JAMBANA boasts rising reggae stars

By Jasminee Sahoye

Ikaya will perform in Markham at JAMBANA One World Festival along with Dalton Harris.
Ikaya will perform in Markham at JAMBANA One World Festival along with Dalton Harris.

Fans at this year’s annual JAMBANA One World Festival are in for a treat with two of Reggae’s hottest rising stars, dubbed The Next Big Thing.

Ikaya and Dalton Harris are two voices whose music has been blazing on radio airwaves around the world for the past year.

Ikaya’s hit Ugly Girl which was included on VP Records Reggae Gold, 2015, and Dalton Harris’s You Will Know (a Stevie Wonder cover) established both artists as performers who not only have the look but the depth of vocal range and taste to complement those looks.

Performing with Ikaya and Dalton Harris will be the smooth sounds of Iley Dread whose song Lover’s Holiday gained him international attention.

“JAMBANA One World Festival is known around the world for being festive and a great platform, so these brilliant performers have to be there. Iley Dread is a hometown favorite so you know him taking the stage is a must,” said Chris Chin, president of VP Records.

Denise Jones, CEO and co-founder of JAMBANA One World Festival, said; “This will be Ikaya and Dalton’s first appearance on a major stage in Canada and we know the fans are going to give them a lot of Canadian love. Iley has a strong fan base who will be happy to see and hear him, and that’s the JAMBANA way.”

“This will be our first festival in Canada,” said Dalton, “and we are really excited about it!”

“We have heard so much about the festival and having satellite TV, were able to see the ads on Global TV so we can’t wait to perform for all those people,” added Ikaya. Both were contacted at Penthouse Recording Studios in Jamaica.

For the festival, VP Records is also sharing the VP 50 Years of Reggae Music art installation, a celebration of the journey of great Jamaican popular music. The 40 ft. by 20 ft. installation is curated by Michael Thompson aka FREESTYLE and includes a comprehensive map outlining the impact of Reggae in countries in each continent, including Canada.

The seventh-annual JAMBANA One World Festival, presented by Jones & Jones Productions Ltd., will see a fusion of world cultures at Markham Fair Grounds on Sunday, Aug. 2 and Monday, Aug. 3, from 1 to 9:30 p.m. both days. The festival is supported by long-time TV partner Global Toronto and a new addition, The Toronto Sun.

For more information, visit www.JAMBANA.com.