Corey Graham 2.0 Entertainment Blog

I had the pleasure of attending FAS Entertainment's press conference for their annual December show. I thought it was going to be the usual - announce the headline acts on the card officially to media and other details, but I got a bit more than I bargained for. Alrite so let me tell you.

The event this year will be the first time ever that Hennessy will be title sponsoring a major event in Barbados. The motivation for this move, was described by the CEO of Stokes and Bynoe as celebration of the whopping 70 years that Stokes and Bynoe has been distributing Hennessy in Barbados. I am sure it does help that Barbados is the biggest consumer of Hennessy per capita in the Caribbean! 


To add to this is the fact that this event will be included into the Hennessy Artistry Series of International concerts. These concerts have featured acts like Queen Latifah, Kanye West, LL Cool J and many mor artistes from around the globe. The last Hennessy Artistry concert was held on Oct 6 in Hanoi, Vietnam which featured artistes from Britain, Australia and the United States. You can find out more about it at www.hennessyartistry.com. After a quick peak at the website you will understand just how much a big these concerts are, and Hennessy plans to continue to build on this concert each year. 


Come December 6 Barbados will the latest venue for Hennessy Artistry and the second island in the Caribbean to host this concert series after Trinidad. 


What is Hennessy Artistry ?
The concept behind Hennessy Artistry is that true greatness in any art form is acheived when influences, cultures, ideas, style and are blended or mixed.


This art of mixing applies to all forms, including the blending Hennessy's eaux de vie (agua de via) to produce the world's leading cognac brand.


The Show
The show will take place on Dec 6th at the National Stadium and feature Jah Cure, Ne-Yo, Tarrus Riley and Duane Stephenson supported by Bajan Artiste - Buggy Fullyloaded, Daniel, Hotta Flames and Ras Ali.
The doors will be open from 7 pm and the show will kick off by 9 pm. 


Tickets
FAS Entertainment says that this is going to be a recession friendly event and they won't raise their ticket prices beyond what Bajans would have paid to see Jah Cure 3 years ago.
General admission  -  early bird $60  it will move up from there in increments of $10 each time.
VIP admission - $160 early bird and $200 regular price - this is the first time there is early bird on a VIP section.
VIP will cater for about about 2000 persons and primarily include

• Hennessy congac
• Belvedere  Vodka
• Finger food

Al Gilkes, director of FAS Entertainment believes that the concert will do very well. He explained that Jah Cure by himself 3 years ago attracted about 12 000 fans. The expectation is that this show will attract the same or even more with this special recession pricing.

All bars will be premium i.e. only premium products will be on sale! We are talking about possibly no rum or beer at the event. It is promised though that there will be a premium substitute for rum and beer for similar cost. I not complaining about that!
Hennessy says to this point more surprises next year! More surprises next year.

Corey Graham 2.0
www.CoreyKGraham.com

I just attended Hal Linton's listening party. He is the only male act signed to a major label taking the time to let the bajans hear his new album before the rest of the world.
Hal delivered a a very energetic performance walking in and out of the crowd. I had my moments of enjoyment in between talking to the patrons and conducting interviews.
It was nice to see Hal invite the heads of the the local organizations who were instrumental in facilating his major label deal on stage and give them a token of his appreciation. Barbados Tourism Authority and Invest Barbados were among those who received their gifts from Hal.
The highlight was when Hal called local radio announcer Gaynelle on stage and they freestyled in song much to the amusement of the crowd.
In his interview Hal expressed his desire to be a part of the development of the Barbados music industry.
All in all I am sure a great time was had by all.

Last Sunday I had the pleasure of attending iNDRANi's 2nd music showcase. I had a good time at her first showcase and I was looking forward to see her add more of her personality and up the production level in this second showcase. Truly showcase her talents. She promised she would so I was looking forward it.

Walking into the Bayleys Plantation, home to world music singer and songwriter Eddy Grant I was already in awe. The place was huge! Added to that moment I learned that this plantation was home to slave, Bussa. Bussa for those of you who don't know,  he was a slave who led the major slave revolt in Barbados and his statue is not one of the major landmarks in Barbados. Yeah, so, so far so good.

After walking in and seeing the stage illuminated with the bright spotlights and quite a few seats on the stage for the backing musicians, I know that iNDRANi was going to deliver on her promise. At the last showcase there was just 1 backing musician so production level raised.  I was ready to see what iNDRANi had to offer. I would be honest, I was a bit reserved with my anticipation as I saw the last showcase and i heard some of the songs before ... but iNDRANi out did herself by a mile.

Backed by a small grouping of musicians and performers

• Terry 'Mexican' Arthur (steel pan, drum machine)
• Victor Linton (Guitar)
• Mike Sealy (Guitar)
• Rena Pilgrim (Vocals)
• Rochelle Griffith (Vocals)
• Ezra Hinds (Keyboard)
• Adrian Green (Spoken Word Artist)
• Maxwell & Ifentola (Jakuta Drummers)
• the Children 
• Jackie Estwick (dancer)
• Special J Designs - (wardrobe.)

iNDRANi performed about 14 tracks with a 20 minute intermission in between. The crowd enjoyed every moment of it, by the time the second half rolled around iNDRANi had the audience eating out of her palms. Now performing with a group that was now looking like her official backing band . iNDRANi released herself for the crowd to enjoy from her wonderful vocal ability in her performance to her comedy during the breaks between her songs. iNDRANi' ability to take on/imitate different personalities and accents was a big hit with the crowd who were bursting up in laughter. It was no surprise that everyone stayed to the end of the show and they were all very aggressive in requesting an encore from their star of the moment!
iNDRANi stepped back on stage to deliver the 2 crowd favourites, "WANNA BE (THAT THING)" & "I KNOW". She went a step further in inviting "her band" to each freestyle and add to the vibe of the moment. Rena and Rochelle her backign vocalist and also her 2 vocal students were both at shy first but when the light hit them they shone and showed that they too had great vocal ability wooing the crowd.
iNDRANi went off herself for a moment freestyling and writing some new lines to her songs much to pleasure of this crowd.
After the show iNDRANi was mauled by her audience, just like an international artiste everyone wanting to personally thank her for a great evening. Children were also included.

