Machel Montano Named “Caribbean Music Ambassador”
NEW YORK, NY (RHONA FOX, INC.) – The indomitable soca monarch Machel Montano continues his reign over carnival events around the world when he brings volcanic heat to the Official Atlanta Caribbean Carnival on Saturday, May 24 in Atlanta, Georgia, and then the Best of the Best Concert in Miami, Florida on May 25.
Montano heads to Atlanta for more than just a highly anticipated performance; he will be honored with the groundbreaking Phoenix Award from the City of Atlanta and named the “Caribbean Music Ambassador.”
“I’m very grateful for the honor,” states Montano. “I think this is significant with the future vision of Machel Montano, which is going to be Caribbean-based, with carnival being the quintessential expression of Caribbean cultures and the way in which they collide.”
The presentation will take place during the entertainment program at the Carnival’s Festival Village, with featured performances from soca artists Iwer George, Jamesy P, Problem Child, Tizzy, and Zoela, among others to be backed by De Soca Unit. The general Atlanta Carnival festivities will follow the Parade of Bands, and will be held in the historic Auburn district from noon to 10pm in downtown Atlanta.
Montano is set to headline the Atlanta Carnival Eruption Concert following the award presentation, performing alongside Patrice Roberts, the world-renowned HD Band, and many surprise guest artists, and will be held at the historic Atlanta Underground-Georgia Freight Depot. This show is the premier event of the Atlanta Carnival weekend, and is destined to be another sold out concert for Machel.
“We’re extremely excited about Machel Montano’s visit to Atlanta,” says Marc Stewart of Island Coast Entertainment, one of the main event promoters. “Given Machel’s worldwide prominence, we feel confident about the heated performance that he will be bringing to downtown Atlanta, which not only helps to promote our Caribbean culture in this international epicenter, but also helps to reposition Atlanta as a viable destination for Carnival-which is held during Memorial Day weekend.”
ICM Fest Set To Take Miami By Storm
NEW YORK, NY (RHONA FOX, INC.) – The 9th Annual International Caribbean Music Festival (ICM FEST) returns this year on its original weekend in mid-November, and will boast the same star-studded line-up that has made it more of a destination than a concert for almost a decade now.
The festival is set to take Miami, Florida by storm when it touches down on Sunday, November 16 at the historic and gorgeous Virginia Key Beach Park. Besides its rich history of being the only beach that was legally open to African-Americans in the Miami-Dade County during racial segregation, this fantastic venue also offers unlimited parking, a rarity for any concert of this magnitude in the Miami metro area.
Billed as the “Pre-Thanksgiving Concert,” ICM FEST promoters are seeking to bring fanfare into a month that’s normally quiet, and are opting not to compete with the busy Miami Carnival that is scheduled for October.
“We are on a musical mission, not a competition,” states event organizer Delroy Escoffery, also a founding member of the ICM FEST. In keeping with that motto, each year ICM Fest strives to showcase the best in Caribbean entertainment, crossing borders and genres alike.
This year fans are being granted the opportunity to vote their favorite artists into the line-up. With one month of voting left to go, the anticipation is building to see exactly who will be taking the stage at the 2008 ICM FEST.
Click here to vote for your favorite artists, to also view clips from previous shows, and also to see exactly why your calendars should be marked for Miami in November.
Reggae Sumfest Releases Exciting Line-Up
NEW YORK, NY (RHONA FOX, INC.) – Billed as “The Best Show on Earth,” Reggae Sumfest returns this year on July 13 – 19, in Montego Bay, Jamaica. The line-up announcements are always long-awaited and this year’s is bound to please the masses who journey to Jamaica each year for the shows.
The biggest night or “Dancehall Night” on Thursday, July 17 includes undoubtedly the biggest names in dancehall today – Beenie Man, Bounty Killer, Elephant Man, Mavado, Busy Signal and Vybz Kartel, alongside newcomers Erupt, Demarco and Serani, just to name a few. Friday night or “Reggae Night” lives up to its promise as the best in roots reggae, with Queen I-Frica, Richie Spice, Jah Cure, while Tarrus Riley, songbird Etana and sexy duo Brick & Lace round out the “International Night” on Saturday, July 19.
Sumfest officials are still in negotiations with some other big names to add to the roster, include Beres Hammond and Buju Banton, both of whom were on last year’s bill.
Log on to reggaesumfest.com for updated artist line-up and for details on other exciting Sumfest activities planned throughout the entire week.
