The Laugh Track Productions presents:
Michael Blackson Live!.
April 1st @ Chemistry Lounge.
98-07 Liberty Ave. Ozone park Queens.
Doors open @ 7pm showtime is 9pm sharp
You’ve seen him in hit movies like “Next Friday” & “Repo Man”
as well as on H.B.O’s “Def Comedy Jam” & “Bad Boy’s of Comedy”
& B.E.T’s “Comicview” just to name a few.
Now see him live! April Fools Day Hosted by Christopher Patrick..
Music by Backyard Sounds..
Adv. tickets only $10.
@ the door you pay $15.
Tickets available @ Backyard Kutz 132-06 Liberty Ave Richmond Hill Queens N.Y. Or @ the box office @ Chemistry Lounge, or online @ www.thelaughtrackproductions.com.

Don’t miss it MUDASUKA! 

The fourth annual Kalalu World Music Festival in Castries, St Lucia embraces ethnic music spanning the continents and brings together an eclectic mix of foreign artistes for a two-day international event.

The festival is set to kick off over the Easter weekend between April 11 and 12 at Samaans Park, which is located near the scenic Choc Bay in the heart of the capital city. There will be a melange of musical genres steeped in Caribbean history, folklore and culture like Antillean zouk, Haitian kompa, Caribbean reggae, salsa, merengue, soukous, cadence and boogaloo taking centre stage.

The festival has been growing in popularity since its inception in 2005 and is considered by many to be one of St Lucia’s hottest events. Kalalu Producer Adrian Augier notes, “Every year Kalalu gets bigger and better.”

Augier said that the idea behind the Kalalu World Music Festival was to showcase a rich diversity of music emanating from outside of the Caribbean that migrated along with their people and manifested in new forms of music in the New World.

“From an artistic point of view, we found that the menu of music was a little too North American. In terms of cultural diversity, we felt that people’s perception of music was limited and getting narrower and narrower. We also thought that the St Lucia Jazz Festival was becoming very North American in its focus. So we chose to highlight all of the authentic influences that have become inculcated in Caribbean culture and history and linguistic tradition,” Augier said.

He indicated that Kalalu from the outset was the axis for World Music and allows the audience the opportunity to re-discover their musical roots: “The Kalalu Festival became sort of a crossroads, a melting pot for African, Asian, Latin American and Creole musical influences represented by artistes across the globe. Kalalu is an example of our redefined diaspora.”

Augier mentioned that the festival attracts performers from a wide cross-section of East Africa, West Africa, South Africa, Central America and the French, Spanish and English-speaking Caribbean. Artistes from Haiti, Jamaica, Trinidad, Brazil, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Santo Domingo, Puerto Rico and the Congo are regularly drawn to the festival.

He stated that 14 acts are scheduled to play including: the Esoteric Drummers with carnival moco jumbies, Nicole David and Friends, Derek Yarde and Trevor Dornelly (St Lucia), L’Addition (St Lucia), Hãhãhães (Brazil), Zon Del Barrio (Puerto Rico/New York), Luc Leandry (Guadaloupe), Jeff Joseph of Grammacks (Dominica), Zambizi featuring Luther Francois (St Lucia), HAJAmadagascar and The Groovey People (Madagascar), Shimita El Diego and the Soukous Stars (Congo), Tanya St Val (Guadeloupe) and Barrington Levy (Jamaica) among others.

Stage Manager Maria King orchestrates all of the goings on behind the scenes to ensure that the show runs smoothly. She said that Kalalu is as equally exciting for the artistes as it is for the audience. “It is a space where artistes from one country can meet and share with other artistes. It is very much as a musicians festival in that respect,” she said. Kalalu which was in previous years presented as a four-day festival has been condense to a highly anticipated concert on Saturday and Sunday. Augier explained the reason for the change: “We have to adjust to the economic times. Plus, after three years of a set format we felt that it was time to for something different. We also had a situation that certain nights were competing with other nights. So we just decided to compact the event to the two most popular nights.” The audience can expect one venue, two stages, covered seating and an expansive 1200 square-foot dance floor. The St Lucia Tourist Board has been collaborating with the organisers of the Kalalu World Music Festival to promote that event among the neighbouring islands. They are offering special “Fly and Stay Tours” with deals on airfare and accommodations for Trinidadians.

