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Happy Valentine’s day. Today is even more special as we announce the nominees for the 4th Annual Virginia Reggae Awards. Please show some love for the nominees by Voting now!

Happy Valentine’s day. Today is even more special as we announce the nominees for the 4th Annual Virginia Reggae Awards. Please show some love for the nominees by Voting now!

Promoter’s Award
Quiva Productions
Lion Heart promotions
B.I.M promotions

Producer’s Award
Chris “Peanut” Whitley – As A People
The laundromat – Blazin hot fyah
Sleepy Wonder – Emotional

Sound System Award
Higher Level
Kingdom Sound
Quickdraw

Va. Reggae Ambassador Award
Chris”Peanut” Whitley
Ras Attitude
James Red Dread Jackson

Favorite Song Award
Christopher Puma – As A People
Israel – Wumon
Ever-G  – Our Special Place

Favorite Album Award
Christopher Puma – Blazin Hot Fyah
Ever-G – Jah Love
Bobo General – Emotional

Favorite band Award
United Souls
Stable Roots
Antero

Media award
Slam Video Magazine
West Indian Times
Caribbean Shakedown w/ Bad joe

New Artist Award
Christopher Puma
Thin Air Rising
Greg Ward

Favorite Artist Award
I Ancient
Ras Attitude
Ever G

We are happy to announce Crucial Elements will be performing at this year’s, Virginia Reggae Awards. The awards take place on 14 May 2011.

We are happy to announce Crucial Elements will be performing at this year’s, Virginia Reggae Awards. The awards take place on 14 May 2011.

Crucial Elements started in 1999, gained many fans and enjoyed regional success until the band split up in 2003. Original members Chuckie Luv (drums/vox) and Austin – the Jahlifter (lead guitar/vox) re-assembled the group in 2006, adding Joshua on keys, Greg on guitar/vox, and ScottyP on bass. This lineup produced the album Jamocracy in 2007.

Later, Buttafly Vazquez was added on lead and back-up vocals and bassist ScottyP was replaced by Jason Jarrell. “Grow” is the next highly anticipated full length album to be released and should be available early 2011. With three and four piece harmony singing and intricately arranged original compositions Crucial
Elements is gaining fans all over the globe.

Notable bands we have played with include: Frankie Paul, The Abyssinians, The Wailers, Toots and the Maytalls, Culture, Israel Vibrations, SOJA , Dawn Penn, Eek-A-Mouse, John Brown’s Body, Stephen Marley, Pato Banton, The Meditations, Gregory Issacs, Fishbone, and Morgan Heritage.

http://crucialelementsmusic.com/

In the last three years the Virginia Reggae Awards has been held at various venues in Virginia Beach. This years Virginia Reggae Awards will be held in a different city.

In the last three years the Virginia Reggae Awards has been held at various venues in Virginia Beach. This years Virginia Reggae Awards will be held in a different city.
The 4th Annual Virginia Reggae Awards will be held in down town (Queens St.) Hampton, VA.

An outdoor setting is surely a plus for this family oriented affair. The awards celebration takes place on 14 May 2011.

We are please to announce that Katrice, from Slam Video Magazine, will co-host the 4th annual Virginia Reggae Awards.

We are please to announce that Katrice, from Slam Video Magazine, will co-host the 4th annual Virginia Reggae Awards.

Katrice is how most know her – a combination of her mama’s first & middle names… And sometimes will introduce herself as “Tricey Trice, so nice, u have to say it twice”, a nickname given by a close friend. Her vibes can be described as an Irie Ras Child, however the title of “Video Lady” is how she is known in the Reggae and Dancehall scene.

From the time she picked up the camera years ago to start chronicling Virginia’s Caribbean musical and cultural influences, it was never imagined that today because of her efforts, Virginia’s artists and dancers alike would reach a much wider international audience and help put VA on the map as a source of quality and substance.

S.L.A.M. (Streets, Life, Arts, Music) is the company that became her vehicle for video promotions, from music videos, to live concerts, to commercials and everything in between. Each videoshoot is taken serious and she takes much pride in her work. Never having formally studied to be a videographer, web or graphic designer, the skills accounted for certainly come from the heart, and a determined spirit, using eagle eye precision to get things ‘just’ right to reflect the feel and mood of the artist and what is being portrayed. These skills combined with the multi-talented Producer/Director, Yorle, has come together, getting stronger everytime, and as a result, the voters of the Virginia Reggae Awards have granted the category of ‘Best Media’ to them 3 years in a row, and in the running again for a 4th year.

“Really, its a love for the people and their genius, appreciation of the various Caribbean cultures that abound, and an opportunity for me to make a difference and share it with the world”, she says that keeps S.L.A.M.’s Video Lady unceasing in her visual craftwork.

