Jamaica’s general elections, taking place Monday, August 27 between current Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller’s Peoples National Party and Bruce Golding’s Jamaican Labor Party, have caused the Curefest showcase, which marks the release of artist Jah Cure (pictured left) from prison, to be postponed. The new dates for Curefest are Friday, October 12 to Sunday, October 14 at The Ruins At The Falls and James Bond Beach.

Speaking of Jah Cure’s release, Students Expressing Truth Foundation, an organization that works with inmates in Kingston prisons, will sponsor a recording session in July. The sessions will feature guest artists from outside the prison, plus Cure and incarcerated singer Serrano. The foundation is planning a DVD and audio CD of the event, to be sold in support the SET project (an inmate-driven program that grew out of an inmate literacy program.), which aims to spread its work to the other prisons. Funds will benefit SET’s computer labs, software, and recording training sessions, as well as an inmate-run radio station. 

Rumors (not confirmed as of this post) are flying around that reggae music’s premier roots reissue label, England’s Blood & Fire has gone out of business. The label is known for its lovingly packaged re-releases of rare and out-of-print albums by King Tubby (pictured left), Glen Brown, Horace Andy, I-Roy, and many others. 

YardFlex repots that two of the most monumental sounds in reggae music, Stereograph and Killamanjaro, came together for the first time ever on July 7, for a night called “History Bash.” The astounding line up of guest artists included DJs like Daddy U-Roy, General Trees, Jose Wales, Little Twitch, Jr. Cat, Burro Banton, Barry Parker, Little Larry, Daddy Shark, Rankin Trevor, and more.

A recent dance in Jamaica titled Sevens Clash, held in honor of Claude ‘Big Stone’ Sinclair, who was celebrating his 50th birthday, featured no less than Cutty Ranks, Paul Elliot, Nitty Kutchie, and Pinchers. Sinclair arrived in expansive style, pipe in mouth, walking stick in his right hand, and a cream suit over his stocky figure, and was set off by four lasses in tight red bottoms with bustier tops, along with red and black hats. Sinclair knows how to party! 

British breakbeat remix producer Norman Cook, a.k.a. Fatboy Slim (pictured left), is taking on a Trojan Records skinhead classic by Lloyd Chamers (Hippy Boys, The Uniques). Fatboy Slim’s vocal heavy mix of The Charmers’ “Skinhead Train” (out August 3) is a stripped down, bare-knuckle hip-hop gem.

Los Angeles’ 10th annual Caribbean Sea Breeze Festival, Sunday July 22 at The Queen Mary Park in Long Beach, CA, adds a new dimension to its already killer line up. The Sound Tent DJ Showcase will feature soundsystems, including Firgo Digital, Tazmania Sound, Jamaican Gold Sound, Positive Rhythm Sound, Black Star, Danger Zone, and GT International. The Sound Tent arena is poised to encourage unity amongst Los Angeles sound systems, and DJ’s and will feature nationally recognized talent. Meanwhile, on the concert’s main stage–oh nothing–just performances by Shaggy, Buju Banton, Elephant Man, and more!