Kes The Band Launches New Single & iTunes APP

Kes (the band) this week announced the release of their newest single WEEKEND LOVE SONG off the unreleased album STEREOTYPE. The highly anticipated album will be released on June 1st 2011. It features the summer hit from 2010 LET ME KNOW, plus RED LIGHT , Loving You (feat Tessanne Chin) and CASANOVA.

The album is a combination of POP/ Dance infused with soca inspired melodies and beats. The group worked very closely with Madmen Productions on all the music and they are extremely excited about this new album which will be their second complete album for 2011 !

Last year the Kes pop/dance crossover song LET ME KNOW was picked up by Six Flags to be played throughout all their Amusement Parks in a New Music segment and also by American Airlines to play on their in-flight programs. On a recent trip to London KES was invited to perform three songs for a live segment on the BBC World channel.

The most recent achievement of the band includes winning one of the biggest competitions in the Caribbean for the song WOTLESS. KES is now the Groovy Monarch holder for 2011. Their WOTLESS Carnival album continues to sell out in stores locally and internationally.

The band continues to be innovative and find ways to keep their fans up to date with what they are doing and they are excited to release their very first ITUNES APP. Fans can go on Itunes and download the KES app that will feature all the latest news, tour dates, music and also connects fans to all their social networking sites. The link for this download is:

http://itunes.apple.com/app/id434835260

Coming soon is the KES App for the Android and Blackberry.

The band has just returned from some very successful tours, including sold out shows in Miami and NYC, Jamaica and Cayman Islands.

The bands tour dates include:
- New York, (Memorial Weekend, Six Flags in July and Labour Day weekend)
- Miami
- DC
- Houston
- Antigua
- Barbados
- Grenada
- St Vincent
- Toronto

For more information you can find them on Facebook: KES THE BAND, www.reverbnation.com/KES THE BAND

Digicel Rising Stars Is All New For 8th Season

After seven successful years, Digicel Rising Stars has made the bold move to present an All New 8th season complete with new host, new judges and new format.

“We made a few changes last year to test the waters, and now we’ve decided to go bold and completely transform the series. We believe that the changes will bring a new energy to the show, taking the same show Jamaican fell in love with seven years ago and giving it a 2011 makeover.” Explained the show’s Producer, Sharon Schroeter.

New Host

Terri-Karelle Reid will take over the Digicel Rising Stars main stage for Season 8. The All-Jamaican beauty says she plans on being her usual spunky, bubbly, down-to earth self: “I think it is very important to have fun with it but also relate to the contestants and create a relaxing vibe and a comfortable environment for them.”

New Judges
The handsome music producer, artiste, disc jockey and radio personality, Orett Hart known as Bambino will have a new title to add to his extensive résumé: Judge of Digicel Rising Stars. The comedic DJ has nearly two decades of experience in the music business and is excited about his new role.

The beautiful and powerful vocalist, Tessanne Chin, has a wealth of experience to share as Judge of Digicel Rising Stars. This talented soulful singer who has worked with artistes such as Shaggy, Third World and Jimmy Cliff and opened for famous international acts such as Patti Labelle and Gladys Knight, is eager to share her knowledge with the contestants.

Each week the two resident judges will be joined by a guest judge.

New Format
This year, the Live Show finalists will be cut down to 12 (from last year’s 16) and will be chosen only by the Judges and producers from the five auditions. In this way the producers can guarantee that quality will make the live stage rather than popularity.

The Producers will also this year introduce the DRS Fast Pass which gives lucky persons the chance to skip the preliminary stages at auditions and go straight through to be viewed by the judges. With auctions starting on Saturday May 21, the producers have already started to scout for talent at karaoke’s across the island with DRS Fast Passes in hand.

The auditions will be aired on TVJ in two 1-hour shows beginning on Sunday June 19. The Audition shows will combine the highlights of the five 1-day auditions conducted in May Pen, Portmore, Montego Bay, Ocho Rios and Kingston.

The 1-hour Live shows, which begin on Sunday July 3, will air on TVJ at 8PM with a brand new set design. And back by popular demand is the separate Results Show. The 30-minute Results Show will air on Saturdays starting at 9PM.

Shelly-Ann Curran, Digicel’s Senior Sponsorship Manager promises that the new changes won’t detract from the main purpose of the show: “We are very proud of the journey of Digicel Rising Stars over the years and patrons and contestants alike are guaranteed a bigger, better 8th season for 2011. Digicel remains committed to continue to unearth talent and showcase them on a platform fit to take them to the next level – and that is exactly what the Digicel Rising Stars show provides.

“It’s going to be an all new exciting season so get ready to start voting for your favorite Digicel Rising Star”.

The All New Digicel Rising Stars kicks off with auditions beginning Saturday May 21 in May Pen. Digicel, KFC, Pepsi, TVJ, The Star, Knutsford Court Hotel and the Courtleigh Auditorium are all back on board as sponsors and are excited about the 2011 makeover.

ABOUT THE SHOW

Launched on TVJ in 2004, Digicel Rising Stars is Jamaica’s first live televised talent search. In 2011 the most popular local show on Jamaican TV goes into its 8th season with ALL NEW changes.

