|
|
55,000 Reggae Fans and Reggae Industry folks receive this publication each thursday!
|
|
Volume 23/Issue 2
Media Coverage of Reggae Since 1995
|
|
|
|
|
TABLE OF CONTENTS - Click on it to jump to that section
|
|
|
|
NEW! Featured Weekly Reggae Radio & Podcast Release Radar - Week of: 12/30/25 — 1/5/26
|
Weekly Reggae Radio & Podcast Release Radar
Presented By: Hippie-Fari Reggae Radio & Podcast www.hippiefari.com
Week of: 12/30/25 — 1/5/26
Curated by: Scotty (The High Strung Hippie) Fraser – Host Of Hippie Fari Reggae Radio & Podcast
1. ReggaeBoyz Sound - Mitch Agen - Live Sets Music - LINK HERE
2. Hippie Fari Reggae Radio & Podcast - Scotty The High Strung Hippie-#53 Roots Rasta Interviews Commentary Music-LINK HERE
3. RootsLand - Henry K- #7 Season 9 - Reggae's Untold Stories LINK HERE
4. Sounds Of The Caribbean - Selecta Jerry - Year In Review Pt. 1 Selecta Sessions, Music - LINK HERE
5. Reggae In The City - Daddy English - #194 - 2025 Wrap Up Music Commentary - LINK HERE
6. OgaWorks Radio - Oga Jah Works - 2025 Final Japanese Reggae Radio LINK HERE
7. Reggae Moods - Reggae Moods Podcast - Week 1 2026 - Live Music - LINK HERE
8. Caribbean Dance Radio - World A Reggae - Grant Parks - #50 Riddim Megamix Live Music - LINK HERE
9. Jah Works Radio - D-RO - New Years Eve Special - Live Sets, Commentary - LINK HERE
10. Hippie Fari Reggae Radio & Podcast - Scotty The High Strung Hippie - Cultivated MonDaze #8 - Music Commentary, Roots - LINK HERE
|
|
San Francisco, CA February 21 - Red, Gold & Green: Reggae Legends Live - Ruth Williams Opera House
|
 Red, Gold & Green: Reggae Legends Live - Ruth Williams Opera House in San Francisco - Saturday, February 21 at 8pm PST
GET TICKETS HERE
Join us at the Ruth Williams Opera House for a powerful night of reggae, roots, and conscious sound as ReggaeTownMusic.com brings together an extraordinary lineup of artists rooted in culture, community, and creative expression. This event celebrates the global legacy of Black and Brown music while reaffirming The Ruth’s mission to create platforms where community-centered art can thrive.
The stage will feature dynamic performances by:• Prezident Brown — veteran roots reggae voice with a message of uplift and empowerment
• Anthony Garvey — soulful singer and cultural storyteller
• I - Taweh — dynamic artist blending rhythms and roots energy
• Brady Shemar — rising voice in reggae and conscious music
• Donny Rasta — commanding presence on the mic with soulful vibes
• Sir Lion & DJ Hyphee — selectors and spinners embedding culture and community in every beat.
At a time when community connection and cultural expression matter more than ever, this night marks a celebration of music that unites, heals, and uplifts. The Ruth Williams Opera House has long served as a cultural anchor for Black and Brown artists and families in Bayview and across the Bay Area—providing space for artistic growth, cultural dialogue, and shared experiences.
Come experience roots music in a space built for community, creativity, and legacy. Your presence supports our ongoing efforts to sustain programs that empower artists of color, elevate local talent, and strengthen cultural heritage through performance and storytelling.
Ruth Williams Opera House — 4705 3rd St, San Francisco, CA
All ages/Doors at 8pm
By Ruth Williams Opera House & La Fauna Music
|
|
JaRIA Announces Reggae Month 2026 — “Rhythms of Resilience” Marks 17 Years of Cultural Leadership
|
 JaRIA Announces Reggae Month 2026 — “Rhythms of Resilience” Marks 17 Years of Cultural Leadership
Kingston, Jamaica — The Jamaica Reggae Industry Association (JaRIA) will publish its official calendar for Reggae Month 2026 this week, as the organisation celebrates 17 years of advocacy and service to Jamaica’s creative community under the theme “Rhythms of Resilience.”
