'Rumfire Ochi' line-up improved

The line-up for Rumfire Ochi Explosion has been further improved with the addition of several well known acts.

Jevaughn Laing, of Laing Events Management, the promoters of the show, said that with the additions the event has become even more attractive.

Slated for Margaritaville, Ocho Rios, on May 26, the event will now feature acts like Popcaan, Aidonia, Konshens, Black Ryno, Navino, Tnez, Darrio, Versatile and Ninja Kidd.

According to Laing, the fusion of a party and stageshow vibe will attract a huge crowd at the event.

"Ochi people that I have been constantly interacting with have been repeatedly asking for an event with a difference and I strongly believe that patrons will walk away from the venue feeling extremely pleased that night," he said.

He further said; "Primarily it will be the ultimate party experience. I don't want people to think that they will be attending a stage show, as music will be played for the majority of the night. There will be a specific time frame for the performance segment."

The event will also feature music from ZJ Ice, Arif Cooper, DJ Flabba Dabba and Flava Unit Sound.

Bonafide Band successfully launches 'Sold Out' album

Last week's successful staging of two album launch parties held by Bonafide Band in Kingston and Montego Bay, Jamaica, has left the patrons and media feeling totally excited about the great prospects of the band which represents reggae and dancehall music globally.

Both nights were themed with Jamaican colours and spectacular elements of Las Vegas, enhanced by hostesses in show girl costumes, and the entrance decorated with an official welcome sign and oversized dices which complimented the full length red carpet, coloured lights and palm trees as the band arrived in fine style in a Chrysler GS300 Limousine led by their own branded tour bus to the flashing cameras of enthusiastic media and fans alike.

On Wednesday, March 28 in Kingston, the event hosted by Ron Muschette (Irie FM) was off to a great start, the guest speaker was State Minister in Tourism and Entertainment Damion Crawford (MP) who highlighted the great importance of maintaining high standards of production and bestowed Bonafide Band with the responsibility of realising that as Jamaicans based overseas they are considered ambassadors in reggae music and should continue to represent as such. Other speakers were Desmond Young (Jamaica Federation of Musicians), Scott Tracy (Bonafide Band Manager - Amibug Group), Richard 'Richie B' Burgess (radio personality - Hot 102), Tyehimba Kafele (marketing manager - Earthlife Music), Teddy Laidley (Teddy Laidley Productions).

A wonderful performance was delivered by the band who performed songs such as Sold Out,Leaving Come The Morning and their currently charting single, I Wanna Be The One, with a guest appearance from Etana. The night then rocked on with more tracks from the album and a special appearance by Hawaiian reggae sensation - Fiji.

Then by Saturday, March 31, they were back onstage at Pier 1 in Montego Bay, thrilling their fans again. This party was hosted by Ron Muschette and Elise Kelly (Irie FM) and guest performances by Busy Signal on the song Bumpa and Etana on her collaboration with Bonafide. Guests included Robert Russell, Johnny Gourzong, (Reggae Sumfest Promoters), Western Mirror, Entertainment Plus, Jamaica Observer and more. Two wonderful events to help promote this extremely talented band, as they get ready for their upcoming USA tour in May and one more stunning album launch is scheduled to take place in Las Vegas before Summer.

The events were organised by marketing executive Tyehimba Kafele along with her team at Earthlife Music, set-up and decor by Jus Eazy Solutions and publicity by Ra-Umi Alkebu-lan of Alkebu-lan The Media.

Heineken Inspire Tour makes a stop in Junction

On Friday, March 30, Heineken painted Junction, St Elizabeth green with inspiration.

The Heineken Inspire Me Tour made its first stop in that town for the brand's latest initiative.

Heineken Inspire is a competition aimed at discovering the new talents in music, fashion, film and art while using Heineken as inspiration.

"Heineken Inspire wants to create the platform for the next generation of innovators in the arts and using the categories of film, music, fashion and art, and Heineken as their inspiration, we're excited to see how creative our consumers can get," said Heineken brand manager, Nasha Douglas.