ALL NEW CHANGES FOR SEASON 8

There will be many exciting changes for the 8th Season of Digicel Rising Stars:

All New Format

All New Host

All New Judges

All New Set Design

FORMAT

The separate Results Show is BACK by popular demand! The 30 minute Results Show will air on Saturdays starting at 9PM

From the Auditions, a total of 12 Finalists will selected by the Judges and Producers for the Live shows. All Live shows will be held at the Courtleigh Auditorium from 8PM – 9PM with the Live Final show airing from 8PM – 10PM.

Look out for new and exciting Theme nights in Season 8



HOST

Terri-Karelle Reid will be the All New Host of Digicel Rising Stars



JUDGES

Season 8 will introduce 2 ALL NEW resident judges: Bambino & Tessanne Chin

The two resident judges will be joined by guest judges each week.



CONTESTANT AUDITIONS

Auditions will take place in 5 locations across the Island for only 1 day.

12 Finalists will be selected by the Judges and Producers for the Live Shows.

Public voting starts at Live Shows.

Saturday May 21 – Leiba’s Gas Station, May Pen

Sunday May 22 – Portmore Town Centre, Portmore

Saturday May 28 – The Wexford, Montego Bay

Sunday May 29 – Island Village, Ocho Rios

Saturday June 4 – Girl Guides HQ, Kingston

Digicel Rising Stars is open to anyone over the age of 16, who is not currently signed to a management or recording contract, and is a citizen of Jamaica or has a visa, entitling them to enter and work in Jamaica. At the auditions, participants may either perform individually or in groups of up to six. With six auditions this season, participants who are unsuccessful at one location may try again at any other location.

AIRING DATES & TIMES

June 19 – September 25

Saturdays 9PM – 9:30PM

Sundays 8PM – 9PM

AIRING SCHEDULE

Sunday Jun 19 – Audition Show 1
Sunday Jun 26 – Audition Show 2
Sunday Jul 3 - Live show 1
Saturday Jul 9 - Results Show 1

Sunday Jul 10 – Live show 2
Saturday Jul 16 - Results Show 2

Sunday Jul 17 - Live show 3
Saturday Jul 23 - Results Show 3

Sunday Jul 24 - Live show 4
Saturday Jul 30 - Results Show 4

Sunday Jul 31 - Live show 5
Saturday Aug 6 - Results Show 5

Sunday Aug 7 - Live show 6
Saturday Aug 13 - Results Show 6

Sunday Aug 14 - Live show 7
Saturday Aug 20 - Results Show7

Sunday Aug 21 - Live show 8
Saturday Aug 27 - Results Show 8

Sunday Aug 28 - Live show 9
Saturday Sep 3 - Results Show 9

Sunday Sep 4 - Live show 10
Saturday Sep 10 - Results Show 10

Sunday Sep 11 - Live show 11
Saturday Sep 17 - Results Show 11

Sunday Sep 18 – Final Live Show

Sunday Sep 25 - Live Final Results Show



PRIZES

The 2011 Digicel Rising Star will receive J$1,000,000 and a music video

2nd place receives J$600,000

3rd place receives J$400,000

SPONSORS

Digicel

KFC

Pepsi

TVJ

The Star

Knutsford Court Hotel

Courtleigh Auditorium

Roxwayne Looking For His Big Break With ‘Love Alone’‏

For many years, the Jamaican parish of Clarendon was best known for being the largest producer of the country’s sugar. But in addition to sprawling sugarcane plantations, it has produced some of the country’s finest reggae artistes. Singjay Roxwayne is not yet a household name, but he is keen on joining the list of great artistes who have come out of Clarendon with his latest releases for Sajay Productions.

Ironically, his latest song, “Love Alone”, was first recorded in 2009 but was recently released by that company. “They say good things come to those who wait and this song I believe can definitely do it for me,” Roxwayne says. “Love Alone” is among a clutch of songs Roxwayne has done for Sajay Productions, a Kingston-based company operated by Roymane Alexander, a nephew of the famous dancehall/reggae producer Henry ‘Junjo’ Lawes. “Money Haffi Mek” and “Hungry Days” are two other recordings the 25year-old Roxwayne has on Sajay’s growing catalogue.

He says they are considerably more sophisticated and professional than his first recording,

“Thanks and Praise”, a self-produced effort that was done in 2001 when he was just 15 years old. Roxwayne admits he was green when he made his recording debut. He believes being directed in the studio this time around made his current releases stronger. “I find there’s a lot more energy and things are a lot easier when someone is producing you,” he explained. “You get to know what you’re doing wrong from right.”

Roxwayne was born Cornelius Messam in the district of Fairburn, Clarendon. Located in Jamaica’s central region, Clarendon is where reggae greats like Toots Hibbert, Derrick Morgan, Freddie McGregor, Morgan Heritage patriarch Denroy Morgan and Barrington Levy were born.

Like Toots, Roxwayne’s first taste of music came in the church where his family had strong ties to the Church of God and Methodist denominations. Though he sang on the choir, he was struck by the secular sounds of Bob Marley, Dennis Brown and Garnet Silk during his teen years.

The roots message of those artistes also transformed young Cornelius Messam’s beliefs and he converted to Rastafari which has become the focus of his music. In the 1990s, Garnet Silk led a roots revival out of central Jamaica that included Clarendon-born singers Everton Blender and Uton Greene. Keep your ears out for Roxwayne, an artiste destined for the big times.