Early Departures: Keesing Live and Morgan Heritage, RETV Unplugged

The Keesing Live shows may be the best live concert series you haven't heard of.
That's no fault of the organizers Alternative Music (singer-producer-whatever's required Charmaine Limonious and engineer-producer Bobby Stewart). They frenetically promote and work the shows before and after each date amid their already crammed professional and personal schedules.

And amid a live scene that's still partly on life support (with corporate funding going more to parties and hit parade overseas act showcases) its a bona fide miracle: the show starts on time - always, artists are accommodated decently and professionally and, a one might expect, lighting, staging and audio are always spot-on (maybe a few minor glitches but nothing to mar the production.

And so it was at the most recent Keesing outing, with visiting Nation of Islam leader Farrakhan in the audience, there were commendable deliveries from Kelissa (with of-the-moment reggae hero Chronixx unobtrusively providing background vocals off stage), the live return of history-making Rising Stars winners One Third (first group to win the competition) and the blind - but certainly not disabled - singer, Kandi, who admirably raised the curtain.

other duties prevented this writer from catching the curtain-closers, legendary Jamaican pop storytellers Ernie Smith ("Duppy or Gunman") and Pluto Shervington "Your Honour", "Sweet Jamaica") who jokingly remarked in the pre-stage lounge that there's "too much blood in my rum stream"

if quality musicianship and a tight production ship are your style of live entertainment, then you owe it to yourself to help make Keesing Live a less-kept secret.

A few days after, over at the Countryside Club (fast returning to its previous stature as a live venue of note) the singing Morgans, aka Morgan Heritage, held court, speaking to media - well, primarily to IRIE-FM and TVJ, but with others of us "let in" on it; they addressed a wide range of topics, from the ravages of Chik-V to the ravaged state of Jamaican music.

Again, time and other logistical pressures kept from getting the "Full Morgan" but they have been touring behind their most recent album, "Here Come the Kings" as well as pursuing their respective individual projects

Music returns for the "Rainforest": renewal of Music fest AshWednesday

OAll is now set for the second staging of the Rainforest Seafood Festival to be held at the Catherine Hall Entertainment Complex in Montego Bay, St James, on Ash Wednesday, March 5.

"Everything is in place. We are all set to go on Ash Wednesday at the Catherine Hall Complex," a confident Bethany Young, public relations associate for the event, told the Jamaica Observer West.

She noted that the evening's entertainment, to be emceed by radio personality Miss Kitty, will feature a strong line-up of popular Jamaican performers including Tarrus Riley, Busy Signal, Konshens, I-Octane, Etana, Kevin Downswell and John Holt.

In the meantime, Young noted that during the day, activities which will have a strong family flavour and which will be hosted by another popular radio personality, Jenny Jenny, will feature a kiddies village, marching bands, culinary demonstrations by the Culinary Federation of Jamaica, among other activities.

Young added that there will also be over 20 of Jamaica's best seafood vendors on hand to cater to the nutritional needs of the patrons.

"The Rainforest Seafood Festival has secured its place on the social calendar as a fun-filled family event and of course for lovers of all things seafood. This year we are featuring tasty treats from Fish Pot, Gloria's, Prendy's on the Beach, Blacky of Little-Ochi-Seafood-Fest fame, Scotchies and many more, so there will be no shortage of finger-licking delights," she explained.rganisers of the one-day festival are hoping to raise $5 million from the event, which will go towards the We Care for Cornwall Regional Hospital Foundation.

 

Performances by Ken Boothe, Beenie Man, I-Octane, Romain Virgo, Tifa, Chronixx, and Prodigal Son, also form part of the rich entertainment package.