More Than Music.

AKTO art&design College and the founders of the International Reggae Poster Contest (IRPC), Michael Thompson and Maria Papaefstathiou, are pleased to announce the opening of the second major IRPC exhibition in the past two months. On 22 November 2012 the renowned art and design school in Athens will open the IRPC exhibition which follows up on the first of its kind at the National Gallery of Jamaica. The exhibition opening in Athens will include the top 100 posters as well as special contributed works from respected designers. Reggae sound system ‘selector’ Hille, who tours internationally with the German sound system, Soundquake, will provide the music for the evening. The opening event is coordinated in conjunction with the Jamaican Consulate in Greece and Consul William Argeros. The exhibition is open to the public. Contemporary art as well as Caribbean music fans and followers of pop culture are encouraged to both see and hear this important milestone on 22 November. Doors open at 7pm. For more information about AKTO visit  http://www.akto.gr/welcome-to-akto.aspx.

The exhibition will continue at AKTO for four-weeks during which time several special events are scheduled to reflect not just the music but the message in modern poster design. Events include a discussion panel on “How Design Can Help Spark Change”, a silk-screen printing demonstration by Manolis Angelakis from TIND (from which attendees will be invited to take home free editions of silk-screen posters designed by IRPC founder Michael Thompson), and a reggae party at the end of the exhibition hosted by the selector Rankin Johnny. Combining music, art and public awareness, the International Reggae Poster Contest seeks to actively engage people in a discussion through the visual and creative arts.

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Going once…_________________ Going twice…______________ Going three times…

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Sold! The Reggae Poster Charity Auction at the National Gallery of Jamaica completes successful fundraising effort for Alpha Boys School with support from both the music and visual arts communities.

Celebrity entertainment, great music, an exciting atmosphere and competitive bidding on reggae posters for a great cause made for an extremely successful charity auction on Sunday at the National Gallery of Jamaica to benefit Alpha Boys School. Consisting of limited edition prints of the top 50 posters from the First International Reggae Poster Contest as well as special contributions from jury members and renowned poster designers, the auction drew fans of Jamaican music and culture, art aficionados and Alpha supporters for an afternoon of good-natured competition. Although an event of this sort had never been attempted before, auctioneer Douglas Reid of the Grosvenor Galleries in Kingston kept the vibes moving and directed an exciting auction in which many posters surpassed their estimated values. Prior to the auction getting underway, Bunny Rugs, lead singer of 10-time Grammy nominee Third World, treated the crowd to two songs from, Time, his critically acclaimed new album, DJ Afifa and Baye Beluchi provided crucial real time musical and lyrical commentary and members of the Alpha Boys Band blessed the place with a handful of specially selected songs to launch the event. Adding to the unique format, celebrity auctioneer Bunny Rugs joined Douglas Reid for the sale of Luba Lukova‘s special poster contribution featuring Sister Ignatius. With Bunny Rugs providing color commentary, back-and-forth bidding between a number of interested parties reached a crescendo until the buyer was identified which sparked a long moment of spontaneous applause.

Posters that were not sold on Sunday and others from the top 100 that were held back will be put up for auction via eBay in February when Jamaica celebrates Reggae Month. In this way, art and music fans as well as Alpha supporters abroad may participate and take home a unique work of art.

Auction organizers send special thanks to the auctioneer Douglas Reid, DJ Afifa, Baye Beluchi and Bunny Rugs as well as Market Me JA and the auction sponsors: WISYNCO, Caribbean Producers of Jamaica, Caribbean Broilers, Elite Kreations, Blackwell Rum, Scotia Bank and Griot Music.

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l-r. michael thomoson, maria papaefstathiou + alon braier at the exhibition opening (photo courtesy susumba.com); michael thompson’s special contribution; michael thompson leading a visual arts workshop at alpha boys school

(Kingston, JA): Music, the visual arts and education came together twice in a very unique way this past week with the arrival of the World A Reggae: The 100 Best Entries from the First International Reggae Poster Contest exhibition in Jamaica at the National Gallery. On Sunday, September 30 the Alpha Boys Band provided live music at the exhibition opening and the following day the contest founders and contest winner visited Alpha Boys School for a special workshop with Alpha students. The inclusion of Alpha is the result of the Reggae Poster Contest’s goal to make the school both a theme and a beneficiary. Following the exhibition, in November, the posters will be auctioned with 100% of the proceeds going to Alpha.