The theme reflects the determination of Jamaica’s cultural practitioners to continue creating, uplifting communities, and driving national inspiration — even amid financial challenges and recovery efforts. “Reggae Month has always been about more than concerts,” said JaRIA Chairman, Ewan D.A. Simpson. “It is a declaration that our music, our creativity, and our cultural ecosystem are essential to nation building. Even where sponsorship support has been slow, we remain committed to producing meaningful, world-class programming that honours our icons and inspires the next generation.”
KEY EVENTS & TRIBUTES
Tribute to Dennis Brown – Hard Rock Guitar Hotel, Florida — January 31 - Presented in collaboration with Vision Band.
Remembering the Crown Prince – EMCVPA — February 1
Staged in collaboration with the Dennis Brown Trust.
Back to Bass-es – EMCVPA — February 4
Rocking the Cliff: Tribute to Jimmy Cliff – Coral Cliff, Montego Bay — February 11
Resilient Praise – EMCVPA — February 18
Bands Rewind – EMCVPA — February 25
JaRIA will again partner with the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts to
stage Reggae Wednesdays, while also expanding the Reggae Open University (ROU) series
to tertiary institutions in Kingston, Montego Bay, and Mandeville with a possibility for Port
Antonio to be added.
PARTNERSHIPS AND ENDORSEMENTS
In keeping with its mission of collaboration, JaRIA will continue to support and endorse
events across Jamaica and the diaspora, including: • Dennis Brown Celebration (Florida) — Vision Band • Reggae Month Miami activities — Inner Circle • Toronto celebration honouring Leroy Sibbles — Kreative Movement Inc. • Wickie Wackie Music Festival — Jamaica • I-Frequency series — first and third Thursdays in February -“These partnerships show the reach and strength of reggae,” added Chairman Simpson.
“From Kingston to Florida, Toronto, and beyond, Reggae Month is a living movement connecting our culture with communities across the world.”
ABOUT JaRIA
The Jamaica Reggae Industry Association (JaRIA) promotes advocacy, professional development, education, research, and celebration of Jamaica’s music ecosystem — ensuring reggae remains a dynamic cultural, social, and economic force for Jamaica and the world.
For interviews, sponsorship inquiries, or event details, visit www.jariaentertainment.com or follow JaRIA on social media.
|
|
VP Music Group Partners With Food for the Poor to Support Jamaica's Rebuilding After Hurricane Melissa
|
 VP Music Group Partners With Food for the Poor to Support Jamaica's Rebuilding After Hurricane Melissa
CLICK HERE TO DONATE
The partnership centers on delivering building materials and long-term support to communities most affected by the storm
VP Music Group has partnered with Food For The Poor to support ongoing recovery efforts in Jamaica following the widespread damage caused by Hurricane Melissa. The storm displaced thousands of families and left many communities facing long-term rebuilding needs.
As part of this initiative, VP Music Group has opened an official donation portal in collaboration with Food For The Poor, allowing individuals and organizations to contribute toward continued recovery efforts across the island. Funds raised through the portal will support the purchase of essential building materials, including lumber, roofing supplies, cement, hardware, and construction tools.
Food For The Poor will oversee the procurement and distribution of these resources to households and communities most severely affected by the hurricane, ensuring aid reaches areas with the greatest need as rebuilding continues.
“Our island home Jamaica is facing a very difficult moment, with families left without homes, resources, and in some cases, hope,” said Patricia “Miss Pat” Chin, co-founder of VP Records. “The need is real and urgent, and through our partnership with Food For The Poor, we are committed to helping families as they rebuild.”
This initiative builds on several Hurricane Melissa relief efforts supported by VP Music Group in recent months, including humanitarian flights to Jamaica led by Captain Barrington Irving and Experience Aviation through Mission of Hope, participation in the Jamaica Strong Benefit Concert at UBS Arena in New York, and support for the Stay Strong Jamaica benefit concert at Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida. VP Music Group has also already made a financial contribution through Sean Paul’s existing partnership with Food For The Poor, helping to support early relief and recovery work.
Together, these efforts contribute to coordinated recovery initiatives focused on housing, infrastructure, and community rebuilding. Support through the donation portal helps provide families with the resources needed to restore stability and move forward as recovery continues across the island.