Soca Queen Fay-Ann Lyons-Alvarez will be receiving her million-dollar first-place prize for winning the 2009 International Soca Monarch competition after all. Caribbean Prestige Foundation executive president Gregory Fernandez said yesterday that the full amount of the prizemoney will be presented to Lyons-Alvarez during Friday’s prize-giving ceremony.

“We had a meeting with the minister today (yesterday), and we resolved the issue,” he said.

“We apologise for any embarrassment that has been caused by issuing the press release. The minister indicated to us that the $750,000 was a recommendation in light of the financial crisis, but if we had committed to $1,000,000, we could go ahead and make the payment.”

In a letter dated March 5, sent to Lyons-Alvarez, Fernandez had written:
“We write to the statement made by the Honourable Marlene McDonald of the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs that the first prize of the International Soca Monarch will be to the value of $750,000 and not $1,000,000, due to the economic downturn in the country.

“We regrettably wish to advise that the ministry, if responsible for the payment of the prizemoney as such, the organisation has no option but to comply with the minister’s position as failure to do so will jeopardise the payment of the prize money which is due to you. All other prizemoney due to you remains the same.”

Lyons-Alvarez will also receive the first-place prize of $150,000 for the Groovy Soca Monarch and $50,000 for the People’s Choice. The prize-giving ceremony is scheduled to take place at the Cascadia Hotel and Conference Centre, St Ann’s, at 7.45 p.m

Source: trinidad & tobaygo’s newsday

Belize City, Belize (Ms. RAINE INC.):  The ‘King of the Dancehall’ became ‘King of Belize’ this past weekend when he inaugurated the Belize Reggae Fest Series in Belize City. Scores of Belizeans stormed the Belize City Center to see his Royal Highness Beenie Man, alongside Reggae crooner Anthony Cruz, Dancehall’s ‘First Lady’ D’Angel, dancer Dyema, and DJ Andrew D of Irie Jam Radio.

The ‘Doctor’ Beenie Man sent Belizean Reggae fans into frenzy when he made a surprise appearance at the Santiago Castillo Plaza hours before the big event. Mobbed by throngs of eager fans Beenie eventually had to be whisked away for his own well being. ‘Attitude Gyal’ Dyema also made a big splash at that Plaza, as Belizean Dancehall fans were equally excited to finally see the ‘Dutty Fridaze’ dancer live.

“I have every Dutty Fridaze and Passa Passa video,” states 17 year-old Belizean native Karen. “My mom won’t let me go to the show tonight so I had to come down here and see Dyema and Beenie Man. I can’t believe it,” she says, moved to tears as Beenie Man shakes her hand.”

“One little girl, she look like she was maybe like 10 years old, she came up to me and pointed at another little girl and said ‘my friend here she loves you,’” states a tickled Beenie Man. “So I laughed. But she said, ‘No Beenie, you don’t understand, she really loves you. She is going to marry you and be your wife and have your kids when she gets big.’”

Later that afternoon, fans, armed with cameras, and posters came to the City Center to take in the rehearsal and sound check. Backed by the Ruff Kut Band, Beenie, Cruz, Andrew D, D’Angel and Dyema gave eager fans a taste of what they had in store for this evening.

“We have to work tonight,” states Angela Martin with her friend Kema in tow. “So we wanted to get over here early to see Beenie Man and D’Angel practice and to get them to sign our posters and take pictures, before we go.”

“I might have to sneak away from work for an hour or so,” says Kema in a whisper. “I’ve never seen Beenie Man perform before, and I don’t want to miss him.”

Belize Reggae Fest promoters Tasz Smith of Triple T Productions and Garth “Fatman” Guthie of Nuffmuzik Productions, created the series because of the high demand for, but little access to top-level Caribbean entertainment in Belize. For the springboard event, Smith specifically chose Beenie Man because of his magnetic stage persona.

“For the kick-off event, we wanted to showcase the best of that Reggae has to offer, and Beenie Man is one of the best entertainers” states Tasz Smith. “We have a mixture of Dancehall and Reggae; dancing, singing, and deejaying; and male and female talent.”

Herds of fans stormed the Belize City Center on Saturday night, to take in what was billed as one of the biggest events to hit Belize. Andrew D set the vibes right with his fast-paced juggling, while Dyema has the crowd reeling as she twisted, flipped, split, bounced, and gyrated to his medley of tunes, proving that she was indeed, Dancehall’s ‘Attitude Gyal.’