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Labor Day Weekend might be a popular time for rest and relaxation in the United States but Mr Vegas demonstrated once again he won’t rest if there’s a party to ‘tun up’ or a chance to ‘bruk it down’. So this past weekend Vegas brought the party to the Bronx, Brooklyn and Manhattan in 6 high energy performances over 3 days assisted by DJ Starr on the ones and twos and the Big Apple’s eye-popping dancer Lickle Bit offering visual inspiration. The result? — This week “Bruk It Down” entered the HOT97 music chart at #14, a major milestone on arguably the most influential radio station on the planet.

Click here for the full release and photos >>

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(Kingston, Jamaica, August 27, 2012): Bunny Rugs wants to make great Time for his fans. Time, the new solo album from the lead singer of international pop reggae band Third World is a Time for listening fun and reflection. Bursting at the seams with talent, Rugs’ 15-track album will in no Time at all be a sound track to affairs of the heart as well as soldiers of conscious reggae worldwide. Here, Bunny’s seductive soulful reggae melodies provide an anchor to jazzy vocal experimentation and cool bass, drum, sax and piano riffs. Time practically stands still as one after another of Jamaica’s most respected musical minds–Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare (Sly & Robbie), Dean Fraser, Mikie Bennett, Dean Pond and Richard Bell (Star Trail), to name a few–contribute creative direction for Bunny Rugs’ artistic talents. Don’t waste any more Time, the album will be in stores September 11 on Rugs’ label imprint, Raw Edge Productions, and distributed exclusively by VPAL, a subsidiary of VP Records, the #1 international source for the best reggae music.

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Available September 18

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(London, England, August 27, 2012): England is bracing for a musical coup. The Jamaican-born, British-bred Mr Williamz (2008 BBC Artiste of the Year) premiered “We Run England”, on Rinse FM’s The Heatwave radio program and now sets his sights on the whole of the country. “We Run England” is the debut single off the More Spiritual Riddim, a Green Lion production based around Henry ‘Junjo’ Lawes’ legendary Ganja Smuggling melody. Available September 18^th on Soul of the Lion Records, “We Run England” traces Mr Williamz’ journey from Jamaica to his adopted home of England and then flips the script on social relations as we know them. Powerfully crafted but without losing its playfulness, “We Run England” is both fun and food for thought.

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Know Thyself drops August 14 on CD + Digital

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Click here to view the complete press release online.

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With a soaring, honest, pure voice and strictly conscious lyrics, Know Thyself, Ras Batch’s highly-anticipated seventh album brings together the talents of the Virgin Islands and Jamaica in a unique and special roots reggae release on I Grade Records. I Grade Records’ founder and producer, Laurent ‘Tippy I’ Alfred produces and plays on the album, further developing the rich reggae community coming out of the Virgin Islands. In addition to the crisp arrangements of the Zion I Kings (Alfred, Andrew ‘Moon’ Bain, Jah D) Know Thyself also connects with a ‘who’s who’ of standout musical talents from Jamaica including Leroy ‘Horsemouth’ Wallace (drums), Dean Fraser (sax), Andrew Bassie Campbell (bass), Earl ‘Chinna’ Smith (guitar) and more. Ras Batch, whose acclaim stretches from his homeland of the Virgin Islands to as far as Brazil, France and throughout the United States, is set to travel even further, promoting positive vibes and the ability of roots rock reggae to bring together like-minded conscious people in unity and love. Know Thyself drops August 14 on CD and digital formats.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE COMPLETE PRESS RELEASE ONLINE

Mr Vegas is taking a piece of “Sweet Jamaica” straight to his European fans with the two-week tour ready to begin July 20. Fresh off the release of his new double disc album, Sweet Jamaica (MV Music), and album launch events from Kingston to New York to Toronto, Mr Vegas in cooperation with Almighty One Promotions is ready to clear a trail of timeless foundation reggae and up-to-the-time dancehall from Switzerland to Italy, France, Germany and Belgium. Starting July 20 at Reeds Festival and ending August 4 at Reggae Geel Festival, Vegas, joined by the Jamaican based, MV Band, will celebrate not only the album but also the milestone of Jamaica’s 50th anniversary of independence which officially takes place August 6, 2012. The tour includes club dates and the largest European festivals like Garance Reggae Festival in France and Rhur Reggae Festival in Germany.

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