Soar and Roar for ReggaeFest 2012

Today the Calgary Reggae Festival Society (CRFS) announces the line up for ReggaeFest 2012! Soaring around the stellar line up of performers is the queen of Dancehall Soul CHERINE ANDERSON and Rising Reggae Star BRYAN ART!
“Calgarians have asked us time and time again to be the difference in Canada’s Summer Reggae Festivals and that’s exactly what we try to be,” says ReggaeFest producer Leo Cripps. ” With so many performers to choose from and limited spots in our line up, what we present to Rastagarians is a package of carefully selected performers they would never be able to see on the same stage,” Cripps continues.
In our modern day parade of glamour, glitz and unmerited superstardom, Cherine has taken the road less traveled; the path of paying dues, cultivating her abilities and developing her signature Dancehall Soul sound; a mixture of reggae, dancehall, soul, and r&b. Cherine is one of Jamaica’s brightest young female singer/songwriter and performers. Her genre-defying grooves coupled with her powerful voice and thought provoking lyrics has brought her in front of well over 1,000,000 live audience fans. Her infectious and passionate live performances helped place her on arena tours and renown festivals worldwide performing and recording with bands like Michael Franti & Spearhead, International rock star John Mayer, and Counting Crows to name a few. The legendary Rhythm duo, Sly & Robbie, hails her as a truly strong vocalist with the ability and potential to surpass reggae audiences and reach the masses.
Like the great guitarist George Benson, Bryan Art started off his musical career as a songwriter and lead guitarist in bands that backed and toured with artistes such as Luciano, Sizzla, Bushman, Singing Melody, and Etana. Pursuing his dream to be his own frontman, in 2002, Bryan was voted the “Best New Artist” by Jamaica television TVJ entertainment review. Touring and appearing on major shows and festivals in Jamaica, Europe and Asia and releasing hits such as ‘Soon Come Back” and “Murder Dem a Play,” Bryan Art is now set to take over North America as the new Reggae Star.
Rounding out the line up for the ReggaeFest 2012 will be Monster Shock Crew Hawkeye from Jamaica; the Calgary sounds of Makeshift Innocence, Roots Syndicate and J.K. & the Relays; Third Branch and Souljah Fyah from Edmonton; the Reggae Rock vibes of Redeye Empire and Rocky Mountain Rebel Music from BC; Ultimate Crew from Toronto featuring the vocals of Ammoye, the Dennis Brown review with Chester Miller, and the Gospel vibes of Jermaine Cowan; Friendlyness and the Human Rights from Toronto and New Kingston from New York.
Rastagarians know it’s not every day you get to Reggae and Calgary ReggaeFest isn’t just for Reggae fans. ReggaeFest transcends all racial, cultural and musical boundaries and runs August 15 to 18 at different venues in Calgary concluding with the Mainstage event on Saturday August 18 at Shaw Millennium Park. ReggaeFest 2012 will deliver over 12 hours of non-stop family friendly Reggae entertainment. Activities throughout the Mainstage event will include a fun and interactive youth area, food and craft vendors and the Village Brewery Beer Garden.
ReggaeFest Mainstage earlybird tickets will be on sale Friday, June 1. Visit www.ReggaeFest.ca for all the details.
More information on ReggaeFest 2012 can be found at www.ReggaeFest.ca. Join the Rastagarian movement at www.Facebook.com/CalgaryReggaeFest.