Recording Artist Victor Essiet and the Mandators New Single "Freedom Train" on iTunes - Get Advance Tickets Now for May 1st Concert at The Dub Club in Los Angleles

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (LOS ANGELES)  - Victor Essiet and The Mandators, the award winning platinum selling international Reggae and World Music band from Nigeria, has moved the iTUNES release of their new single “Freedom Train” to April 30, 2013 through Mystic Records/IDC.  The single marks a strong return for Victor Essiet (known as the “Godfather of African Reggae”) and The Mandators and features up and coming hip-hop artist StyLis. 

Advance tickets for the May 1st Dub Club Reggae Meets Africa / Freedom train Tour launch concert in Los Angeles featuring Judah Eskender Tafari can be purchased at www.ticketfly.com or at Dub Club on the night of the show. The ticket price is $10 in advance and at the door.  Special guests will join Victor on stage for this special concert you not want to miss !!  More tour dates to be announced soon.

Connect:

http://www.VictorEssietBlog.com  http://www.facebook.com/victor.essiet

https://twitter.com/VictorEssiet   http://victoressiet.tumblr.com/

http://soundcloud.com/victoressietmandators

http://www.reverbnation.com/victoressietandthemandators 

LABEL: MYSTIC RECORDS 

MANAGEMENT & BOOKING: FOUNDATION ARTISTS 

MEDIA: FOUNDATION MEDIA 

Phone: (562) 948-3008 / E-Mail: foundationartists@gmail.com  

DISTRIBUTION: INDEPENDENT DISTRIBUTION COLLECTIVE (IDC)

Phone: (415) 292-7007 / www.independentdistro.com/

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Christafari's 'Reggae Worship' Jumps to #1 on Billboard Reggae Albums Chart

Nearly nine months after it was first released, Gospel reggae pioneers Christafari jumped to #1 on last week's Billboard Reggae Albums Chart with their latest album, Reggae Worship: A Roots Revival. While Christafari is no stranger to the Top 10 on the Reggae chart, this marks the first time in Billboard's history that a Gospel Reggae artist has secured the top spot. The album is currently #1 for its second week in a row.

On Reggae Worship: A Roots Revival (Lion of Zion Entertainment), Christafari reworks classic hymns, reinterprets many of today's top worship anthems and gives fans a handful of original worship songs that truly capture the band's signature sound.

"We've been blown away by the positive response from our fans and the press for our latest album," says Christafari's founder and frontman, Mark Mohr. "To think that just a year ago we were asking our fans to help fund this album and now we are #1 on the Billboard chart!"

Christafari has spent much of the last year on the road, touring internationally including stops in Fiji, New Caledonia, a month-long tour of Brazil and the United States, including a just completed 24-city Hawaiian island tour. In the coming months, the band will return to Hawaii and Brazil, and perform throughout the continental USA.

With over a half million albums sold worldwide, Christafari is the all-time top selling Gospel Reggae artist. The band continues to tour worldwide, performing more than 100 shows each year reaching more than 50 countries. 

Reggae Worship: A Roots Revival is available for download on iTunes and GospelReggae.com

For more info on Christafari visit: www.Christafari.com

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John Brown's Body King and Queens Debuts at #1 on the Billboard Reggae Chart!

John Brown’s Body’s new, chart-topping album, Kings And Queens (#1 Billboard Reggae, #1 iTunes Reggae), released April 16th on Easy Star Records, is the band’s most ambitious release to date, encompassing the entire history of the band’s sound and legacy.  Lead vocalist Elliot Martin reaches new levels of songwriting by striking the fine balance between classic JBB roots and a fresh new JBB sound.  

After releasing their exceptional and (mostly) instrumental JBB In Dub EP late in 2012, the band is back with their eighth studio album, and first full-length since 2008’s Amplify (#1 Billboard Reggae).  Kings And Queens features twelve new songs that are dripping in their signature “Future Roots” sound influenced by British Reggae, roots classics, dub experimentation, and electronic music.  The results are a thicker, heavier style than most modern reggae.  

Check for JBB on tour this spring and summer.  

