and the event’s honoree, legendary reggae-dancehall performer Spragga Benz, confirming the surprise appearance was carefully planned months in advance. As anticipation swelled across the auditorium, the rising singer waited patiently for opening act Laa Lee to wrap his set before stepping to the center of the stage to claim her microphone.

In a bold, memorable choice, Mirander launched into her original composition *Oh Mother Earth* completely a cappella, no instrumental backing to soften her first big public performance. Her raw, clear vocals cut through the hush of the room immediately, holding every audience member’s attention and earning an early wave of enthusiastic cheers. Within moments, the event’s core backing group, the Ruff Kut Band, joined in, followed by a team of background vocalists, expanding the intimate solo opening into a full, sweeping reggae production that had the entire crowd swaying along to the rhythm.

For Mirander, this unplanned-by-the-audience but long-awaited set marked the biggest milestone of her young career: it was the first time she had ever performed live alongside a full band in front of a ticketed audience. Speaking after the performance, the singer described the moment as a years-in-the-making dream come to life. “It was a moment I had been waiting for, a dream unfolding in real time, and I am deeply grateful to have had the opportunity,” she said. “Happy birthday to Spragga Benz for sharing such a special moment with so many people on a day meant to celebrate him.”

Only a few days prior, Mirander had completed her very first full-band rehearsal for the performance, and she noted that the energy of the live crowd far exceeded any expectation she held. “I could feel the energy in the room and the spirit of reggae music flowing through me,” she explained. The stripped-back, emotion-driven track *Oh Mother Earth* will serve as a centerpiece of her upcoming debut studio album, a project she says she hopes will introduce her unique take on reggae to a global fanbase.

The opening night of the ‘Journey to Kingston’ series drew one of the most stacked lineups of reggae and dancehall talent assembled in South Florida this year. Alongside Spragga Benz and surprise guest Mirander, the bill featured iconic and rising performers including Wayne Wonder, Agent Sasco, Everton Blender, Ky-Mani Marley, Yohan Marley, Bugle and Lici Soul. To add a unique layer to the celebration, performers were backed by not only the Ruff Kut Band but also the Florida Memorial University Orchestra, blending classic reggae grooves with lush, sweeping orchestral arrangements that reimagined classic tracks for the audience.

As the first stop on a multi-city tour, the Florida opening set the tone for a series designed to celebrate reggae’s enduring cultural impact across the world. After the Florida launch, the ‘Journey to Kingston’ series will travel next to Philadelphia for a second show, before wrapping with a grand final performance in the genre’s birthplace: Kingston, Jamaica, where artists and fans from across the globe will gather to honor the legacy and ongoing evolution of reggae music.

For reggae artists based in the Jamaican diaspora, keeping cultural connection alive while carving out a global career often demands equal parts passion and persistence. For Canada-based reggae performer Knotty Royal, that dedication has translated into his vibrant new single *Doctor Bird*, a love letter to Jamaica’s centuries-long history, one-of-a-kind culture, and stunning natural landscapes, built atop the iconic, fan-favorite Hill and Gully Riddim.

The creative seed for the track was planted more than a decade ago, during a 2010 trip to Jamaica. While visiting the island, a family member shared long-held stories of Christopher Columbus’s first arrival on Jamaican shores, a narrative that stuck with Knotty Royal for years. The concept finally crystallized when he encountered the Hill and Gully Riddim, and the long-stored story merged seamlessly with the rhythm to form the backbone of the new track. “That story stuck to me like cedar stain,” Knotty Royal shared in a recent interview. “When I heard the riddim, the story and the music came together in my mind.”

Unlike many contemporary reggae tracks that lean into commercial trends, *Doctor Bird* centers on celebrating Jamaica’s global influence while shining a light on the island’s unrivaled natural scenery and deep cultural legacy. Knotty Royal set out to reframe popular global perceptions of the nation, emphasizing its role as a source of enduring positive energy for audiences worldwide. “I want listeners to understand that Jamaica is a positive force in the world,” he explained. “People look to us for positive vibes, and our landscape and culture are beautiful and incomparable.”

What drew the artist to the Hill and Gully Riddim in particular was its uncompromising authenticity. The rhythm’s rooted, homegrown sound perfectly embodies Jamaica’s national motto “Out of Many, One People,” a unifying identity that resonated deeply with Knotty Royal’s own connection to the island. Currently, the artist holds out hope that renowned Jamaican producer Stephen McGregor, widely known by his stage name Di Genius, will offer an official endorsement of the track, a move that could amplify its reach exponentially. For Knotty Royal, the intersection of artistic expression and industry strategy is key to creating lasting impact: “Music is both entertainment and business. When those two things come together, great things can happen,” he noted.

Since its launch, *Doctor Bird* has earned overwhelmingly positive feedback from reggae fans around the world. Many listeners have gone so far as to suggest the track enter the 2026 Jamaica Festival Song Competition, a testament to its resonance with audiences who value authentic Jamaican cultural expression. Even based thousands of miles away in Canada, Knotty Royal has never let his connection to Jamaica fade. He stays actively engaged with the local music scene by tuning into Jamaican radio stations regularly, keeping up with new releases and industry shifts to stay rooted in the culture that inspires his work.

Knotty Royal’s path as a reggae artist has been shaped by lifelong passions for reading, faith, and music from his earliest years. Building a career in the reggae industry from outside Jamaica comes with unique hurdles, but the artist maintains that Jamaica remains the ultimate test of an artist’s credibility, for both reggae and dancehall creators alike. “If you buss in Jamaica, you buss in the world,” he affirmed.

He also argues that the rising popularity of the Hill and Gully movement signals a broader global shift: audiences are increasingly seeking out authentic Jamaican culture and uplifting, positive music, moving away from overly polished, commercialized sounds. Looking beyond his latest release, Knotty Royal has a full slate of new projects in the works, including upcoming singles *Rip & Run Off*, *Learn Time*, *Motivation*, and *Run*. He is also continuing to promote *Holy Mountain*, his debut full-length album released in 2024.

Moving forward, the artist’s goals are clear: he aims to secure wider radio play for his work, grow his international fanbase, and keep creating music that weaves together his faith, personal background, and core Jamaican identity. *Doctor Bird* is available for streaming now on all major platforms, including YouTube and Spotify.