Binghistra to launch new album ‘Still Beating Down Babylon’ at ArtWalk Festival
Published:Saturday | August 26, 2023 | 12:09 AM
Earl ‘Chinna’ Smith and the Binghistra Movement will launch their much-anticipated new album, Still Beating Down Babylon, this Sunday at Kingston Creative’s ArtWalk Festival. The event begins at 11 a.m. and will end at 5 p.m.
This latest album pays tribute to the legacy of Junior Byles, an iconic Jamaican reggae artiste, and features an array of renowned Jamaican reggae artistes, such as Freddie McGregor, Mykal Rose, Inner Circle, and Kai Wakeling. It aims to show the enduring impact of reggae music on global culture and the profound influence of Junior Byles’ contributions to the genre.
The National Gallery of Jamaica on Orange Street and the Institute of Jamaica’s museums on East Street will all be open to the public (free of charge) and visitors are encouraged to book a guided street art tour and explore these venues throughout the day. Fine artist Conroy Green will be hosting a solo exhibition inside the F&B Downtown bistro. In keeping with the theme, the event will feature Executive Chef Simone Walker-Barrett, founder of well-known event, ‘Street Food Saturdays’, who will curate a series of cooking demonstrations of traditional artisanal sweet treats in Water Lane. Adding to the culinary experience will be an international food-tasting hosted by the Colombian Embassy and a Jamaican coffee-brewing class with Paula Surtees of Island Coffees.
Shoppers will also be able to purchase local products from Jamaican artisans including Island Caterers, Island Coffee, Beauty Lies Within, Nettys Farm, Eazy Nuh Apparel, Zenabu Naturals, TAAJ IRON, Jay Khann Aesthetics, Tami Beauty Paradise, Simoy’s Collection, Bad Dawg, G-weed Cosmetics, Meline Fashions, 2Qute Collections and Tee Positive.
Speaking on the idea behind this month’s ArtWalk, Kingston Creative Executive Director Andrea Dempster Chung shared,“Our aim with this month’s ArtWalk was to place a focus on the culinary arts, which is an important element of our culture and creativity. We want to curate an event in downtown that not only celebrates food, but the creators behind it, so we are really thrilled to be hosting chef Simone … and I’m really looking forward to tasting the ‘hell a top, hell a bottom and hallelujah in the middle’!” She added, “Of course Earl ‘Chinna’ Smith is a musical legend who stands for the uplifting of the community, so it is an honour to present this festival that merges the essence of taste, sound, and soul and also speaks directly to the heart of what Kingston Creative stands for.”
A world-famous Jamaican guitarist, Chinna has been active since the late 1960s, and is well known for his work with the Soul Syndicate band and as guitarist for Bob Marley & The Wailers, appearing on more than 500 albums.