Showbizuganda

Tag: Tarrus Riley

  • Koroga festival shuts down Naivasha Town with epic closure by Tarrus Riley

    Koroga festival shuts down Naivasha Town with epic closure by Tarrus Riley

    Jamaican star Tarrus Riley brought down the roof on the final day the 30th Edition of the WRC Koroga-Festival edition over the weekend.

    Revellers have tagged the Koroga Festival the most organized event in the country.This was undoubtedly the best executed festival of recent times as was evident in the setup, security, electrifying performances and pomp that brought the town to a standstill.

    Thousands of revelers thronged the Gardens in Naivasha for the Koroga festival powered by Capital FM and WRC. The event witnessed over 15,000 revelers attend the 4-day Festival.

    The four-day event was the highlight of WRC Safari Rally and it featured DJ G Money, DJ Protege and The King of the decks, Capital FM’s DJ Adrian, while music artists Kamanu, Graviti Band and Nviiri the StoryTeller Buruklyn Boiz, Samidoh and Otile Brown.

    The showstopper of the event, Tarrus Riley, gave a two-hour electrifying performance that kept revelers on their feet for the better part of the night. In between Tarrus’s first set and second set fellow Jamaican legendary Saxophonist Dean Fraser took to the stage and serenaded the crowd with his rendition of Redemption song.

    Also, Tarrus Riley’s daughter was introduced to the Kenyan fans as she sang alongside her father.Tarrus later thanked Farida Idris, Group Commercial Director and Project Director of the Koroga Festival at Capital FM for an outstanding and exceptional event during his emotional performance of Royal and Simple things songs.

    The WRC Safari Rally CEO, Phineas Kimathi expressed his satisfaction at the well-executed event to mark the closing of the 2022 edition of the WRC Safari Rally in Kenya.

    The CEO commended the Capital FM and Koroga festival team led by Farida Idris and expressed his willingness to continually have the partnership with the Koroga brand. Other local acts who gave sterling performances were Graviti band, Samidoh, Buruklyn Boyz among others.

    Farida Idris in a statement expressed her gratitude to all the sponsors of the event and the Capital FM/Koroga Festival Crew for making the festival a success.

    She also hinted that preparation for the next Koroga Festival will be unveiled in the coming days as preparations are already in full gear.

    Touted as one of the most famous music festivals in East and Central Africa, Koroga Festival made a comeback after a 2-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 global pandemic.

    In the 30 editions, Koroga has featured notable names from across the World including Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Femi Kuti, Alphablondy, Diamond Platnumz, Mafikizolo to mention a few.

  • Tarrus Riley to headline WRC Koroga Festival’s 30th edition

    Tarrus Riley to headline WRC Koroga Festival’s 30th edition

    Nairobi, Kenya: International renowned Jamaica Legend Tarrus Riley is set
    to grace East Africa’s grandest gathering of music, food, art and fashion,
    The Koroga Festival.

    Dubbed “The WRC Koroga Festival” edition,the 4 day event will take place
    from June 23th to June 26th, at the Garden on Moi South Lake Road —
    Naivasha. This will be the first-ever recreational village where rally fans
    can be engaged, fed, and entertained for the duration of 4 days during the
    WRC Safari Rally Kenya.

    Touted as one of the most famous music festivals in East and Central
    Africa, Koroga Festival makes a comeback after a 2-year hiatus due to the
    COVID-19 global pandemic.

    Speaking about the event, Farida Idris, Capital Group’s Commercial Director
    and the Project Director Koroga Festival, said, “I thank H.E. President
    Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta for initiating and following through with the
    sporting spectacle together with the Ministry of Sports, Culture, and
    Heritage. Last year, President Kenyatta announced that Kenya would host the
    WRC Safari Rally every year until 2026. “The WRC Koroga Festival will be a
    four-day food, fashion, and music festival that will bring us the best
    talent from across the continent to showcase the best we have from here in
    Kenya and around the region. We will bring together the best Kenyan DJs,
    and the best artists and create an opportunity to enjoy the Safari Rally on
    a totally different level,” .

