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55,000 Reggae Fans and Reggae Industry folks receive this publication each thursday!
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Volume 22/Issue 52
Media Coverage of Reggae Since 1995
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TABLE OF CONTENTS - Click on it to jump to that section
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Happy Holidays from RBA Publishing/Reggae Festival Guide
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Reggae Road Trip - A Reggae Travel Experience to Kingston, JA - April 2026 - An immersive experience for the Reggae connoisseur. Join us
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 Reggae Road Trip Productions Introduces REGGAE ROAD TRIP - A Reggae Travel Experience to Kingston, JA 2026
“Wah Gwan” Reggae Headz, You Ready to Reggae Trip with us??
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE
Reggae Road Trip (RRT) is a unique five-day Reggae-based travel experience that will kick off its first year in Kingston, Jamaica on April 23rd to April 27th, 2026.
The event timing perfectly aligns with the anniversary of Emperor Haile Selassie I’s historic visit to Jamaica on April 21, 1966, making the Road Trip experience a meaningful nod to the connection of Rastafarian culture and Reggae music. Moreover, RRT is honored to host such an occasion that will produce revenue into the Jamaican economy considering the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa.
RRT boasts immersive activities that honor Reggae trailblazers while preserving the rich history of Reggae music. The five-day adventure highlights an intimate occasion for international Reggae enthusiasts to engage with 20 Reggae icons: rubbing of shoulders, autograph signings, photo-ops plus more at this exclusive mixer.
The mixer will showcase a symposium-style panel composed of Reggae music greats in which they will share their stories of Reggae history and their personal journeys. In exchange, the enthusiast-filled audience will get to ask the pioneers questions to their hearts desire.
This event is expected to become an annual event in Jamaica and expand to yearly Road Trips taking place in New York, Canada and England.
In addition to participants reveling at the main event of connecting with Reggae mega-icons, they will also enjoy other music-related activities, such as: 🔥Guided Tours of Historic Reggae Museums and Sites 🔥Reggae celebrity Home Sightseeing Excursion 🔥Exclusive Vinyl Record Hunts 🔥VIP Access to Kingston’s Nightlife Scene that features classic Reggae 🔥Premium Experience Upgrades + more!
People crave experiences. The world of Reggae has offered typical experiences such as purchasing music, attending international Reggae festivals and cruises, then there are various experiences to be had in the area of Bob Marley. However, Reggae Road Trip is remarkable in the way that it has been curated for the likes of Reggae historians, vinyl collectors, globe trekking Reggae concertgoers, journalists, classical-Reggae enthusiasts and true-blue Reggae nerds just to name a few.
The Reggae music industry is notorious for its undocumented history thus, resulting in “Reggae Heads” —those who live, breathe, and eat everything Reggae, constantly craving to learn the history.
This demographic of Reggae consumers rarely gets the opportunity to personally rub shoulders with the multitude of Reggae legends who kickstarted the empire of what was pegged as “Reggae Music” in 1968 by Toots.
Reggae Road Trip is here to soothe the savage Reggae beast with access to information one simply will not find online.The meet-and-greet will feature legendary Reggae celebrities consisting of varied artists, musicians, sound system pioneers, producers, as well as descendants of late-great Reggae icons.
CLICK HERE FOR FULL LINE UP and more details!
For details on how to join the Reggae Road Trip movement and purchase tickets,
visit: www.reggaeroadtrip.com
Contact Us and Learn More:
🌐 www.reggaeroadtrip.com • 🌴 www.linktr.ee/reggaeroadtrip
Google number: +1 (929) 382 - 7320 • Whatsapp: +1 (646) 266-8703
instagram.com/reggaeroadtrip • tiktok.com/@reggaeroadtrip
twitter.com/Reggae_RoadTrip • facebook.com/ReggaeRoadTrip
Email: therealreggaeroadtrip@gmail.com
www.youtube.com/therealreggaeroadtrip
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Lawrence Hansen (Mystic Lion) has cancer and needs our support
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 From Gofundme.com
Hi, this is Kym Hansen, the wife of Lawrence Hansen, the artist of Mystic Lion Art and Design. Lawrence is well known in the reggae art world and has contributed backdrops to many festival stages around the country, including Reggae on the River, Sierra Nevada World Music Festival, and California Roots.
