Jambana jammin’ in Brampton

By Stephen Weir

Koffee

What a long  August 3rd weekend it is going to be. Sweat to death on the road with Caribana on Saturday, then chill out in Brampton to the live sounds of Reggae on Sunday and catch a 50 million viewer Jamaican star in downtown Toronto on holiday Monday night!

Jambana, the annual August long-weekend Reggae and Roots festival, will now be outdoors on Sunday August 4th. Last year the Sunday portion of the two-day festival was held inside at Brampton’s CAA Centre, this year it will be non-stop reggae at the epicentre of the city – the Garden Square at the corner of Main and Queen Streets.

“This is a great move for Jambana” explained Jesse Jones, one of the key organizers of the event. “We are in Garden Square for Day 1 and yes it’s fun for the family and yes, unlike last year it is FREE. Entertainment all day, food, arts, crafts, dance and non-stop vibes from 1pm until 9pm, Sunday.”

The second day of Jambana is in Toronto where Reggae Big Names will be performing in a concert hall environment. “Day 2 is KOFFEE live at the Phoenix Theatre and we will also be featuring Fujahtive and Exco Levi & High Priest!” reported Jesse Jones.

“Jambana is now in its 11th year and we have been blessed with growth and development over the years. We are thankful for the phenomenal support of our Canadian friends and family and an increasing number of friends from across the US and around the world. The Jones & Jones team is delighted to produce this event that is truly fun for the whole family”, says Denise Jones, Executive Producer of JAMBANA One World Festival, President of Jones & Jones Productions Ltd and mother of Jesse Jones.

The downtown venue in Brampton is totally accessible and is designed to hold concerts and dance performances.

On Sunday there will be over a dozen music and dance performances  including Jeffery “Kafinal” Williams who won this year’s Juno for Reggae Recording of the Year for Talk or No Talk, a song he is sure to perform live on Garden Square.

Forty-three after releasing her first reggae album Canada, singer Nana McLean continues to tour and perform and looks forward to the Brampton gig. Other acts include the Sattalites with founder Fergus Hambleton, Warrior Love and Dance Caribe.

Jambana’s Holiday Monday evening ticketed show begins at 8pm at the Phoenix Concert Theatre, on Sherbourne Street in downtown Toronto.  The headliner is 19-year old YouTube favourite Mikayla Simpson (aka Koffee) – her song “Toast” has already been seen by over 54 million people on YouTube. She is a Jamaican Reggae singer, songwriter, and rapper from Spanish Town, Jamaica.

“Also on the bill are Toronto’s eight-piece reggae band Fujahtive, Juno Award winner Exco Levi and High Priest” said Jones. “What a night!”