MYSLAMTV.COM – ALL NEW!
SLAMVIDEOMAGAZINE.COM
FB.COM/SLAMVIDEO
MYSPACE.COM/SLAMDVD

SLAMVIDEO@GMAIL.COM
757.450.2792
YouTube.com/irieraschild

We are happy to tell you that Thin Air Rising will be performing at this year’s, Virginia Reggae Awards. They have risen really fast on the reggae circuit, even though they are quite new. The awards take place on 14 May 2011.

We are happy to tell you that Thin Air Rising will be performing at this year’s, Virginia Reggae Awards. They have risen really fast on the reggae circuit, even though they are quite new. The awards take place on 14 May 2011.

Thin Air Rising was formed in 2007 and appeared in the Virginia Beach music sceane out of thin air – with a variaty of infused reggae and beach rock adding a 3 peice horn section in 2009 the sound become a strong and driving force in Virginia -Wow what a great year 2010 has been for T.A.R. – We have shared the stage with Blues Traveler, Pato Banton, Badfish, Indecision, Passafire, Freadom Hawk , Jesse Chong Band, Bimini rd., Jackmove, Iration, Ballyhoo, ASG and many more) Thanks guys!!! We are also excited to announce we have finished recording “LIFTED” a full length album due out in febuary right in time to be under da tree !!!!! BLESS

http://www.reverbnation.com/#!/thinairrising

Greetings Brothers and Sisters. Peanut here once again. Well I played with my other project, Corey Harris & The Rasta Blues Experience (1/08/2011) at The Ellington in Lynchburg Va.

Greetings Brothers and Sisters. Peanut here once again. Well I played with my other project, Corey Harris & The Rasta Blues Experience (1/08/2011) at The Ellington in Lynchburg Va.

It was a blessful day from the start. Got alot done early so i could clear up my mind and focus on the show we had later. Jayson met up with me at my house around 1pm and we packed up my gear and drove over to Charlottesville to meet Corey and Saxman Jones. Reached over there and we hailed each other up and packed up the van and drove on down to Lynchburg. Had a scheduled 4pm load in so we had to move quick.Reached right at 4pm and loaded in the gear and looked around.

The Ellington was in a old theater from the early 1900’s. Had alot of vibes in there. Looked on the wall of all the artist who played there. Very very nice.
Anyway after looking around a bit i put up the backdrop and set up my gear and we waited till the sound man was ready for us to sound check.

We went over a few songs and tighten up some endings and headed to the hotel to check in.Ordered some Chinese food and had just enough time to eat and change clothes and get back over to the venue.

Reached and the place was totally packed. Looked sold out . Always a great feeling and thing to see. I got with the merchandise people and set up the merch booth and headed backstage to get Corey ready for his solo portion of the night. The vibe in the house was irie and they where ready to have a good time by all the noise they where making. The MC got onstage and brought on Corey to a standing ovation. Corey performed for a half hour. Wicked set of acoustic blues and great vocals. Crowd loved it.

As he called us on stage the crowd stood up again as we got situated and went right into Redemption Song featuring Gordon Saxman Jones. Saxman Jones had the crowd in his hands as they cheered and clapped as he gave his jazz rendition of Bob Marley’s classic song. Right after that we went into the show intro right into Santoro. The dance floor got packed quick as the people got out there seats to have a good time.

Look At You off the blu black album was up next followed by Esta Loco.Corey and The Rasta Blues Experience was in full swing and sounding great as it showed by the crowds response. E blues blew the house down featuring wicked solos by Saxman Jones and Corey Harris.

Mami Wata was up next paying tribute to New Orleans right into Sista Rose. The people was having a great time listening to the vast diversity of the band and how we go in and out of different genres of music.The came the Reggae part of the show. We started out the medley with Cleanliness off the Zion Crossroads album into Babylon Walls into The Ark Of The Covenant and last Sweatshop. The people was screaming and yelling as they thought they where on vacation in the islands having fun. Ha Ha. It was fun to watch from the stage.

After Corey chatted with the crowd for a second we went into More precious Than Gold off the Daily Bread album. Next up was Better Way a ska tune that is guaranteed to have you on your feet.Next up was A blues that had all the blues fans on the floor dancing and having a good time. 5×5 and Hiding Place came next and the dance floor stayed packed as the people showed there appreciation for the music. Ended the night with the blues song Bumble Bee right into Baseheads off the Greens In The Garden Cd. Featuring Corey on the Lap Steel moving the people.

As we came off stage to a standing ovation they kept yelling for more. Corey went back up and did two solo blues songs and the people loved it.

It was a bless night in Lynchburg. Big Up for all the vibes. Hope to come back and do it again. Blessings until next time Peanut.