If you ever went to one of those shows you’ve probably seen his art or have been in our vendor booth and talked with Lawrence. I am setting up this GoFundMe because Lawrence has stage 4 kidney cancer which is not responding to chemotherapy. The chemo he has been on for several months has also caused neuropathy in his fingers, making it difficult for him to hold his airbrush and paintbrushes.
The doctors are trying to come up with a new protocol that might help him, but in the meantime he can’t work. Because we have used all of our savings to pay the bills while Lawrence is struggling with cancer, we are now at the point where we have to ask for help just to keep our home. Eventually we will most likely need to sell, but we are hoping to hold off until this summer when we might have a chance at one more art festival season.
Please, if you can, consider donating to keep us in our home in the redwoods for as long as possible. I know not everyone is able to donate, and that’s okay too. At any rate, enjoy the art on our website www.mysticlion.com, or maybe order a shirt while they are still available.
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SISTER NANCY ENTERS ‘BILLBOARD’ YEAR-END CHART IN FIRST FOR LEGENDARY DANCEHALL ARTIST
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 Sister Nancy has remained a pioneering figure for women artists in the dancehall scene.
Sister Nancy continues to impact the Dancehall scene four decades into her career.
The “Bam Bam” singer hit the Billboard Year-End Reggae Albums Artists chart for the first time. She placed in the top 10 with the reissue of her 1982 debut album, One Two. Sister Nancy was the only woman to make the list.
According to World Music Views, the re-release hit No. 3 on the Billboard Reggae album chart. Despite her legendary influence in Dancehall, she revived her fame with this limited-edition vinyl of the album.
With only 3,000 copies of the blue vinyl made, fans and music enthusiasts led to the collectible selling out. In addition to the original cover art, the vinyl included new liner notes by reggae scholar John Masouri. Alongside a special sticker sheet, its track listing also features “Bam Bam,” a timeless reggae anthem.
The 63-year-old celebrated the re-release of the album that cemented her status in Dancehall with a Record Store Day event in Queens in April. Fans flooded the store.
The Jamaica-born singer continues to pave the way for women artists in Dancehall. The former Ophlin Russell got her start in the clubs of Jamaica before moving to New Jersey in 1996. Remarkably, she worked as an accountant until 2016 while releasing music.
Her signature track has stood the test of time, remaining a popular sample for Lauryn Hill, Jay-Z, and Beyoncé. The single has surpassed 200 million Spotify streams, earning silver certification, and appeared in classic media from James Bond films to Netflix hits like Ozark.
Throughout her career, Sister Nancy has made strides in the male-dominated music genre, inspired by her brother and fellow DJ, Brigadier Jerry. She even hit the road with her sibling, becoming the first female Jamaican deejay to tour internationally.
Widely regarded as the first woman dancehall DJ, Sister Nancy has released several albums, including her latest, Armaged.
LISTEN HERE TO BAM BAM
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Contact: info@reggaefestivalguide.com;
775-846-8238 (text or WhatsApp)
Ask about our January Special Pricing
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April 18, 2026 - 15th Annual Spring Break Reggae Festival
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 BRIAN LION PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS A STACKED LINEUP
Saturday, April 18, 2026 15th Annual Spring Break Reggae Festival
Taking over the Daytona Complex with Jeep Beach
Legendary international reggae icons - THIRD WORLD; Also PASSAFIRE, THROUGH THE ROOTS, JOSH HEINRICHS, JUNIOR TOOTS (Tribute to Toots & The Maytals)…and many more to be announced
This year is shaping up to be one for the books —sunshine, live music, festival energy, and the Jeep Beach family
all together for an unforgettable celebration!
