Posts tagged Reggae

CTV News Montreal 5 p.m. Anchor Maya Johnson travelled to Jamaica to see the devastation and document the relief and rebuilding efforts after Hurricane Melissa, which made landfall on Oct. 28, 2025. This article was first published on the CTV News Montreal website. As the Montreal-born daughter of Jamaican immigrants, I grew up navigating and embracing a blend of cultures. Eating patties, jerk chicken, and fried dumplings came just as naturally as buying fresh Montreal bagels. In high school I listened to the same music my friends were listening to, but it was really the old school reggae music I …

Salutations Everyone! I hope everyone had a great Fall! Despite being born and raised in Montreal, I feel like winter will NEVER sit right with me. Around this time, I start hyper-fixating on the 10-day weather forecast on the app on my phone, just hoping that I don’t see snow any time soon. Unfortunately, I saw the “s-word” forecasted for Monday, and I swear a little tear flowed down my cheek. And then we have to scramble to change the tires on our cars to winter tires before December 1st. We are also aware that the days have gotten shorter …

So, hear what!! I finally experienced the Tobago Carnival for myself, and it was nothing short of amazing. I’ve attended Trinidad Carnival countless times, but Tobago offered something refreshingly different. A celebration that felt intimate, secure and grounded. Yes! We know that Tobago Carnival is still a newcomer on the Caribbean Carnival scene, having been held annually since 2022. In just a few short years, it has already established itself as a distinct celebration, giving the island a chance to showcase its unique traditions and creativity. Here’s the dates for the independent Tobago Carnival through 2027, taking place each year …

Montrealers turned out in full force on July 26th for Jamaica Day at Martin Luther King (Kent) Park, widely regarded by organizers as the largest edition to date. Headliner Papa Michigan best known as half of Michigan & Smiley gave his fans his classic hits on Saturday, then met fans at a packed community gathering on Sunday. Born Anthony Fairclough in Kingston, Jamaica, Michigan helped invent a new language for reggae at the turn of the 1980s. As Michigan & Smiley, he and partner General Smiley were among the first dual toasters, popularizing a crisp call-and-response style that bridged singing and DJ chatting and …

Michael Julien, co-founder of the Roots Cultural Association, long-time employee of McGill University and former co-host of CKUT’s Bhum Bhum Tyme has passed away in the country of his birth, Trinidad and Tobago. I first met “Uncle Mikey” in the summer of 1991 when we both worked at the Black Community Council of Quebec (BCCQ). He had taken a sabbatical from his work at McGill University and was exploring new paths. That summer, 2121 Old Orchard was alive with activity, as both seasoned and younger community members contributed to impactful projects. Mikey brought with him a quiet brilliance, shaped by …

Montreal, July 1st, 2025 Canada Day in Montreal took on a special meaning this year as two of the city’s top promoters, NiteLife Ent and Production Sounds came together to present Island Twist, a celebration of Caribbean culture, music, and legacy. In the heart of the festivities, International DJ and crowd favourite Riggo Suave, also known as The Stage God, was officially honoured for his impact on Montreal’s Caribbean entertainment scene. A plaque was presented by Production Sounds in front of a packed audience of supporters, fellow DJs, and fans. Riggo Suave, based in New York, has been Djing across …

Montreal’s summer festival season is set to sizzle as Kes the Band—Trinidad and Tobago’s musical powerhouse takes the Rogers Stage at the Montreal International Jazz Festival on Friday, July 4 at 11:00 PM. Known for their explosive live performances and anthemic hits like Wotless, Savannah Grass, Tuesday on the Rocks, and Liki Tiki, the band is expected to deliver a high-energy set that will light up downtown Montreal with the vibrant pulse of Caribbean Soca. A fan favourite among local soca music enthusiasts and Caribbean diaspora communities across Canada, Kes the Band has spent nearly two decades blending genres and …

Alicia Anderson, better known by her stage name Miss Diva, has been making inroads in music for almost a decade now. grew up deeply rooted in music and faith. “I was always in church,” she recalls to the CONTACT, reminiscing about weekends spent between her two grandmothers—one Pentecostal, the other Anglican. Encouraged by her grandmother, young Alicia took her first steps into the choir, unknowingly laying the foundation for what would become her career. Beyond the church walls, Alicia was immersed in the sounds of reggae greats like Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, and Marcia Griffiths, thanks to jam sessions in …

Island Scoop is your one-stop article for Soca news during the 2025 Trinidad & Tobago Carnival season which will take place from 3rd to 4th March. So what has been going on since the last issue! This Carnival season Nicki Minaj is featured on the intro of Trinidad Killa’s song ‘Eskimo and promises a verse after one million youtube views. Also Ultimate Soca Champion competition is here to replace International Soca Monarch. First let’s congratulate Trinidad Killa, Pronto, Dori Cowan, Kyle Peters and the full team who put the Soca hit title “Eskimo” together, and a special salute to Nicki …

Reggae history and Montreal’s vibrant sound system culture will be the main focus at The String Up, a new exhibition by the Afrosonic Innovation Lab launching on Feb. 7, 2025 at the National Film Board in Montreal’s Quartier des Spectacles . The exhibition will feature iPad stations with sound archives from CKUT 90.3 FM. The String Up is a multimedia exhibition sampling elements of Montreal’s rich reggae music histories. It is designed to honour and salute the many selectahs, sound systems and deejays that have made the scene so vibrant and memorable. Mark V. Campbell founded the Afrosonic Innovation Lab, to support …