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R.I.P. JAMMYLAND NYC
We at Easy Star are sad to report the closing of New York's venerable reggae emporium, JAMMYLAND. JAMMYLAND claims to have been Manhattan's first all reggae music store, though they may have arguments from some of the stores in the outer boroughs. Whatever the case, they made a big impact on the scene in New York in the '90s and '00s. Mostly selling re-press copies of impossible to find roots/dub classics, as well as new dancehall releases and a healthy dose of world music, it was more than just a record store. Through the years, JAMMYLAND played host to many in-store appearances and performances from such luminaries as MAD PROFESSOR, SAMMY DREAD, CONGO ROY ASHANTI, SISTER NANCY, BULLWACKIES, SISTER CAROL, MIKEY DREAD, DEREK HARRIOTT, JOHNNY OSBOURNE, CORNEL CAMPBELL, GLEN BROWN, LEROY SMART, RANKING JOE and many others.

JAMMYLAND also put out records over the years, mostly long out of print releases, like Augustus Pablo's JAVA JAVA. There was eventually a 24 track studio put into the basement, and JAMMYLAND's house band often accompanied artists in the tri-state area. Celebs including Steely Dan's Walter Becker, Matt Dillon, Jeru The Damaja, and ZZ TOP were all customers.

Easy Star tips its cap to Ira and the whole JAMMYLAND crew for many years of service to reggae in NYC. Hopefully everyone involved will move on to bigger and better things. More info »

ESAS LIVE WEBCAST FROM PORTUGAL
Next weekend will mark two exciting firsts for the Easy Star All-Stars: the band will play two shows in Portugal for the first time and one of them will be webcasted live, which means you won't need to book an expensive plane ticket to Lisbon to catch the action.

The first show is on Saturday, April 26, from Porto, and will begin at 10 PM, Portuguese time. The second show is the next night, same time, live from Lisbon (you'll have to do the math to figure out when that is in your time zone). . Check the details here. More info »

JBB BEGINS NEW TOUR
After a relatively short hiatus, while the band worked on a new record and singer Elliot Martin underwent minor surgery, John Brown's Body hits the road this weekend, beginning in New York City at Bowery Ballroom on Saturday. Their mini-tour will take them around upstate New York, to Colorado, and eventually out to sunny Southern California and Hawaii. We're only guessing, but we would imagine fans will get to see some of the new album's material getting some play. For a complete list of tour dates, either check our own tour page, or pop on by to their official website. More info »

R.I.P. MIKEY DREAD
We are very saddened to report the passing of reggae pioneer disc jockey and artist Mikey Dread, from a brain tumor. Basil Walters, of the Observer, wrote: "Radio disc jock Mikey Dread is dead. He succumbed to a brain tumour late yesterday afternoon at his family home in Connecticut, USA at the age of 54. Born Michael Campbell in Port Antonio, Jamaica, he distinguished himself as an extraordinary studio engineer and presenter at the now defunct Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation (JBC) where he came to prominence in the 1970s as "The Dread-at-the-Control Tower", the name of the late night show he presented at a time when reggae music was scoffed at by many. One of reggae's greatest innovators and original radio engineers/technicians, the past student of Titchfield High School, in 2006 celebrated the 30th anniversary of the night programme which he started at the JBC, and revolutionised the after midnight shift making it into the most popular slot on radio, by playing strictly dub music. This innovation is seen by many musicologists as the antecedence of dancehall as we now know it. Upon leaving the JBC, Mikey Dread ventured into recording and scored with a number of releases such as Weatherman Skanking in combination with Ray I, Barber Saloon, Love the Dread, as well as albums such as Dread at the Control, Evolutionary Rockers and World War III. Over time he attracted the attention of British punk rockers The Clash, who invited him to produce some of their music, the most famous of which is their single Bankrobber, and contributed to several songs on their 1980 album, Sandinista. Mikey Dread also toured with The Clash across Britain, wider Europe and the US. He also worked closely with producer Trevor Elliot to launch musical career of singer Edi Fitzroy, who was then an accountant at the JBC." More info »

EASY STAR MEETS SPEARHEAD
The Easy Star All-Stars opened two shows for Michael Franti and Spearhead this weekend in Vail, Colorado. The All-Stars got much love from the big crowds at Dobson Ice Arena, especially on the second night when word must have spread about the band's set the night before. On the second night, three different members of the band then stepped up to join Franti and Spearhead during their set: Menny More and Tamar-kali added their unique vocals, while Jeremy Mage played keys on a song. The band then left town after the show in a snowstorm so they could make it to Boulder for their near sell-out show the next night at the Fox Theatre in Boulder. More info »

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