“The Spring Break Reggae Festival is an epic collaboration for Jeep Beach Inc and Brian Lion Productions. Jeep Beach is honored to be the beneficiary of the proceeds from this well-established and professional event that has called Volusia County home for 15 years! To be a part of the evolution of the festival is not only exciting, but also helps serve the Jeep Beach mission of serving community!”
Together, the two organizations bring culture, charity, and community spirit under one massive celebration of music and unity.
Food, Culture & Family Fun
Festival goers will be immersed in a full-day cultural experience featuring:
- Authentic Jamaican cuisine
- Mexican, Americana, and global flavors
- Desserts, frozen treats, snacks, popcorn & sweets
- Local artisans, festival clothing, jewelry, crafts, massage & more
- Kids’ activities: face painting, hair braiding, and family-friendly zones
- Local business vendors representing the community
This milestone year promises to be the most unforgettable yet, with organizers expecting 3,000–4,000 attendees ready for a full day of island rhythms, flavorful eats, artisan vendors, and family-friendly fun.
From the music to the marketplace, the Spring Break Reggae Festival offers music, food, and fun for the whole family—a true celebration of Caribbean culture with a Florida twist.
The Pavilion at Destination Daytona
1651 U.S. Route 1, Ormond Beach, FL 32174
All Ages - Doors at 2:00 PM
ON SALE NOW - Click Here for Tickets & VIP Packages
springbreakreggaefest@yahoo.com
Instagram
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A Message and Music from Dubmatix - Aram Scaram (Guest Mix)
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 From Jesse/Dubmatix: Aram Scaram (Guest Mix)
Aram and I go back 20+ years to the time of my first release, when he and co-host Sassa’le had me on their show “Version Xcusion” on CKLN 88.1 FM Radio here in Toronto. From that meeting, we ended up collaborating on gigs, remixes, and more. I’m very pleased to showcase his taste-making DJ skills for this session.
Aram Scaram began his DJ journey in Toronto’s late-90s underground, spinning at house parties and one-off club events before landing weekly residencies at the beloved lounges Ciao Eddie and Alto Basso. It was at Ciao Eddie where he met Sassa’le, founder of the influential Version Xcursion radio show on CKLN 88.1 FM — a connection that would shape the next chapter of his career.
Scaram soon joined Version Xcursion as co-host and co-producer, helping transform the show into a staple of Toronto’s music landscape. Their weekly broadcasts championed dub, downtempo, trip-hop, reggae, and emerging Canadian talent, establishing the program as a go-to platform for genre-bending sounds.
Over the years, Scaram has brought his signature style to major stages, including the Du Maurier Jazz Festival, the first Virgin Festival on the Toronto Islands (2006), and an opening slot for Massive Attack at The Carlu. He also founded Dub & Beyond, a hugely popular monthly club night at Andy Poolhall, broadcast live-to-air on CKLN 88.1 FM. Running for seven and a half years, it became a cornerstone of the city’s dub and bass culture. His international appearances include performing at the Shatter The Hotelrelease event in London and playing the legendary Dub Chamber party at OT301 in Amsterdam.
As a producer with Version Xcursion, Scaram released two full-length albums and three singles, including the cult classic Moments featuring Treson — widely regarded by tastemakers as one of Canada’s standout tracks of the early 2000s.
In 2010, he launched his solo project Citizen Sound, releasing a full-length album that featured the award-winning single Reggae Is Her Name with Blessed, which earned the Canadian Reggae Music Award for Best Male Single. A second Citizen Sound album followed in 2014, along with numerous singles and EPs. Throughout his production career, he has collaborated with many of Canada’s premier reggae and dub artists, including Ammoye, Blessed, Chester Miller, Treson, Dubmatix, and Prince Blanco.
After a 14-year break from radio, Scaram returned in 2025 with Sound So Nice, co-hosted with Eddie Go Boom on CFRU 93.3 FM in Guelph, Ontario. The weekly show explores the deep roots of sound system culture — from Jamaica’s foundational influence to its global evolution — guiding listeners through reggae, dub, electronic, drum & bass, house, afrobeats, downtempo, and beyond. Driven by an electrifying musical selection, the show blends minimal commentary with occasional interviews featuring artists, producers, and organizers shaping today’s scene.