Greetings Brothers and Sisters. Peanut here once again.Stable Roots backed up Ever-G up last night(1/3.2011) at Martini Kitchen in Richmond Va

Greetings Brothers and Sisters. Peanut here once again.Stable Roots backed up Ever-G up last night(1/3.2011) at Martini Kitchen in Richmond Va.

The day started out for me resting my back from injury last week.Practiced alittle bit and then it was time to head out to Charlottesville VA. to meet Greg Ward(Guitarist/Bassist) and Brent Finlen(Drummer). Got there around 6pm and we loaded up and drove on down to Richmond. Got there round 7pm and unloaded and set up. Ras Mel who is setting in with us was already there. Hailed him up and reasoned for a few as we ate some fish and salad. Gordon Saxman Jones came in as we got done eating and was getting ready to sound check.

At sound check we went over some of the songs for tonight since Greg was setting in for Jayson(Bass Player) for the night.Steal My Joy , Rockfort Rock and Swing Easy we went over. Sounded good.During sound check Ever G walked in and we went back into Steal My Joy and he sang it to check his mic.

The vibe in the house was irie as people was filling in early.Went over and set up the computer for the live stream feed off Ustreamtv.com. Talked with DJ, Iyon and Av Vidal WAAP as they sat up.

Soon it was time for the show. Started out the night with 2 instrumentals,first up was Rockfort Rock right into Swing Easy Riddim.Featuring solos by Ras Mel and Saxman Jones.The crowd loved that as we went right into the show intro for Ever G. First song up was Stir It Up which had the crowd singing and dancing along. The first set was high energy with Ever G working the crowd and having a good time. We did a mixture of originals and cover songs.. Some of the originals where Let Jah Music Play,True To Myself,Independence and World Peace to name a few. Some of the covers where Waiting In Vain, Cool Off The Vibes,It’s Me Again Jah, Hypocrites. All the tunes had the crowd dancing and enjoying themselves.

At set break i got to reason with alot of the bredren and sistren in the place.Yellomoon was in the house, Ras Anatole was in the house,Ras Nate,DJ Williams, Brother Phillip,Chuckie Youth to name a few. Always good to see the elders and the roots posse come forward. I got to big up Joe Blunt Bailey in the house as well and he brought the Djembe and sat in with us on percussion along side my boy from Antero Jake aka The Mayor.

By the time we was starting the second set the place got more crowded and the people was ready for some more live reggae music. Started out with Loves Got A Hold On Me, got the dance floor packed immediately.Ever G sometimes sounds just like Dennis Brown. Love & Hate was up next. Then Ever G brought up Ras Anatole to do War that rocked the house.Followed by original tunes Mission and Life. I must say the highlight for me the second set was when we went into No Woman, No Cry featuring Ras Mel on guitar sounded just like the Live version we all here of that song. Ras Mel did every guitar lick. The crowd loved it. Night nurse was up next right into the last song of the night which was One Love that had the whole place on the dance floor and dancing and singing along.

After the show we packed up and reasoned with everyone for awhile and then headed on home. I just want to say Big Up Richmond you large , you are now officially the Home of Stable Roots. Until next time Bless. Peanut

We are excited about the Virginia Reggae scene this year. There are lots of shows by VA bands and the dancehall continues to thrive. Roots Reggae nights with DJ’s and Sound Systems are more frequent. See events page for more info.

We are excited about the Virginia Reggae scene this year. There are lots of shows by VA bands and the dancehall continues to thrive. Roots Reggae nights with DJ’s and Sound Systems are more frequent. See events page for more info.

Virginia Reggae Awards: We are still in round one(1) of the Virginia Reggae Awards. We want to encourage you to continue to vote. Round one(1) ends in February. You can vote as often as you wish in round one www.VirginiaReggaeAwards.com

Special Award for 2011: This year we will be giving out a special award to the individual or group with the most points at the end of round two (2) which begins in February. The Award will be given out at the celebrations on 14 May 2011.

Buckroe Beach Reggae Fest: Free Reggae Festival on the Beach. Date is 19Th March 2011. Visit them on Facebook and www.Buckroebeachreggaefest.com

Virginia Reggae Live: Every monday morning tune into Virginia Reggae Live. The show is from 9am – 11 am. The show is archived each week. Music from artist who at some point called VA home or were born in VA.
www.virginiareggae.com/content/virginia-reggae-live

Sign up for an account and you can post all of your events or someone else event for free. www.virginiareggae.com/user/register

Vinyl only Reggae Nights are becoming the fun thing to do in Hampton Roads. Pop into one of these events and listen to the crackling of records. Some attendees have expressed that they “were happy to see vinyl alive and well in Reggae. Others are having had their first vinyl experience.

We will be featuring Chris Peanut Whitley’s blog: Life As A Musician