Anthony Cruz cooled down the pace with his silky-sweet Lover’s Rock singles like “For the Love of You,” “Mama’s Blessings”, and his latest ladies’ anthem “Woman 24 7″ which drove the ladies mad. One particular female audience member that wanted to get close to Cruz but was too shy to get up on stage, got a surprise challenge from Dyema who stormed the stage and showed her exactly how to handle him, earning both Dyema and Cruz and a big forward. Cruz also kept the rude bwoys skanking with tunes like “Too Bloody,” “No Gun A Dance,” and his latest hit tune “Dem Block de Road.”

Dancehall’s leading lady D’Angel earned a big forward when she entered the stage with her signature “An Suh.” The statuesque sing-jay, clad in a tiny black shorts ensemble, fishnet stockings, and dangerously high-heeled shoes, proceeded to entertain the crowd with a lively mix of her well known tunes like “Blaze,” “Baby Daddy,” and “Downtown Girl,” before empowering independent women, single mothers, and young girls with her latest hit tune “Stronger.”

Before Andrew D could finish introducing the next act, Beenie Man’s “Zagga Zagga Zow” cry came bellowing from backstage to a thunderous response from the crowd. The City Center stage caught fire when Beenie finally appeared, blinged out in a three piece gray suit. Beenie man proceeded to keep the fire burning, giving Belizean fans over two-hours of energetic dancing and stage antics, and high-powered renditions of his lengthy catalogue of hit tunes, infusing Reggae, Dancehall, Hip Hop, and R&B tracks into his performance. From classics like “Girls Dem Sugar,” “Romie” “Blackboard” and “Who Am I” to recent smash singles like “Back It Up” and “Gimme Gimme” he kept going and going and going, until finally, two hours and 15 minutes later, a drenched Beenie Man exited the stage, to the chagrin of his fans who still wanted more.

“This is the best night of my life,” commented one young fan, clamoring backstage to get a picture of Beenie after his performance. “I didn’t think he was ever going to stop, and I wish he didn’t,” she exclaimed, screaming nervously when Beenie finally emerged from the rest room.  Belizean police men escorted the ‘Doctor’ out of the venue flanked by dozens of fans, mostly young women.

Anthony Cruz, also flanked by young Belizean women as he emerged from the venue, stated “the best” when asked what he thought of his fans in Belize.
“We have now set precedence,” states Garth “Fatman” Guthie of Nuffmuzik Productions. “The next show will be bigger, and the next one even bigger than that. Remember, it is a series that we just established, so everyone will be waiting for the next one.”

Gargamel Music, Inc. is pleased to announce the North American release date for Jamaican music icon Buju Banton’s highly anticipated roots reggae album, Rasta Got Soul. Recorded over a seven year period at Buju’s own Gargamel Music studio, the long-awaited project is finally set for physical and digital release in the United States and Canada on April 21, 2009. Coincidentally, the date marks the 43rd anniversary of the late Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie’s historic visit to Jamaica in 1966.

His most musically audacious work to date, Rasta Got Soul unites Buju Banton’s characteristic vocals and consistently positive messages, grounded in the tenets of Rastafari, with organic reggae rhythms carefully crafted by a select aggregation of the island’s finest musicians. “Roots is the foundation,” explains Buju, who became a dancehall superstar in the ’90s by riding the latest synthesized beats. “The computer stuff gets monotonous; every third production you can hear some similarity, as opposed to when you listen to something live there is always something different,” he says.

The “magic moments, magical heights” Buju alludes to on the album’s early single “Magic City” are amply scattered throughout Rasta Got Soul’s 15 tracks. The new single “A Little Bit Of Sorry” is a lively ska ditty complete with fast- paced keys and spine-tingling harmonies. Joyous horns celebrate the message of self-determination on “I Rise.” Thick, steady grooves underscore the power of positive thought on “Optimistic Soul.” The song “Bedtime Story” featuring Wyclef Jean presents a poignant commentary on the war in Iraq and its impact on the lives of young children.

The way Buju describes it: “Rasta Got Soul features nothing but soul shifting, uplifting reggae, to inspire, to thrill, to light an inner fire, to be glorified and rejuvenated; I just want to recreate that vibe when reggae music would speak to everyone.”