Labour Day weekend full of entertainment

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29: Jamaican reggae artist Jahmali is to headline a full day of entertainment taking place during the Labour Day weekend celebrations.

The internationally renowned artist, who recorded Mother’s Cry with Buju Banton, will perform on Sunday evening at the Island Vibes After Party at Victoria Park from 8pm to midnight.

The performance will wrap up a full day of local entertainment organized by the City of Hamilton starting with the postponed City Family Festival from 1pm to 7pm on Washington Street North and Dundonald Street, and the Summer Sundays Finalé — Island Vibes from 3pm to 8pm at Victoria Park.

Born Ryan Thomas in 1972, Jahmali was raised among the sugar plantations in the Jamaican countryside.

With a love for the dancehall sounds of Shabba Ranks, Red Dragon and Wayne Wonder, he moved to the capital Kingston to embark on his musical career.

The artist began voicing hits for Roof International’s Barry O’Hare among others and first made his name with the hit song El Shaddai on the album of the same name.

His association with O’Hare led to a collaboration with Mikey Spice of the Ingredients record label who produced for Jahmali’s Let Jah Be Praised and Only Love.

Jahmali’s critically acclaimed debut album featured top Jamaican artists including Earl ‘Chinna’ Smith, Sly and Robbie, Stephen ‘Cat’ Coore and Aston ‘Familyman’ Barrett.

His success was further boosted when he recorded Mother’s Cry with Buju Banton on Banton’s 1997 release Inna Heights. Jahmali later released Cry People and Politics.

He will share the stage with Bermuda’s own Princess Black, and the Conscious Reggae Movement who will perform a tribute to Bob Marley. There will also be music from DJ Chubb and DJ Mannie who will play until midnight. Tickets for the evening concert are $15 with part proceeds going to the Chewstick Foundation, the Women’s Resource Centre and the Mirrors Programme.

The City of Hamilton’s Labour Day celebrations begin earlier on Sunday afternoon with the free City Family Festival which was postponed from last week due to bad weather. The events are aimed at children and their families and include child and adult rides, fair stalls, go karts, free face painting and a dunk tank with Evolution fashion show models. There will be video games on plasma screens as well as a summer camp art displays and giveaways.

Later in the day is the free Summer Sundays Island Vibes which marks the last of the Summer Sundays series. The theme is soca, reggae and Latin and entertainment includes The Unit, Live Wires and the Yellow Brick Road, Jahstice, Raymond Clark, Dawns Fiery Limbo, Seabreeze Salsa, Robert Symonds Steel Pans, and Places Gombeys. The event will be hosted by ‘Power Girl’ Patrina O’Connor-Paynter.

The paid for Island Vibes After Party featuring Jahmali continues afterwards from 8pm to midnight.

• The Labour Day weekend celebrations also include Movies in The Park organized by Star Time Entertainment. Showing at the Botanical Gardens on Friday is Pirates at 8:30pm and Think Like A Man at 10:30pm.

On Saturday at the same location will be Journey 2 at 8:30pm and Hunger Games at 10:30pm.

Then on Saturday, the 17th annual Sand Sculpture Competition takes place from 10am to 4pm on Horseshoe Bay.

The weekend’s celebrations culminate with Monday’s carnival style Labour Day celebrations on Union Square from 11am. There will be Labour Day-inspired music, food stalls, and a host of other entertainment.