House of David Gang performs at the TD IRIE Music Festival on Sunday, July 31st at Queen’s Park.

Now featuring a new generation of talented artists alongside founding members King Selah and Collin “Jahlin” Edwards, House of David Gang is Canada’s busiest touring reggae band. Rooted in the timeless tradition of Jamaican roots reggae from the 70s and early 80s as embodied by the immortal Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, and Bunny Wailer; House of David Gang adds a potent mix of jazz, funk and afrobeat to create a true global reggae orchestra.

The House of David Gang takes its name from the legendary House of David afterhours on Queen Street West in Toronto, where King Selah, Jahlin and other artists from the city’s burgeoning reggae scene would meet to jam until sunrise. Over the years, members have included players from essential Toronto reggae bands such as the Resinators, Explorer Band, Revelation, Selassie I Power and many more. Today, some of the Canada’s finest reggae musicians & vocalists, such as 2-time Juno nominee Jason Wilson, 2011 Juno nominee Tonya P and Michael Garrick, often take the stage as special guests along side Selah (vocals), Jahlin (drums), Jay Cleary (guitar), Snappy Homefry (bass) and Todd Britton (keys).

In the last several years, “The Gang” has been one of Canada’s busiest touring reggae bands. Their annual Bob Marley Birthday Tribute and Food Drive tour has become a staple of the winter music calendar across Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada. In Toronto, hundreds of reggae lovers come out for their springtime Original Wailers Showcase and Peter Tosh Tribute. House of David Gang has performed in front of thousands at the Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival, Atlantic Jazz Festival, Evolve Festival, Nufunk Festival, The Word On The Street, Ottawa Reggaefest, Toronto Freedom Festival, and more.

Now, House of David Gang proudly releases its new single “Reggae Party”. This King Selah original pays homage to the great reggae vinyl tradition, capturing the band’s warmth, energy and passion for roots reggae as it was meant to be heard. On the flip side is “Right Now” by fellow Toronto roots rockers Friendlyness & The Human Rights.

www.houseofdavidgang.com

Progress performs at the TD IRIE Music Festival on Saturday, July 30th at Queen’s Park.

Progress’s music is a reflection of his life experiences and his faith. Progress is known for his socially relevant lyrics and his explosive live shows. Progress although learning his craft in the Caribbean has a distinct Toronto flavor to his music. This is evident in the many different influences he incorporates into reggae such as Hip-hop, jazz and Soul. Born in Barbados Progress forged his unique style doing local shows throughout the island. Progress’s music began getting attention due to his socially conscious message and aggressive style, this in turn lead to him being featured on several local compilations and gaining radio play. Leaving Barbados in the 90’s Progress moved to Canada where he incorporated the different influences around him. It was there that Progress honed his skills and developing a live show is one of the most energetic and dynamic in Canada, Progress’s live show takes the listener on a journey through a musical landscape, blending high energy party anthems, social commentary and audience participation seamlessly. Progress has shared the stage with Common, Erykah Badu, Beres Hammond, Frankie Paul, Maxi Priest, Tarrus Riley and many more. With the release of his latest album MAKING PROGRESS, Progress intends to expose the world to his message and share his journey of love and struggle

Likkle More performs at the TD IRIE Music Festival on Monday, August 1st at Queen’s Park

Likkle More is the brainchild of the band’s lead singers and sisters, Natalie and Marsha Hayle. Their messages and sound is fused with rich groove and soul and brings a truly honest and authentic roots reggae vibe! Their genuine groove draws from a gospel-like perspective and gives much respect to influences that include the reggae greats; Robert Nesta Marley, Dennis Brown, J.C. Lodge, Tanya Stephens, Carlene Davis, Marcia Griffiths, Cynthia Schloss, Beres Hammond, Freddie MacGregor, Jimmy Cliff, and Barrington Levy.

The documentary tells the story of the Rocksteady era (1966-69), considered by music experts to be the golden age of Jamaican music. A blend of ska, soul and R&B, Rocksteady developed the buoyant rhythms, prominent bass line, beautiful vocals and socially conscious lyrics that became Reggae. Forty years after Rocksteady’s peak, the documentary filmmakers brought the remaining great Rocksteady singers and musicians together to record an album of their greatest hits, to perform live at a reunion concert and to tell their stories – all of it captured in this stunning film.

