Saturday, 29 March 2014

Sorry, it's been a while since my last post! Saint Raymond - Nadia LaToya - Blessing Magore - The Hargreaves Project ++ More updates!

Hi Everyone,
Sorry but it's been a while since my last post. Life just kinda took over and before I knew it time fast forwarded into 2014!

Quick update, my friend Saint Raymond from Bramcote Nottingham continues to create massive waves throughout the music industry. He turns 19yrs old tomorrow and I am certain by his next birthday he will have a number 1 album and single under his belt.
Check out his music >> Saint Raymond info





In September 2013 I had the pleasure of putting on Miss Tasha Dean at Nottingham Playhouse, 
She sings R&B and was recently featured on 1Xtra and BBC On The Beat.
Check out her music by clicking this link > Miss Tasha Dean FB page





I kick started 2014 live events with a sell out show at Nottingham Playhouse on March 1st. Nadia LaToya from Nottingham performed with her band in her first headline gig. She smashed it and it was a very heartfelt and beautiful performance. She sings a mixture of Reggae Soul. Check her out! Nadia LaToya Soundcloud




My daughter Starz is now 15yrs old and really developing as an upcoming singer-songwriter.
 Her song 'Place Unknown'  is now on the Kemet Radio - http://www.975kemetfm.co.uk/ playlist. The song is a collaboration between her and producer Ken Samson who is also 15yrs old. You can listen to the song by clicking here - Place Unknown - Ken Samson ft IAMSTARZ and check out her other songs/vids by checking her Youtube channel - IAMSTARZ You Tube Channel . As you can imagine I am a very proud mother!


On March 7th I was the Compere for the Reggae Takeover/Nottingham Women's Centre Charity Fundraising event featuring the legendary DAWN PENN. It was a fantastic night filled with local talent, great vibes and brilliant live music.





The Hargreaves Project

My lovely friends, the talented Hargreaves sisters (Elena & Steph) are involved in a project which aims to help young children express themselves through spoken word and music. They are working with one local school in Nottingham, alongside the Nottingham Youth Orchestra to raise money for the Educational Fund by hosting a concert at Nottingham Albert Hall on May 1st. I have been asked to be involved by the sisters, I will be hosting the pre launch event on Thursday 3rd April which will showcase the talents of Judith Winwood, Blessing Magore and Artit Aukko who will be the support acts of the night. Headliners will be The Hargreaves sisters. That will be a free entry event at Nottingham Contemporary Cafe-Bar - Here is the online link - Hargreaves Project pre-launch
Here is the flyer :

More info on The Hargreaves Project can be found on their FB page - https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Hargreaves-Project/635631023159886?fref=ts




Zimbabwean Afro-Funk/Reggae Singer-Songwriter Blessing Magore is one of Nottingham's rising stars and I will be supporting his music in 2014. At just 20yrs old and having only been in the UK for 3yrs, within the last 6mths he has started to create waves throughout the local music scene here in Nottingham.
So far this year he has performed in Live@NAE (New Art Exchange) for me and will be one of two local artists taking part in NEAT14 (Nottingham European Arts & Theatre festival) alongside Joy Mumford.







Finally,

Also just to finish off I was the winner of the Invisible Volunteer award last December for Nottingham South. The Award was given to me by The Renewal Trust. I was very humbled to be the winner of such an award. 
I have also recently completed a 10wk course in Community Engagement and will soon be involved with a project called 'Are you a little bit OCD?' with OCDUK - OCD-UK Website
I am also currently involved in a nationwide campaign to raise awareness and reduce stigma in the Afro-Caribbean Communities in regards to Mental Health Issues. It is a campaign ran by rethink mental illness, mind and Time to Change - Time To Change - Forget the label, just listen! You can download the pdf of the full leaflet from that web link.
Here is a photo of the leaflets which can be found in various places around the UK.

I hope you enjoy reading my updates. Until next time, take care and remember: Unity is easy when you look within, not at the skin!x



Saturday, 23 February 2013

HELP FOR HAITI UPDATE!

After the very successful  concert which was held in the SPACE at Nottingham Contemporary, a raffle, an online Hatian Art auction plus donations, the total amout raised for Oxfam's help Haiti appeal came to £5175. Thank  you to everyone who supported this campaign.

The concert which was hosted by me featured great performances from The Hargreaves, The Golden Troubadours, Nadia LaToya, Saint Raymond and Ram1.


TIPPA IRIE COMES TO NOTTINGHAM!

Grammy nominated legendary MC, Tippa Irie will be performing live at The Maze on Saturday 2nd March. Going to be an epic night for reggae in the midlands! Supported by MOBO nominated Nottingham born reggae sensation Ram1, Kingfa-Redd from Saint Lucia and Soulful singer/songwriter Nadia LaToya.


Thursday, 27 December 2012

Help Haiti Charity Concert.

Please check out this flyer and click on the link so that you can help donate to the Help Haiti Oxfam Appeal.

Help For Haiti website. Click on me. 

http://helpforhaiti.org.uk/ 

Monday, 19 November 2012

Nottingham World Aids Day Awareness concert 2012

Back again for a 3rd year at Cafe-Bar Contemporary, Cultural Vibrations presents Nottingham World Aids day Awareness concert on Friday November 30th to raise money for the Terrence Higgins Trust & Nottingham Hardship fund.
Children are welcomed to this event.
FREE ENTRY!