I write, research, and create Bass Culture for the love of reggae and dub.
Bass Culture: Music, Production & Stories – A deep dive into reggae and bass culture with radio show, production tips, mixing techniques, behind-the-scenes stories, curated reggae documentaries and book recommendations.
© 2025 Bass Culture548 Market Street PMB 72296, San Francisco, CA 94104 |
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Are you doing a Jamaican Fundraising event? Post it here for free on our event calendar on www.reggaefestivalguide.com
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Click here to post your FUNDRAISING EVENT on our top-ranking website:
Easy and free.
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Featured Video — Reggae Road Trip , Reggae Travel Experience of a Lifetime!
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Reggae Road Trip, Reggae Travel Experience of a Lifetime!
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Attention Reggae Artists — Free listing opportunity
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Greetings Reggae Artists,
Please give yourself a FREE link on our top-ranking website: www.ReggaeFestivalGuide.com
Here is the direct link to post your info: (easy and free – takes 2 minutes)
https://reggaefestivalguide.com/orders/link.php
Your info will appear in our LINK DIRECTORY — another way for fans and industry folks to find you!
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Hey Reggae Fans ~ Follow Us On Socials>>>>>
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Attention Artists and Festival Promoters...Use Our Services To Build Your Platforms And Your Following...
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DON'T REINVENT THE WHEEL — WE ALREADY HAVE THE DATABASES AND SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS OF THE FANS AND INDUSTRY THAT YOU WANT TO REACH.
~Also, is your website outdated or not mobile friendly? ~Are your social media platforms non-existent or under-utilized?
~Would you like your name and music to get out there to new reggae fans?
If so, we can help! We have over 31 years of experience in marketing reggae bands and reggae festivals and offer these services and more:
- Website consulting, design and maintenance
- Social media development (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter)
- Create descriptive written content (press releases, band bios, sponsor packages, etc.)
- Develop digital marketing strategies to increase your customer base
- Custom Global PR services
- We can build your Electronic Press Kit for you (EPK)
If you have questions about what online marketing techniques would work best for you, Give Us a call today for a free consultation ~ 775-846-8238 or Email
Kaati, Joana, Heather, and Goran - RBA PUBLISHING & PUBLICITY
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In Jah´s Name We Pray - Heartfelt Message from the Editor of Reggae Festival Guide
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In Remembrance: Heather Penrod-Rudd
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 It is with deep sadness that we say goodbye to Heather Penrod-Rudd, an integral part of our team at RBA Publishing since 2013.
Heather passed away on December 2, 2025 after losing a battle with cancer. She helped me run my business for 13 years. She called herself "my assistant'; I called her "my boss".
With me in Northern California and Heather in Mexico, we would talk several times a day and solve all the problems of our weird little world: CRM software issues, billing glitches, SEO optimization, etc....all the nuts and bolts behind the Reggae Festival Guide and Blues Festival Guide marketing platforms.
We are heartbroken. So long dear Heather.
Fly away home to Zion.
