Historical Concerts at Kings Theatre on Weekend of April 10 to 12 APRIL 8 2015
DANCEHALL + R&B + SOCA = A HISTORICAL WEEKEND OF LIVE PERFORMANCES AT BROOKLYN’S CLASSIC KINGS THEATRE
• “Dancehall Rising”: Mavado, Capleton, Lady Saw & Matisyahu – April 10
• R&B’s: “Voices in Concert”: Fantasia & Tessanne Chin — April 11
• Soca’s “First Impression”: Kes the Band, Olatunji, Kerwin DuBois, Mr. Killa, Ravi B, Lavaman et al — April 12
By Gerry Hopkin (Hopkins Consulting Group | 347-350-4285)
Brooklyn, NYC. The countdown is on for what promises to be a historical weekend of vintage concerts at the classic, upscale Kings Theatre in Brooklyn, NYC. For the first time in the history of this recently renovated theatre, which staged Diana Ross at its grand reopening on February 3, three different genres of music would be featured in major concerts, including dancehall and soca, which were never done within these French-influenced baroque styled walls before.
Fisrt comes “Dancehall Rising”, the dancehall-reggae concert, which features some of the Caribbean’s finest award-winning artistes – Mavado, Capleton and Lady Saw – who will share the stage with America’s finest reggae-dancehall-rapper, Matisyahu. This grand musical encounter is scheduled for April 10.
Mavado, born David Constantine Brooks, an artiste, actor, DJ and music producer of Jamaican origin is one of the headlined dancehall stars set to perform in this historical concert – the first major reggae show at this world-class venue.
No stranger to fame and media attention, Mavado has, since 2004 and over the years, been releasing hits such as “Real McKoy,” “Weh Dem A Do,” “Delilah,” “Every Gyal” (with U.K. Grime artist Chipmunk) and “Survivor” (featuring Akon). To his credit, he in 2010 won the2008 UK MOBO Award for Best Reggae Act and the 2008 EME award for Male Singer of the Year, to name a few of his achievements.
Attendees will also get to experience Capleton, born Clifton George Bailey III, in Jamaica, but also known by many as The Prophet, The Fireman and King Shango.
Capleton continues to consistently provide the music-world with dancehall and conscious reggae hits. He started with hits like “Lotion Man” in 1991 and has sustained and improved his repertoire with others such as “Alms House,” “Matie a Dead,” “Everybody Needs Somebody,” “Wings in the Morning” with Method Man, “I Testament,” “Who Dem?,” “Jah Jah City,” “Good in Her Clothes,” “Liberation Time,” and “I-Ternal Fire”, along the way.
In terms of recognition, Capleton has won, among others, several International Reggae & World Music Awards — the “Most Outstanding Stage Personality Award” of 2005 & 2006, the “Community Service Award” of 2009 and the “Spiritual Service Through Music Award” of 2009.
Another of the headliners in the April 10th concert is Grammy Award Winning, triple-platinum dancehall artiste, Lady Saw. Controversial, bold and hailed the ‘Dancehall Queen’, Lady Saw has over the years, beginning in 1994, released hits such as “Man is the Least,” “Chat to Mi Back,” “Love Sick,” “Heels On,” “I’ve Got Your Man,” “Hot Gyal” and “Heels On,”
Additionally, Matisyahu, a Billboard’s Reggae Artist of the Year winner, will be sharing the stage in the “Dancehall Rising” lineup. This Pennsylvania-born artiste blends Orthodox Jewish themes with roots reggae, dancehall, rock and rap in his unique brand of cross-over reggae. Dropping top 40 hits and performing to packed stadiums since 2004, Matisyahu has already given us tunes such as “One Day,” “Sunshine,” “Live Like a Warrior,” “Warrior,” “Youth” and “King Without A Crown.”
“This concert, like all the other Jammins events at Kings Theatre, BAM and at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, is showing the world that the artistes, producers and promoters of Caribbean and world-beat music are capable of doing better in terms of quality events at upscale venues,” opines Caribbean-born Cheryl Vincent, who is also a R&B, folk and reggae artiste based in Brooklyn.
Other Big Concerts
Other concerts at the Kings Theatre, include one dubbed “Voices in Concert”, which takes place on April 11, 2012. On this date, there will be live performances by the artiste Fantasia, the American Idol Winner, alongside Tessanne Chin, the Voice Winner.
Then on April 12, in a concert entitled “First Impression”, several Caribbean soca monarchs – Olatunji (reigning), Kes the Band, Kerwin Dubois, Mr. Killa, Ravi B, Lavaman and Lead Pipe & Saddis – will take center stage at Kings Theatre.
“Lovers of quality music in the tri-state area are certainly in for a treat,” noted Tropicalfete.com founder and director, Alton Aimable.
These and other quality cultural productions, which preserve and showcase the expressive culture of the Caribbean, the Americas, Africa and the Diaspora are organized by the creative minds at Jammins Entertainment of Brooklyn, NYC, in conjunction with other forward-looking promoters such as Foreign Base and associates.