Monday, 15 October 2012

Beres Hammond/Tarrus Riley/Romain Virgo live in Birmingham.

'The greatest reggae show on earth' was held at New Bingley Hall in Birmingham on Saturday 13th October.
Over 2K people attended and it was an amazing night. Tarrus was my personal favorite and I loved how he added some comedy to his set.
Check out these photos..

                                          ROMAIN VIRGO.


                                          TARRUS RILEY


                                          BERES HAMMOND.


                                         VIEW FROM THE BACK..

Saturday, 1 September 2012

Bob Marley Legacy night @ The Maze.

So good that I plan to hold it on a twice a year basis!

Here are some photos...

                                          Emily Franklin.


                                          Culturebox choir.


                                          Liam O'Kane.


                                          Lenroy Guiste & Miss.Liability.


                                          Stuck in 2nd.





                                          Hemulen Soundz.


                                          Stuck in 2nd.


                                          Kingfa-Redd & Safijah


                                          Reminiscent.


                                          Breadchasers.


                                          One Love!

Live footage:

Saturday, 9 June 2012

Cultural Vibrations Celebrates Jamaican 50th Independence

I have a free family friendly event happening on Saturday 11th August at Nottingham Contemporary Cafe Bar.

From 7:30pm - 12am.

Live Music | Spoken Word | Jamaican Cuisine | Tabletop Sales

Click on the image for more information.

Cultural Vibrations Presents at Nottingham Playhouse. Summer 2012

I have two nights of acoustic music coming up at Nottingham Playhouse on Friday 15th June and Saturday 16th June.

Friday 15th June: MuHa,Frankie Rudolf and The Golden Troubadours

Click on the image to book online.
Saturday 16th June: Liam O'kane

Click on the image to book online.

Wednesday, 11 April 2012

Some photos of Cultural Vibrations events 2012. Part1.

Some photos of musicians I managed to capture. Locations: Golden Fleece / Nottingham Playhouse/Just the Tonic.

Saint Raymond live @ Nottingham Playhouse.


The Bystanders live @ The Golden Fleece.




Garton live @ The Golden Fleece.


Marvin Brown live @ The Golden Fleece.


Bistran's band live @ The Golden Fleece.


Kingfa-Redd live @ The Golden Fleece


Ben & Vinny live @ The Golden Fleece.

Yakil live @ The Golden Fleece.


Percydread live @ The Golden Fleece.


Janine Nicole live @ Just the Tonic.

Wednesday, 4 April 2012

New poem for 2012 - MASTERPIECE.

Masterpiece.

I take my clothes off and look at myself in the mirror,
My eyes drift up and down as I absorb the vision of what my body represents,
It is my canvas, my story, my life, the living diary of my existence.
I trail my finger along the stretch marks; I feel no shame, because they are me.
They represent the childhood I was never allowed to enjoy,
I smile as now I can see the beauty in their patterns of self-discovery & resilience.

I gently squeeze my belly and remember that it was once the cocoon for my babies to grow.
I do not care that it is not flat or that I have one pack instead of six; I love it because it protected my seedlings during three pregnancies.
Now it is the place they lay their heads on when they want to be comforted and feel safe.

I look down to my legs and feet. I briefly allow myself to remember how I used to harm them in secret as I hid my inner torment from the world.
Now I realize how strong they have been as they have carried me to places unknown and have kept me walking in the right direction.

Even if sometimes it meant I crawled & stumbled, they have never ever let me down.

I cusp my breasts and remember feeding my babies, I do not care that they do not point forwards and that instead they point south. I was never good at map reading anyways…

Lastly I look at my face; I look deep into my eyes and see my life story replayed in full colour even with added sound effects.
I realize that even in my darkest moments, the light was always there. That I was born this way.

What is there not to love? What is there to really criticize? I am me, the same way that you are YOU.

Embrace and accept all that you have created from within. You are love in human form. You are wonderful. You are Unique. You are priceless.
You are a masterpiece!

Rastarella' 04/12.
Me. April 2012.
 

Monday, 9 January 2012

The only disability in life is having a bad attitude.

Abisola is thriving and is now attending nursery for 2 and a half hours a day during the week. She is in a mainstream nursery and has her very own care-worker.
Her balance is much better and she is gaining strength and stability more so everyday.

We hope that her 1st words will come along this year. Its all in God's hands and all in his time.


Here she is with one of her big sisters, Eniola aged 5. Jan'2012.

To support the Rare Chromosome disorder page on Facebook please click this link : https://www.facebook.com/pages/Unique-Rare-Chromosome-Disorder-Support-Group/130797430472

Nottingham World Aids Day Awareness Concert. 2011.


 Nottingham's 2nd WAD Awareness concert was held at Nottingham Contemporary Cafe-Bar on December 1st 2011. DJ Hemulen Soundz provided the music and there were live sets from MuHa, Ben & Vinny, Saint Raymond and Stuck in 2nd.
It was a great night filled with fantastic live music. From the sales of the red ribbons, holistic massages and the raffle we were able to raise £215 for The Terrence Higgins Trust and also Hardship Fund Nottingham.


                                                           MuHa

                                                   Saint Raymond

                                                      Ben & Vinny

                                                    Stuck in 2nd

                                          Vinny, Ben and me.