CLICK HERE TO DONATE
Label Contacts
Nicholas Nam, Label Publicist
North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia
nicholas.nam@vprecords.com
Michelle Williams, Director of Caribbean and Latin America
Caribbean, Latin America and ROW
michellew@vprecords.com
|
|
Reggae Road Trip - A Reggae Travel Experience to Kingston, JA - April 2026 - An immersive experience for the Reggae connoisseur. Join us
|
 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
|
|
A Message and Music from Dubmatix - 90s Dancehall Classics (Mix)
|
 We’re going back to a moment in time during the 90s when you had breakout stars from Jamaica - Shabba Ranks and iNi Kamoze hitting the mainstream charts and rotation on MTV and other music video stations.
You also had the mixing of dancehall with hip-hop - Vicious with Doug E Fresh, Supercat, and others. This mix moves between street anthems, radio hits, and club staples.We’re going back to a moment in time during the 90s when you had breakout stars from Jamaica - Shabba Ranks and iNi Kamoze hitting the mainstream charts and rotation on MTV and other music video stations. You also had the mixing of dancehall with hip-hop - Vicious with Doug E Fresh, Supercat, and others. This mix moves between street anthems, radio hits, and club staples.
PLAYLIST
1 Beenie Man – Who Am I 2 Buju Banton – Champion 3 Spragga Benz – She Nuh Ready Yet (Hype Up) 4 Chaka Demus & Pliers – Murder She Wrote 5 Shabba Ranks – Trailer Load a Girls 6 Super Cat & Salaam Remi – Ghetto Red Hot (Hip-Hop Remix) 7 Cutty Ranks – Limb By Limb 8 Patra – Queen of the Pack 9 Sanchez – Missing You 10 Super Cat – Don Dada 11 iNi Kamoze – Here Comes the Hotstepper 12 Maxi Priest – Close to You 13 Nadine Sutherland & Terror Fabulous – Action 14 Vicious & Doug E. Fresh – Freaks 15 Lady Saw – If Him Lef 16 Garnett Silk – Zion in a Vision
CLICK HERE TO ENJOY
A Message and Music from Dubmatix 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 |
|
January $pecial $avings Advertising Packages
Contact: info@reggaefestivalguide.com;
775-846-8238 (text or WhatsApp)
Ask about our January Special Pricing
|
January ADVERTISING Special - Dear Artists & Labels, You asked...we listened! PACKAGES of our best-selling marketing products to help you get exposure on multiple platforms.
Dear Artists & Labels,
You asked...we listened! We put together PACKAGES of our best-selling marketing products to help you get exposure on multiple platforms.
Announce your New Music, Tour Dates, Band News, Booking Availabilities, etc. to Fans & Industry Folks around the world.
Pay before January 31, 2026 and save money (Your ads can run anytime within next three months)
Which Package* works best for you?
$850 Package for Artists/Labels (Save $572!)
1 Custom Fan e-blast -$290
1 MP3 DJ Radio e-blast - $175
2 Weeks Promotions in the Reggae e-Guide newsletter - $150
4 Social Media Posts (2 IG Post, 1 Instagram Story, 1 FB Post) - $145
Web News/Blog Posting - $22
Triple Banner Ad in Reggae e-Guide (4 weeks) - $340
Big Banner Ad on website for one month - $300
Actual Value: $1422
$450 Package for Artists/Labels (Save $360)
1 Custom Fan e-Blast -$290
1 Week Promotion in the Reggae e-Guide newsletter - $75
3 Social Media Posts (1 IG Post- $40, 1 IG Story - $30, 1 FB Post - $35) - $105
Triple Banner ad in Reggae Festival Guide (4 weeks) - 340
Actual Value: $810
$299 Package for Artists/Labels (Save $53)
Two Weeks of editorial promotion in Reggae Festival Guide - $150
Story posted on Web News - $22
2 Instagram and Story Posts - $150
Facebook Post - $30
Actual Value: $352
You make music...we deliver it! Contact us today and we can help you.