    Koroga Festival will be 4 days of absolute ‘enjoyment’ in Naivasha which
    will then culminate into the final Day 4 of the most energetic line-up;
    featuring DJ G Money, DJ Protege and The King of the decks, Capital FM’s DJ
    Adrian, while music artists Kamanu, Graviti Band and Nviiri The Story
    Teller will be the performing acts on stage. Super star Tarrus Riley will
    ‘close’ the night.

    For the 1st time in the history of Koroga there will be a 4 Day long
    festival with performing acts(DJs and artistes) from within and Outside
    Kenya. This edition is bigger than ever before, and most definitely one not
    to miss, with a lineup that will simply blow your mind

    The line up Includes
    Day 1
    DJ Stretch
    DJ Slick Cobain
    DJ Joe Mfalme
    DJ Lisney

    MC Wanjira

    Day 2
    DJ Roudge
    DJ IV
    DJ Kris Darlin

    Samidoh

    MC Wanjira
    Day 3
    DJ UV
    DJ Schwartz
    Jo Kisila

    Burukylyn Boyz
    Otile Brown

    MC Sheila Kwamboka
    Day 4:
    G Money
    DJ Adrian
    DJ Protégé

    Kamanu
    Gravitti Band
    Nvirii The storyteller

    MC Fareed Khimani and
    MC Kui Kabala

    Tarrus Riley’s foray into music was inevitable. The talented singer and
    songwriter was always surrounded by music from an early age. His father is
    veteran reggae singer Jimmy Riley. “I define myself, so I make
    thought-provoking music about Black consciousness and experiences. I want
    to open people’s minds and let them think. My music isn’t prejudiced
    towards colour, class, creed, or nationality,” he is quoted in one of his
    interviews.

  • Tarrus Riley arrives ahead of Friday concert

    Tarrus Riley arrives ahead of Friday concert

    Jamaican-American singer, Tarrus Riley has arrived in the country ahead of the Friday Bell Jamz-Swangz All Star Tour Concert. Tarrus touched down at Entebbe airport on Tuesday afternoon at 2p.m. He will be staying at Mestil Hotel in Nsambya with the rest of his crew.

    Tarrus will be backed by the BLAK SOIL band – (Bredren Living According King Selassie-I Overstanding & Iritical Livity) and will also share a with longtime friend and Jamaican reggae saxophonist, Dean Fraser.

    The show wraps up a three months’ Ugandan music celebration held in honor of Swangz Avenue’s 10-year anniversary. The campaign has seen Bell Jamz and Swangz host regional concerts in Mbale, Arua, Gulu and Masaka.

    The Ugandan artist line-up includes many artists who have worked with Swangz Avenue over the years including Maddox, Benon and Vamposs, Vinka, Winnie Nwagi, APass, Ykee Benda, Rabadaba, Aziz Azion, Weasel, to mention but a few. Tickets are selling at 35k for general and 100k for VIP. The show will start at 6p.m.

    The show is being produced with help of a sound engineering team from the UK, owing to the fact that the entire set will be live.

    The Swangz All Star tour also featured a talent search looking for undiscovered music talent in the region. Pasha Amaro, an upcoming artist emerged winner and will share a stage with Tarrus on Friday. She also won herself a studio recording session at Swangz Avenue fully paid for by Bell Jamz.

  • Saxo maestro Dean Fraser to perform alongside Tarrus Riley

    Saxo maestro Dean Fraser to perform alongside Tarrus Riley

    Dean Fraser, world renowned reggae saxophonist will perform alongside Tarrus Riley in Kampala on August 31st. Bell Jamz has confirmed the Jamaican saxophonist as an addition to the star studded lineup expected at the Swangz All Star concert.

