Bambino full speed ahead in 2013

Fresh off hosting On the Verge last year, DJ Bambino is staying active with his plans for the new year.

Starting 2013 with two Youth View Awards (YVA) nominations for 'Media Personality of the Year' and 'Selector of the Year' (which he won in 2012), Bambino is hoping to snag both trophies this year. He will also be co-hosting the YVAs.

Bambino also recently released the Gyal Season Riddim, which is currently available on iTunes. The beat was produced by Bambino and Jus Bus, an Antiguan producer whose real name is Justin Nation. It features artistes such as Etana, Busy Signal, Kes the Band, Denyque, Tessanne Chin, Romain Virgo, Spragga Benz, Tanya Stephens and Bambino's alter ego, Trevor Off-Key, among others.

When asked what fans can expect to hear, Bambino said, "The riddim has an old rocksteady feel with a touch of modern-day vibe."

The video for Kes The Band's single, Tuesday on the Rocks, which was shot in Trinidad, was released on Tuesday, January 15. In addition, On the Beach, a Trevor Off-Key video, will be premiered in a matter of weeks.

Add to all this Bambino's mixtape, I Am Me, was released last December. The tape consists of a great deal of Trevor Off-Key's popular parodies, new songs, and some guest appearances. The mixtape can be downloaded for free on zipfm.net.

Bambino will be also be on the lookout for fresh talent to be a part of his new label, Bambino Music.

Spragga, Sizzla, Beenie to headline Portmore Seafood Festival

The fifth annual Portmore Seafood Festival will take place on April 1 in St Catherine. Abuka Entertainment said it will be a day of unity, food and music for the entire family.

This year's event will feature some of the biggest names in dancehall and reggae music. Grammy award winner Beenie Man, critically acclaimed reggae star Sizzla and international superstar Spragga Benz have been named as headliners for the festival.

The one-day Seafood Festival will give patrons the opportunity to experience various delicacies from the sea, free rides for children all day, and high-energy performances from artistes such as Spragga Benz, who hasn't performed in Jamaica for quite a while.

Many other artistes are set to be announced for the event in the upcoming weeks.

Abuka Entertainment prides itself on being an intricate part of the community through various projects. Parts proceeds from the Festival will go to the further development of the Portmore Football Field.

Other writers' work in Cooke's launch

When he launches the live poetry album Mel Cooke - Seh Sup'm: Live from Kingston next Tuesday, Mel Cooke will be reading other people's work as well as his own. Cooke's debut CD will be launched at the January 2013 fellowship of the Poetry Society of Jamaica, held at the Drama School Amphitheatre, Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, 1 Arthur Wint Drive, St Andrew.

He will be alternating his writing with the lyrics of songs by Pluto Shervington, Tony Rebel and Mavado, as well as referencing lines by Lady Saw. Cooke will also read poetry by Mutabaruka and Mervyn Morris, plus prose by John Hearne.

"Nobody writes in a vacuum and, in addition to showing respect to our writers in song, poetry and the novel form, I want to show how what I do relates to what others have done before me," Cooke said. "Jamaica has a substantial writing tradition and we who hope to be a part of it need to know where we fit in."

The fellowship starts at 7 p.m. and takes the format of an open mic session, where all who wish to share their work may do so, followed by a guest poet. Cooke will be in this slot next Tuesday. The fellowship is free and open to the public.

"It will be a pleasure reading before an audience with persons working at the craft of writing, and I trust that the format I have chosen will be appropriate for the occasion," Cooke said.