The Inspire Me Tour featured a showcase of some spectacular sample pieces from each category of the competition which will aid in stimulating the creative minds of potential Inspire contestants. Each event on the tour will do the same. An elegant haute couture dress embellished with pieces of Heineken bottles and caps by Avant Garde 2011 Designer of the Year, Ashley Martin will be the featured piece of inspiration for the fashion category. In the category of film, 3D animator Mental Chung the creator of the popularYoutubeseries 'Dutty Bwoy' which features top dancehall acts, will be doing a recreation of 'The Entrance' a Heineken television commercial using animated Heineken cans to replace the characters.

The 2006 Heineken Green Synergy winner, DJ Nicco will lend his Jamaican Twist to be the featured piece of inspiration in the music category. The sample piece for the art category will be artist Courtney Edwards' seven-foot tall robot made of Heineken cans.

In Junction, DJ Nicco was on hand to entertain the bubbling crowd while others were eager to get more information on entering the competition. An entertaining performance from dancehall star Konshens was a welcome addition to the event and served to elevate the vibe. Dance auditions by many, though sometimes hilarious, made the evening more exciting.

"We have engaged some talented persons in their fields and they have created inspiration pieces for persons interested in the competition. These inspiration pieces will hopefully provide the direction and bolster entrants' need to put their own pieces together," Douglas added.

Consumers interested in competing in the Heineken Inspire competition can simply upload their unique creative pieces to the Heineken Inspire Facebook page. The winning pieces will be selected based on the number of 'Likes' awarded by the Facebook community and further deliberated on by a panel of prominent judges. The Junction Tour will be the second of the three scheduled Inspire Me Tour events as Heineken goes in search of the next big names in fashion, music, film and art. "This campaign is solely aimed at discovering the talents of Jamaicans. Creativity and uniqueness runs through our veins and Heineken is inspiring to bring these elements of talent to the forefront of this campaign," Douglas added.

Lynkon I, a force to reckon with in music

Finding his musical genesis on the choir of the Gregory Park New Testament Church of God, Portmore entertainer Lincoln Thompson, is now extending his musical journey to the secular world.

The Gregory Park resident, says he has been singing as long as he can remember, however, he is just becoming a force to reckon with.

Lincoln who goes by the stage name Lynkon I, says "mi ready fi di road."

"I have just completed the video for my latest single call Baby Mada Drama, and it is getting some blessings, " he said.

He said the video was done on the Taylor Wolfe Production on the Ova Tek label.

The entertainer says he has recorded other singles such as, Jah Jah Never Fails and cherish the moment.

Thompson told THE STAR, that he was still working on a number of songs in the studio as he intends to stop at nothing to achieve his goal. "Music for me is everything, so I am just thinking how to earn my piece of the pie," he said.

Boston Jerk Festival returns

The CranWATA Boston Jerk Festival is expected to make a memorable return to the Boston Community Centre tomorrow (Easter Sunday) as a part of the celebration of Jamaica's 50th anniversary.

Event planner Garwin Davis said, "In celebrating Jamaica's 50th anniversary since Independence it should come as no surprise that the people of Boston, Portland, would want to showcase their world-famous authentic Boston spice and jerk dishes in a carnival atmosphere and in an ambience that is second to none."

Tamara Ward, marketing manager of CranWATA, the title sponsor of the event, said in a release sent to THE STAR that: "This event is a part of an ongoing effort for CranWATA to continue and support and celebrate all that is truly Jamaican. The Boston Festival is known for spicy food and CranWATA is known to refresh and hydrate our customers so to merge the two was a no-brainer."

The CranWATA Boston Jerk Festival promises to be fun for the entire family. Kids will have their entertainment from 11 a.m., with a kiddies' village while the adults will have their time at a stage show later featuring acts such as The King of the Dancehall, Beenie Man, singing sensation Chris Martin and veteran act Jimmy Riley.