Digicel Rising Stars Call In Auditions

May 25; Kingston, Jamaica: The phone lines are now open for the All New Digicel Rising Stars’ Call In auditions. Contestants who are unable to attend the 5 auditions happening island-wide now have the option to call 444-2443 and record a 30 second demo in the hopes of getting a call back.

The dedicated Digicel line, which opened on Friday May 20, has already received thousands of calls from all across the island. “We sent text messages over the weekend to all our loyal voters through the years to let them know about the Call In audition line and we also let our Facebook and Twitter fans know and the response so far has been tremendous.” Explained the show’s Producer, Sharon Schroeter.

The Call In audition line, which costs contestants $10 per call, gives persons the opportunity to both register and audition. When contestants call they will be prompted to leave their name, parish, age and their 30 second audition. And since persons are allowed to call as many times as they like they have as many chances as possible to improve and “come again”.

Shelly-Ann Curran, Digicel’s Senior Sponsorship Manager explains the reason for opening the line: “The producers of Digicel Rising Stars have always tried to ensure that everyone has an opportunity at stardom. We at Digicel feel the same way and have dedicated a line specifically for the auditions so that everyone in Jamaica who thinks they have talent has the opportunity to audition, no matter their situation. So for those persons who just can’t make it to the auditions, now it is just a call away, and they can enter as many times as they like. This year, Digicel is making sure everyone has a chance at stardom.”

The All New Digicel Rising Stars’ Call In audition line 444-2443 is now up and running and 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 work in Jamaica. Contestants are able to leave as many entries as they like and will be contacted by the show’s producers if successful.

And for those who like making the trek to auditions, Montego Bay (May 28), Ocho Rios (May 29) and Kingston (June 4) are up next.

Tarrus Riley’s Love Scars Tackles Heartbreak

A failed relationship can in most cases cause severe heartbreak. That is the essence of Tarrus Riley’s brand new single Love Scars which was produced by Roshaun ‘Bay C’ Clarke of Bombrush Records.

This is the third time that Riley has teamed up with Clarke. One of their previous collaborations yielded the thought provoking Shaka Zulu Pickney a few months ago. Riley who is known for his healing and message music, said it was necessary for him to convey his thoughts on Love Scars. In a release to the media, Riley outlined his reasons.

“I felt it was important to tackle a subject of this nature. It is real because there are a lot of people walking around with different love scars. Sometimes relationships end on a bad note and it leaves emotional scars, so this song is real and relevant,” said Riley.

Riley had previously tackled a similar subject matter on the single Start Anew which was well-received by the public three years ago.

“I am a man telling a woman not to cry because it hurts inside to see the tears fall. At the same time I am apologizing for any man who has done her wrong but I can fix it if given the chance,” Riley explained the story behind Love Scars.

Asked to describe the chemistry working with Clarke, Riley said “Its very natural because we have a natural vibe. Him say Blak Soil and me say Bombrush.” Featured on the Red Planet rhythm project, Love Scars has elicited positive reviews from radio jocks since it was released to radio last week.

Clarke who is also a member of dancehall group TOK, opined that the message in Love Scars is strong and something that everyone can relate to. “Overall I think the message is very strong and relevant to our society today. There are a lot of us walking around with love scars,” said Clarke.

“It's always a cool vibe working with Tarrus. We both have a similar vision for the music so it's always an abundance of creative energy in the studio,” said Clarke. A video for Love Scars is expected to go into production in a matter of weeks.

Lazah Current drops A Better Tommorrow

Reggae singer Lazah Current is on the verge of a musical breakthrough.

The Manchester native, who once plied his trade on the Canadian music scene as a member of the Messenjah Reggae band, is currently making great strides as a solo artiste both locally and abroad.

Lazah Current recently returned to Jamaica from Canada to begin promotions on his sophomore album titled A Better Tomorrow.

The fifteen track album was produced by Anthony ‘Bassy’ Hibbert of Guerilla Music Productions which is a local music production company based in Gordon Town, St Andrew.

A Better Tomorrow was officially released and launched in Toronto, Canada on the 13th of May, 2011 at Lula’s Lounge. A Better tomorrow is available on leading internet music sites including Itunes, Rhapsody and Amazon.com, while its physical distribution is being handled by DJT Promotions Group Inc in New York.

Lazah Current whose real name is Hal Duggan is also enjoying much attention on the local airwaves with a track from the album titled Lately, which is currently in the number 6 position on the Jamaica Music Countdown Reggae chart. The supporting music video for Lately was shot in New York over a week ago and is currently being edited for release.

CARIBANA™ Will Not Be Renamed – 2011 Festival in Serious Doubt

Put your plans on hold as CARIBANA™ 2011 is in serious doubt. The CARIBANA™ ARTS GROUP (CAG), festival owners, founders and trademark holders of CARIBANA™ have not been able to reach an agreement with the Festival Management Committee (FMC), after numerous attempts, causing this year’s festival to be in doubt.

Sponsors are advised to withhold committing to contracts with the unauthorized manager of the festival as an injunction to stop the FMC in its tracks from attempting to rename the festival created and owned by the CCC (now CAG) is pending before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.

Contrary to perception, the court did not order a name change for the Caribana Festival. At a hearing on May 12th, 2011, the court made it clear that the Caribana trademark cannot be used by the Festival Management Committee. The ruling says, in part: R (Respondent) "will no longer use the trademark ‘Caribana’.” It (FMC) “consents to an order preventing such use." The CAG, creators and owners of the festival, did not seek to withdraw use of the Caribana name for the Festival. The idea to change the name was introduced by the FMC in a desperate attempt to circumvent CAG’s legal rights.

The judge’s decision was only part of an application by CAG to protect its trademark which includes the Caribana Festival. The proceedings to bar the FMC from attempting to re-name the festival are to continue in court as early as March 31st 2011. Changing the name of the festival is a desperate attempt by the FMC to avoid coming to mutually agreeable terms with the CAG.

Henry Gomez, Chair of the CARIBANA™ ARTS GROUP advises, “Sponsors and patrons who pay for costumes in the masquerade bands should be very cautious about putting their money into a festival that might not happen this year, and bandleaders should also be cautious about promised seed money.” He also stated, "Neither should they be aiding in the attempted theft of the Caribana Festival from our community, to profit a few individuals."

In keeping with the judge’s ruling, the CAG will return to court at month’s end with the details necessary to have an injunction which will prevent the FMC from holding a festival with the characteristics of Caribana on the Simcoe Day weekend.

About CARIBANA™ ARTS GROUP (CAG):

CARIBANA™ ARTS GROUP (CAG), formerly known as the Caribbean Cultural Committee (CCC) was incorporated in 1967 as the Caribbean Committee for Cultural Advancement for the purpose of celebrating Canada’s Centennial. The CAG is the legal owner of the CARIBANA™ Festival and Trade Mark and is chaired by Henry Gomez. In 2006, the City of Toronto appointed the Festival Management Committee to manage the CARIBANA™ Festival for one year only. FMC was intended to be the management arm of the CARIBANA organization, but wants to report directly to the City of Toronto, and not acknowledge CAG as the legal owners of the Festival.