Keith & Tex with The Moonhops (Jamaica)
Jackie Mendez (US), Pat Powell, Red Sand Shuffle, The Majestics with Ska Vendors, Luke Yeoward, DJ Systa BB plus MC Mohair Slim.
Having already announced that Jamaican foundation Rocksteady duo Keith & Tex with The Moonhops will headline The Newport Ska, Reggae & Rocksteady Festival on Sunday 19 March, the festival is very excited to announce the rest of the bill. Joining Keith & Tex will be Jackie Mendez, Pat Powell, Red Sand Shuffle and The Majestics with Ska Vendors, plus MC Mohair Slim. Add that to the already announced Luke Yeoward, DJ Systa BB, and you’ve got one hell of a festival bill.
Californian musician/vocalist Jackie Mendez grew up on a steady diet of Ska and Punk, (mainly the British 2Tone ska revival music of the late 1970s) and began playing in bands, developing a keen interest in 1960s era Jamaican Ska and Reggae influenced by singers from the likes of Alton Ellis and Ken Boothe. LA based Angel City Records approached Jackie, wanting to focus on showcasing her as a solo artist, while supplying her with backing by the label’s reggae/ska house recording band Thee Hurricanes featuring an all-star line-up of some of California’s finest musicians.
Her debut EP ‘Introducing Jackie Mendez’ has been making waves worldwide as she continues to perform around the United States, Mexico and Europe and most recently, making a splash at The London International Ska Festival. For the Newport Ska, Reggae & Rocksteady Festival, Jackie will be backed by The Here Here’s, led by Baz Turnbull, a guitarist who has worked with the likes of The Gladiators and The Congas. Sydney singer, Pat Powell, is a regular in Melbourne as a guest vocalist with the Ska Vendors and vocalist for the Melbourne Ska Orchestra. This time round, he will be using his versatile, velvet tones alongside Red Sand Shuffle as he performs a set of R&B stompers.
Performing as “The Majestics”, Kerri Simpson and Nichaud Fitzgibbon need no introduction to fans of Blues, Soul and Jazz with hundreds of shows, workshops and recordings under their respective belts. The sultry mix of Fitzgibbons’ velvet tones mixed with Simpson’s smoky blues and extraordinary range are well known to Australian audiences. Their set will delve into the Jamaican female songbook featuring big hits and hidden treasures by artists The Gaylettes, The Dreamlettes Dawn Penn, Marcia Griffiths and Judy Mowatt. This is a chance to hear some of these artist’s great songs delivered by two of Melbourne’s finest. Don’t miss this rare collaboration.
WHERE: The Substation in Newport
WHEN: March 19 from 1pm - 7.30pm
INFO: Kids free!
www.thesubstation.iwannaticket.com.au
For more information go to: www.facebook.com/NSRRF
The directors would like to acknowledge the support being offered to them by PBS 106.7 FM, Hobsons Bay City Council, the Newport Traders Associa-tion, Way Out West Blues and Roots Club