AVAILABLE NOW:   Album on iTunes     Album on Amazon

“John Brown’s Body’s new Kings And Queens is the band’s best album to date, hands down…The music is a sweet homegrown hybrid of classic reggae spirit and inventive sonic explorations.  John Brown’s Body comes across as confident and strong; this is the sound of a group of reggae masters in a very good place.” – Jambands.com 

“With “Kings and Queens,” John Brown’s Body delivered once again, demonstrating the diversity that is “American Reggae” and pushing musical boundaries in ways very few bands are capable….One of reggae’s best in 2013.” – 

The Pier 

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Reggaeland Festival, Riverside Beach, Płock, Poland, 12-14 June, 3 day pass with campsite included: 40PLN (10 Euro)

The organizers of the Reggaeland Festival reviled a part of this year’s line-up. During the biggest reggae festival in Poland almost 50 bands will play on 4 stages. The show will go on for 3 days.

In addition to foreign musicians Reggaeland Festival organizers revealed the names of more than 15 Polish musicians who will perform at the event. There are still many unknown names but they are to be announced in April and May.

Reggaeland Festival since 2006 has been developing with enormous speed. In 2012 it managed to attract eleven thousands attenders which was the record in the category of reggae festivals in Poland.

www.reggaeland.eu, www.facebook.com/ReggaelandPlockFestival

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Reggae Icon, Toots Hibbert Helps To Fight Cancer In Jamaica

New York - The Vincent HoSang Foundation (VHFF), a non for profit, US based origination that helps the less fortunate and provides scholarship and charitable assist for individuals and organizations in Jamaica and the Caribbean Diaspora is in a much better position today to execute its mandate, thanks to a generous donation from veteran singer Toots Hibbert.

The reggae icon and Grammy winner’s unexpected donation of US$5,000 to the VHFF came at a press conference at the Jamaican Consulate in Manhattan to officially launch the Groovin In the Park concert that takes place at Roy Wilkins Park in Queens New York on Sunday, June 30.

More here.........

Buju Banton Outreach

As we awaiting of the situation that is going on with our comrade/brother Buju Banton ; I want to share that Brother Aula Sumbey of the Defense Committee is always available to communicate of what is going on in the fight to free Buju. His email is brotheraula@yahoo.com 609-638-7635 harambeeradio.com  if ones need to know the clarity of what is going on plus he can link with the legal team as well... outreach is the visible means that can help Buju. Yes all on board as reggae music fans but we must ensure that of other diverse people know the injustice that is done against Buju. let us not be just reactionary. My personal feeling on this is the Jamaican Embassy consulate should be monitoring to ensure that he is given justice not wallowing injustice because he is a national icon for his people not just an average citizen caught up in the belly of the beast.

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The 10th Annual Jerk and Caribbean Culture Festival in Palm Beach, Florida

Artists include Internationally acclaimed, Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter and producer, Freddie McGregor; reggae legend Frankie Paul, also hit maker Jamaican dancehall, ragga, and reggae singer, Half Pint; emerging dancehall performer, Konshens; the “Big Band Reggae” sound of The Resolvers; Rootz Underground with their electric yet organic, gritty and soulful sound; and the Fab 5 band. World renown sound systems include Jamaican sound system based in Miami - Black Chiney Sound, and the world immortal Stone Love Sound System. 

For more information, contact 866-232-0001 or 561-247-1366

Purchase your tickets at http://www.palmbeachjerkfestival.com

Like us on Facebook.com/PBjerkfestival for a chance to win free tickets and much more.