    Dean Fraser

    The 60 year old Jamaican is considered one of Jamaica’s finest brass players and has developed an international following for his sultry jazz-toned reggae music. Fraser has performed alongside legends such as Bob Marley and shot to fame when he recorded two covers of Marley, Dean Plays Bob and Dean Plays Bob volume II. Both Riley and Fraser will perform in Uganda for the first time.

    Tarrus & Dean Fraser

    Preparations for the event are in high gear with organizers hiring sound engineers from the UK to ensure a world class production. Robert Stuart, who also doubles as Sean Paul’s sound engineer will be part of the sound and production team.

    Tarrus Riley

    Tarrus and Dean will be accompanied by the 12 man strong Blak Soil band. Ticket sales to the show are currently ongoing with an early bird offer of 25k ordinary and VIP at 85k. These can be purchased from Capital Shoppers outlets, Mega Standard and Game Lugogo.

  • Bell Jamz brings Tarrus Riley for Swangz All Star Tour finale

    Bell Jamz brings Tarrus Riley for Swangz All Star Tour finale

    Tarrus Riley, Jamaican-American reggae singer has been confirmed as a guest performer at the grand finale of the Swangz All Star Tour slated for August 31st at Lugogo Cricket Oval. The reggae star will perform alongside the best of Uganda’s music talent.

    The finale will wind up a three months Ugandan music celebration dubbed “Bell Jamz presents The Swangz All Star Tour”. The Swangz All Star Tour was announced in May to celebrate a decade of music production house, Swangz Avenue, renowned for creating great music over the years. The tour is organized in partnership with Bell Jamz, a platform that has consistently supported local music.

    Riley, born in the Bronx, New York and raised in Jamaica made his recording debut as a teenager. Since then, he has churned out a number of hits scaling several charts with a number of collaborations with artists like Konshens, Vybz Kartel, Demarco, Major Lazer and Ellie Goulding. This will be his first performance in Uganda.

    The announcement was made by Riley via a Skype call televised live on national TV at Swangz offices in Muyenga. Riley is currently on tour in Europe but took a break from his schedule to break the news to his fans.

    “This show, unlike others will be different. Tarrus is not the main act, but rather a guest performer who will perform alongside our Ugandan artists. As opposed to previous shows where Ugandan artists have curtain raised for international acts, our Ugandan artists will share a stage with award winning Tarrus Riley. We are very excited because this has not been done before,” said Benon Mugumbya, Founder, Swangz Avenue.

    “Bell Lager is the biggest supporter of Ugandan music and we are glad to be part of a historical celebration such as this one. We promise that this show will be even better than the ones we have done before with world class entertainment, sound and music production,” said Francis Kirabira, Brand Manager, Bell Lager.

    Organizers announced a month long early bird ticket offer with tickets going for 25k ordinary and 85k VIP.

  • Jamaican reggae star Tarrus Riley, Maddox for collabo

    Jamaican reggae star Tarrus Riley, Maddox for collabo

    Fresh from being selected as the only Ugandan artiste who will perform at Tarrus Riley’s show in Kampala in December, reggae legend Maddox Ssematimba might have something else to be very excited about! The ‘Namagembe’ star, we have learnt, might be recording a collabo with Riley.

    Riley

    According to sources at Bolt Digital- the company behind the Riley’s visit to Kampala, the Jamaican maestro was wowed by Maddox’s jams and he hinted on a possibility of doing something with him.

    “He was extremely impressed by Maddox’s deep reggae beats; he asked if it would be nice for the two of them to work on something together,” the source told us. Maddox will share the stage with Riley when the latter performs at the Lugogo Cricket Oval on December 1.

    Maddox

    Riley is famous for reggae jams like Don’t come back, Sorry is a sorry word, She’s royal, Gimme likkle one drop, and his latest, Just the way you are. Riley, aged 38, was born in Bronx, New York and raised in Jamaica. He is a member of the Rastafari movement. His father is the veteran reggae singer Jimmy Riley. Keep the Ugandan flag high Maddox!