Love you forever girl,
Kaati
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Richie B's Jamaican Reggae Airplay Charts
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Jamaica Music Countdown
By Richard ‘Richie B’ Burgess
JMC Charts -
Dec 19 - 25, 2025
By Richard ‘Richie B’ Burgess
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TOP 25 Dancehall Singles,TOP 25 Reggae Singles, and TOP 10 Albums/CD Chart
JAMAICA MUSIC COUNTDOWN
Dec 19 - 25, 2025, 2025
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Ital Statistics This week in Reggae
and Nubian, Rasta, herb and related history
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| December 25 |
| Christmas Day |
| 1954: |
Robin Campbell [UB40; lead guitar] is born in Birmingham, England. |
| 1966: |
Atushi Yanaka [Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra; baritone sax] is born in Tokyo, Japan. |
| 1967: |
DJ Major Mackerel (Garfield Dixon) is born. |
| December 26 |
| Kwanzaa, the first day: Umoja (Unity) |
| ----: |
Drummer/producer Noel Alphonso is born. |
| ----: |
Musician/producer Grub Cooper is born in Linstead, St Catherine. |
| ----: |
Musician/producer Computer Paul is born. |
| 1952: |
Mutabaruka (formerly Allan Hope) is born in Rae Town, Kingston, Jamaica. |
| 1991: |
"UB40 - A Family Affair", filmed at the Finsbury Park gig on June 22, airs on C4-TV. |
| December 27 |
| Kwanzaa, the second day: Kujichagulia (Self-Determination) |
| 1955: |
Jerry Harris [(Wackies) Rhythm Force; leader/guitar/vocals] is born in Port Antonio, Jamaica. |
| 1956: |
Burro Banton is born Donovan Spalding in Kingston, Jamaica. |
| 1967: |
American DJ Jamalski is born in Brooklyn, New York. |
| 1989: |
Admiral Bailey tumbles off a moterbike and is badly injured on his way home from "Sting '89". |
| 2022: |
Jpseph "Jo Mersa" Marley passes away in Florida at the age of 31. |
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If You Missed Your Latest (Or Any) Copy of The Weekly Reggae Festival Guide,
You Can Find Back Issues In The Archives
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Reggae Marketing Specialists since 1993 - Trusted, Reliable ~ Creative
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 2025 marks the 31st year that Reggae Festival Guide has been the leading media company in the reggae industry!
Our parent company, RBA Publishing & Publicity, is based out of Humboldt County, CA (formerly Reno, NV). For 25 years, we produced the annual Reggae Festival Guide print magazine. Although we don't publish the annual magazine anymore, we have our top-ranking website: www.ReggaeFestivalGuide (41,000 unique monthly visitors), and this weekly reggae e-publication Reggae Festival Guide (52,000 weekly subscribers). Please follow us on Socials for up-to-the-minute reggae news and music: We have 450,000 fans that follow us on Facebook (please join us there), 40K that follow us on Instagram, and another 9,000 that follow us on Twitter.
We offer you many ways to help you get your fix of reggae music, history, lifestyle, current news, and of course, festivals, all year round.
Our publicity & marketing company keeps growing and adding elements to bring you trusted coverage of reggae happenings from around the world.
We love what we do and look forward to input from you with your suggestions, critiques, questions, etc.
Also contact us to find out how you can promote your band/business/festival in this e-newsletter or on our website.
Kaati Gaffney, Publisher
We also offer Publicity & Graphic Services for bands and festivals:
band bios and interview written, social media management, website consulting design and maintenance, EPKs created, graphics for advertising and social media branded videos, and more. Please contact us to find out how we can help you with your exciting projects.
One Love from our reggae-loving family to you,
Kaati, Joana, Goran, Irene, and Heather
Information - both editorial and advertising - in the Reggae Festival Guide - is believed to be correct but not guaranteed - so check it carefully before you attend any event or send money for anything. We do not write the news, just report it.
Text or Whats App: 775-846-8238; or e-mail
RBA Publishing, Inc. in business since 1995, is a boutique reggae-specific PR and marketing firm based in Northern California. We help musicians, festivals, labels and music-related brands. Our digital campaigns target fans, industry and influencers. We are masterful at email marketing, social media, fan acquisition and long-term marketing plans. Our media services are supported by people who understand and love the reggae genre. Publishers of Reggae Festival Guide magazine and e-newsletter. Reggae industry leaders for over 30 years.
e-mail
Legal Disclaimer
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Distributed by RBA Publishing Inc.
If you wish (and we really wish you wouldn't) like to be removed from this list, please reply with REMOVE in subject line.
It will make us very sad if you do, and perhaps your removal will be the one the makes us decide this no longer worth doing at all, and all the information we provide will go away forever and musicians will sit home alone at night and cry because they have no one to play for because no one knows about their shows or music.
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