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Advance Tickets to SNWMF 2013 On Sale Now

SNWMF is please to announce that Hollie Cook, Prince Fatty, Mystic Roots, Downbeat The Ruler and Comanche High Power have all been added to the lineup for this year's festival. Hollie Cook was born and bred in West London in a household dominated by music. With Sex Pistol Paul Cook as her dad, music was always around. Hollie’s passion for reggae singers Janet Kay and Phyllis Dillon combined formed the basis for her new solo work of self coined tropical pop. Prince Fatty is a British sound engineer and record producer whose sound is designed to dub your feet with rock steady beats and stimulate brain waves in a jazz-like way. Mixed in an analog haze of vintage spring reverbs, tape echoes and custom hi-grade mixing console, Prince Fatty won’t disappoint the lovers of the early 70s sound. Mystic Roots serves up an original style based in reggae, hip-hop, and dancehall with overtones of rock, funk, and ska. This Chico based group brings a brand new sound while embracing the nature of roots reggae wholeheartedly and performing it with smooth vocals/harmonies, energetic freestyles and beat-boxing, all over a solid groove. In the 1980's reggae's transition from roots to dancehall was accompanied by explosive growth in New York 's local reggae scene centered around local sound systems. Founded in the seventies by selector Tony Screw, Downbeat The Ruler rapidly became not only a regional force, but one that could compete with the strongest sounds from Jamaica . Armed with an ever-expanding 20+ year reggae vinyl collection, Comanche High Power finds and brings to light the many diverse & highly underrated artists both in reggae history and modern roots and culture dancehall music, while mixing in more well-known classic 'anthems'. Comanche is proud to be the builder and engineer of SNWMF's dancehall.

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Tickets Going Fast For Reggae On The River Homecoming At French’s Camp In Humboldt County August 1-4

What: Reggae On The River 

Where: French’s Camp

When: August 1-4 

Why: The home coming of Reggae On The River to its original venue!! 

Showcasing a diverse mix of top-class reggae and world music talent from around the globe, the 29th annual Reggae On The River will feature performances by Julian Marley & The Uprising Band, Morgan Heritage, Tarrus Riley & Blak Soil, Anthony B, J Boog & Hot Rain, Natural Black, Sierra Leone’s Refugee Allstars, Les Nubians, Rockamoyva, Blue King Brown, Rootz Underground, Chronixx, Kabaka Pyramid, Nkulee Dube, The Meditations, Prezident Brown, Garifuna Collective, Toussaint The Liberator w/ Amandla, MC Zulu, Army, Paula Fuga + Mike Love, Zincfence Band, Reggae Angels, and Woven Roots, with more acts TBA, plus an all-star cast of DJs and vocalists from the Emerald Triangle and beyond.   The event will also offer more than 60 craft and food vendors, a lively kid zone, and a weekend full of camping, community, and irie fun on the banks of the majestic Eel River.     

Tickets & RV registrations are available online at www.reggaeontheriver.com. Tickets can also be purchased at the following outlets: The Works (Eureka), People's Records (Arcata), Fortuna Music Mart (Fortuna & Eureka), Mateel Office/ Redway Liquor (Redway), Peg House (Leggett), Main Street Music (Willits), Ukiah Natural Foods (Ukiah), It Takes Two To Tangle; (Laytonville), Cornerstone Reggae Culture Shop (Sebastopol), and The Last Record Store (Santa Rosa).  Stay tuned to the festival website at www.reggaeontheriver.com for more details and be sure to join the ROTR email newsletter for the latest updates. Vendor, advertiser, and sponsor opportunities are also currently available. Visit the website for downloadable application forms and additional information.

For more on the 29th annual Reggae On The River, call the Mateel office at (707) 923-3368 or send an email to office@mateel.org and don’t delay in making your plans to be there for this historic homecoming celebration.  

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The Lions :: This Generation

The band draws together a dozen or so of LA’s elite reggae and soul forerunners who loosely coalesced as The Lions in 2007. Members of the legendary ska band Hepcat, Deston Berry and Alex Désert, form half of the vocal team, and the latter also has a successful career on screen, including roles in the films Swingers and High Fidelity. The other half is the sweet fal- setto of Malik Moore and DJ stylings of Black Shakespeare, the charismatic cousin of Robbie Shakespeare (of Sly & Robbie fame) and co-runner of the i&i Sound System, a customized ice cream sound system van, featured on the album cover.  This Generation is released on vinyl in the form of a 7" record 45 box set with a few dub versions not available on the CD/MP3 album.  General Info: http://stonesthrow.com/lions   

45 Box Set Buy-Link  CD/Digi Buy-Link   "This Generation" video

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