Kaati, Joana, Melisa, and Michele and the rest of our RFG Crew
Text/Whats App: 775-846-8238
Email: advertising@reggaefestivalguide.com
REGGAE INDUSTRY LEADERS FOR OVER 30 YEARS!
*Description:
~Custom e-Blast: Goes out via email to 55,000 opt-in subscribers (fans & industry)
~MP3 DJ Radio e-Blast — one downloadable song in MP3 format plus artist info/contacts delivered to DJs in their inbox
~Reggae e-Guide Promotions: Thursdays e-newsletter emailed to fans. Your promotion is a news article with title, image, 100-200 words, plus contact and link.
~Triple Banner Ad (vertical) on top left side of our popular weekly Reggae e-Guide newsletter. We can make it for you at no additional charge.
~Social Media Posts: We share your post, or you can send us content to post
~Web News/Blog Posting: We publish your promotional material on our top-ranking website in the News Section. It will also show up on ticker-tape latest news and you will have a dedicated URL (web page). It will be searchable by Google Alerts
|
|
Are you doing a Jamaican Fundraising event? Post it here for free on our event calendar on www.reggaefestivalguide.com
|
Click here to post your FUNDRAISING EVENT on our top-ranking website:
Easy and free.
|
|
Featured Video — Reggae Road Trip , Reggae Travel Experience of a Lifetime! Bobby Condors
|
|
|
|
Reggae Road Trip, Reggae Travel Experience of a Lifetime! - Bobby Condors
|
|
|
Attention Reggae Artists — Free listing opportunity
|
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!
|
|
Hey Reggae Fans ~ Follow Us On Socials>>>>>
|
|
Attention Artists and Festival Promoters...Use Our Services To Build Your Platforms And Your Following...
|
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
|
|
In Jah´s Name We Pray - Positive Affirmations
|
|
|
-
Iam loved with no conditions attached.
-
My worth doesn’t depend on my success or mistakes.
-
was created on purpose and for a purpose.
|
|
|
Richie B's Jamaican Reggae Airplay Charts
|
|
|
Jamaica Music Countdown
By Richard ‘Richie B’ Burgess
JMC Charts -
Jan 9 to 15, 2026
By Richard ‘Richie B’ Burgess
|
TOP 25 Dancehall Singles,TOP 25 Reggae Singles, and TOP 10 Albums/CD Chart
JAMAICA MUSIC COUNTDOWN
Jan 9 to 15, 2026
|
|
|
Ital Statistics This week in Reggae and Nubian, Rasta, herb and related history
|
|
|
| January 8 |
| 1912: |
African National Congress (ANC) is founded. |
| 1999: |
Rohan Marley, son of Bob Marley and common-law husband of Lauryn Hill, is pulled from a burning car by New York police.
Rohan, who was waiting for Lauryn to leave a recording studio, was asleep in the car when an electrical malfunction started the fire and prevented him from opening automatic windows and door locks; police broke a window and pulled him from the vehicle. Rohan was treated at a hospital for smoke inhalation and released.
|
| January 9 |
| 1911: |
South Africa outlaws marijuana. |
| 1922: |
Ahmed Sékou Touré, the first President of the Republic of Guinea (1958-84) and a leading African politician, is born in Faranah, French Guinea (now Guinea). |
| 1973: |
Sean Paul (Sean Paul Henriques) is born in Kingston, Jamaica. |
| 1976: |
Red Rice [Shonannokaze] is born in Fujisawa, Japan. |
| 2001: |
Shaggy's album "Hot Shot" [MCA] is certified Multi (2.0) Platinum by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America). |
| January 10 |
| 1949: |
RCA Victor announces a new 7-inch, 45 rpm phonograph record. |
| 1968: |
Singer John Mouse is born in Spanish Town, Jamaica. |
| 1969: |
Floyd Smith aka Aaron Silk, singer, Garnet Silk's younger brother, is born in a quiet town of Downs in Manchester, Jamaica. |
| 1981: |
Jagwa (Vernon Spencer) is born. |
|
|
|
|
|
If You Missed Your Latest (Or Any) Copy of The Weekly Reggae Festival Guide,
You Can Find Back Issues In The Archives
|
|
Reggae Marketing Specialists since 1993 - Trusted, Reliable ~ Creative
|
|
|
 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
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