The singers featured in Rocksteady: The Roots of Reggae are Judy Mowatt, Marcia Griffiths and Dawn Penn, Hopeton Lewis, Stranger Cole, Derrick Morgan, Ken Boothe, Leroy Sibbles and U-Roy. Among the musicians are Ernest Ranglin, Sly Dunbar, Jackie Jackson, Gladstone Anderson, Hux Brown, Bongo Herman and Scully Simms. A special guest star in the film is Rita Marley, who along with, Judy Mowatt and Marcia Griffiths made up the I-Threes, Bob Marley’s backup singers during his rapid rise to stardom. These artists reunite to take audiences on a trip through time with such legendary hits as Rivers of Babylon, The Tide Is High, No,No,No (You Don’t Love Me) and Stop That Train.

The feature was produced by Muse Entertainment of Canada and HesseGreutert Films of Switzerland and directed by Stascha Bader.

Africa Unite is a singular and masterfully executed film by Stephanie Black that is at once concert tribute, Marley family travelogue, and humanitarian documentary, igniting the screen with the spirit of world-renowned reggae icon BOB MARLEY in its every frame. In commemoration of Bob’s 60th birthday, Africa Unite is centered on the Marleys’ first-time-ever family trip to Ethiopia in 2005. Includes rare footage of the legendary reggae icon Bob Marley.

There in the capital city of Addis Ababa, three generations of Marleys take part in a 12-hour concert attended by more than 300,000 people from around the world, with the ultimate purpose of inspiring young generations of Africans to unite for the future of their continent.

Features exuberant on-stage spots as well as a soundtrack brimming with Bob Marley studio classics. Includes appearances by UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador/actor Danny Glover, world music sensation and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador AngéliqueKidjo, Bob Marley’s mother, Mrs. Booker, and Princess Mary, granddaughter of His Imperial Majesty HaileSelassie I. Produced and directed by Stephanie Black (Life & Debt, H-2 Worker), and Executive Produced by Rita Marley, Cedella Marley, Danny Glover and Joslyn Barnes.

I Brilliance performs at the TD IRIE Music Festival at Queen’s Park, date TBA.

I Brilliance is a multi-talented Jamaican Canadian artist born Kareem Green in Toronto. He started his career as a DJ spinning reggae, funk, hip hop and pop recordings. Even as a pre-teen, I Brilliance showed great skill in selecting old school roots reggae and hip hop records to rock parties and social functions. During the late 1990′s, he used his knowledge and experience in music to launch a career as a DJ as reggae MC’s are called. That transformation coincided with a visit to Jamaica where he lived for a couple of years with the intention of observing, learning and participating in the vibrant dancehall reggae industry.

As a recording artist, I Brilliance has a distinctive sound. It is different from the Jamaican style and is not typical of Canadian reggae. He has achieved this unique approach by bringing together his experience with hip hop, R&B, jazz and roots reggae to make his sound something more than what is expected from the usual dancehall recordings. His vocal style distinguishes itself by combining a fervent melodic singing voice with a gritty DJ growl.

Donna Makeda performs at the TD IRIE Music Festival on Sunday, July 31st at Queen’s Park

Donna Makeda started singing and performing 25 years ago, her foundation in music came from the church, which she attended when she was a little girl. Donna started out as a dancer; she was trained in Afro-Caribbean Dance, Modern Dance, Folk Dance, Kathak and Classical Ballet. At age 16, she opened her own dance & aerobics school called “Burning Flame International” Dance Troupe. By the time Donna got to Canada, she had already been performing extensively throughout Guyana with her dance troupe. Singing at that time was just a fun thing for her. Upon siting Ras Tafari, Donna began to take her music more seriously and began writing lyrics and practicing on sound systems, singing at various stage shows and winning many competitions. Upon migrating to Canada in early 1990 as a worker in the entertainment field, Donna did her first international stage show and captivated her audience to the point where Denise Jones of Jones & Jones Productions decided to manage Donna’s musical career. From there on in, it was just upward movements for Donna. Although that contract/relationship dissolved within one year, Donna kept on promoting herself and releasing her music.

Without a doubt, her voice is her wealth; her intellect a cultural strength, and her stage presence is an expression of royal heritage.

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