IRD produces TV special and hosts virtual launch of new singles, websites and events

June 18, 2011

Kingston, Jamaica -- International Reggae Day’s 24 hour online media festival is the virtual launch pad for several new singles including two from Bombrush Records featuring TOK and Tarrus Riley, one each from Sizzla and Jesse Royal from the Brazilian “Bambas Dois” project , re-releases from Crueshal Substance and more; Also launching on July 1 are the brand new Jamaican website kush-i.net and two New York internet radio shows, Real Talk and Reggae Calling.

The media festival anchored at www.ireggaeday.com, is hosting a 24 hour online Reggae party and inviting Reggae fans worldwide to wear their Reggae colours and explore other genres within Jamaica’s musical experience. International media networks are also invited to explore the roots and branches of Jamaican music and its impact on the world including Mento, Ska, Rock Steady and Dancehall. This 24-hour global media festival hosted by Jamaica, celebrates the nation’s music, creativity, and global influence.

This year, IRD, in association with Television Jamaica (TVJ) will air a television special called “ROOTS. ROCK. REGGAE. Connecting The Roots To The Branches”, spotlighting some of Jamaica’s most promising Generation Next artistes. The special will air in prime time on TVJ and stream from www.ireggaeday.com on July 1^st, featuring rising stars Jesse Royal, Jah 9, Chantelle Ernandez and performing band Raging Fyah along with Reggae Ambassador Luciano.

This year’s lineup for the local and international 24-hour media festival also includes the launch of the Bambas Dois project, and the IRD Top 200 Jamaican music list. Jamaican media houses already confirmed to participate are TVJ, HITZ, RJR, FAME, IRIE, KOOL, BESS, MEGA JAMZ, MELLO, ROOTS, HOT 102, HYPE, CTV and JUICE TV. A number of internet radio stations and websites are also confirmed including ???

This year, IRD will be celebrated with the help of strategic media and creative brand partners, who will host free Reggae lifestyle parties in Jamaica and overseas. Participating international partners include Spur Tree lounge in NYC and the Bambas Dois launch party in Sao Paulo, Brasil. A number of ongoing local event series including Plug n Play and Tuff Gong Vinyl Party in Kingston are also IRD endorsed events celebrating July 1.

IRD showcases the best of Jamaica, global Reggae, and the next generation of music legends, honouring the very best of a culture that perseveres in adversity, excels against extreme odds and breathes an indomitable love of life into a music that is the heartbeat of enduring optimism.

IRD 2011 is proud to honour three icons of Reggae music: Burning Spear, Gregory Issacs and the Crown Prince of Reggae Dennis Brown (whose memorial, incidentally, also falls on July 1). Media around the world are invited to showcase the music of these icons on July 1 as part of their programming specials. In recognition of these honourees, on June 30th, a special Reggae symposium titled “Saluting Reggae Vanguards’ will be held and streamed online in association with the University of the West Indies.

Kingston-based companies, Jamaica Art Holdings (JAH) Ltd and The Higher Intelligence Agency (HIA) Ltd, produce the annual global media festival and coordinate the international event series.