I must also comment on one of the song iNDRANi performed, I really enjoyed "THE DREAMER" which featured Spoken Word Artist, Adrian Green. I loved that.

Let me take this time out to thank  JEFF KINCH for hosting the show and EDDY & ANNE GRANT for allow it to be at their home.

When I interviewed iNDRANi after she urged other Caribbean Artistes to create their own showcases where they could share their talents with friends and family and persons who appreciate their music. She also encouraged artistes not to wait until things happened for them and let other decide their destiny. Get up and make things happen.

My official take - the only thing missing where more bright lights and more people which is only a matter of time.

Check out iNDRANi at
http://www.indranimusic.com
http://www.myspace.com/indranimusic
http://www.indranisworld.blogspot.com


Corey Graham 2.0
www.CoreyKGraham.com

Iceman is getting ready for their Old Dub Radio Show on BoomTribe Radio Starting at 7 pm.

We are in the BoomTribe HQ tonite! And check out the Icecrew DJ's in almost HQ

Watch them setting up www.BoomTribe.tv

If you partied in the 90's this flavor is for you available worldwide!!!

You know what Beenie Man used to say! Memories don't live like ......

Call it Old Dub, Throwback Dancehall, dancehall with dust de records although the songs are actually on the computer as mp3 files.

Whatever you want to call we are live tonite from 7

www.BoomTribe.com/chat to request your tunes.

You never know I just might touch the turntables call the demolition crew!

7 pm EST - live worldwide!
--
Corey Graham 2.0
http://www.coreykgraham.com
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

Pappy, Blaxx, Rita live on synergy tv and showing their graduation photos.
--
Corey Graham 2.0
http://www.coreykgraham.com
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

Live here in Synergy TV Live night watching the show come together.

 Red, White and Water 4 is coming off today in Trinidad at the TSTT Sports Ground, Valsyn. This event has grown from strength to strength under the watch of Shomari of Redymix. Its now a premiere event on the UWI St. Augustine Students Calendar.
I won't be able to be there this year but look out next year because some interesting flavour just might be added.

Check out the little skit below, hilarous!




Corey Graham 2.0
www.CoreyKGraham.com

The Birthday has begun in fine stuff with the Icecrew DJs and their Ole dub, Old Dancehall show featuring Daddy Germs and Lawrence. Stan the man and Ru Ru were also in the building we had great fun with the show listeners tuning in from around the region and well I have to thank these musicial guys for joining the choir




Corey Graham 2.0
www.CoreyKGraham.com

This year I wanted to keep my birthday celebrations open to possibility and variety. And also to make it as  stress free as possible.

There are a variety of different bars to hit and lots of "street" to lime on. Now let me quickly make the point about liming on the street.

If you decide your calling is to lime on the street then I would like to encourage you to bring gifts of
 - bottles of  wine
 - vodka,
 - My uncle Johnnie Walker
 - Tequilla
you get the picture .. of course for those of you who don't drink you can find something to tickles you fancy to come and share.

Come out to have fun, and lime after all Friday night and after a long week which I hope was productive, you deserve to have fun!!!

I just happen to be celebrating my birthday that night and trust me I plan to have fun, not matter what!

Who is in invited and what is the dress code?
Well its an open street.make your own style!


Corey Graham 2.0
www.CoreyKGraham.com

One of the best talents in the Caribbean, doing background vocals for many of the big stars in Barbados and in the region. She's sang background vocals in Machel Montana's HD band.

She is well known as a background vocalist but this showcase is about her being in the foreground. She is showcasing her 2 albums and stuff from her upcoming album.

Great so far.

Heineken Green Synergy gets Started check it out live on

www.boomtribe.tv
--
Corey Graham 2.0
http://www.coreykgraham.com
(Check My Biz Blog, Entertainment blog & more)

Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device

Its been a while in coming but just 1 week from my birthday I am going to explore the world of DJing. Maybe I might just be on to another talent. I am all for learning new things and exposing myself to new arenas.

I trust I can remember my cues tonite and mash up the show.

I am getting a few gitters let's see what tonite will bring.

We have arrived here in Sheraton and getting the Mix Fm Radio Station ready for the Heineken Green Synergy 2009 - Barbados Leg.

We have 3 time finalist DJ MVP facing Off against DJ Jamma (his first time in the contest) and this year!!

It begins at 7 pm sharp!

Its not every day I get the sweet treatment but for sure I was having fun this Crop Over as Power X 4 Blackout when I was surrounded by beautiful women, good service and of course the boose. LOL.

This is another clip of my adventures as a presenter/host, personally I think I could have added some flair, maybe dropped a few better lines on the felines. E.g. Girl you are you from Greece? You look like the Goddess of Love .... hahaha. Overall though I have to say I like how the video came out, because it didn't feel as good.

Check it out and let me know what you think!

http://www.boomtribe.com/bottle-lounge-power-x-4-fete-party-stand-crop-over-2009

Corey Graham 2.0
www.CoreyKGraham.com