Blessed’s ‘My Head Live’ is big in B’klyn

Trinidad-born entertainment blogger Jay Blessed’s “very real, very raw, very relatable” increasingly-popualr podcast was a hit on the road — addressing relationships, grief and loss, financial wellness and other life issues in her debut “In My Head Live Experience” last week in Brooklyn.

The soldout Aug. 7 event — sponsored by the Jay Blessed Media firm and co-curated by Char Bogle of Front Paije — attracted participants across the city and from as far away as Boston, Connecticut and Maryland to see the blogger-podcast host live.

The “In My Head Live Experience” had a full course of happenings — one-on-one interviews, special guests, a “Meet & Greet,” wine tasting sponsored by Bartenura, music provided by Foreign Bass Gary and an after work mixer. An audio recording will be made and used in a future podcast episode, said organizers.

Jay Blessed is Jamie Alleyne-Morris — a longtime award-winning Caribbean entertainment blogger who started podcasting about three months ago. “This is a testament to why it is necessary for us to share our authentic and honest stories,” said Alleyne-Morris whose podcasts are created for “African-American, Caribbean-American and Caribbean listeners.”

The first 12 episodes of her “In My Head” podcast are available on social media platforms, such as Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Play and on her jayblessed.com site.

Send email to info@jayblessed.com and visit jayblessed.com for more information.

‘Merritone’ fun and music

Look for some of the best rootsreggae performers in the music business — such as The Mighty Diamonds, Leroy Sibbles and Marica Aitken — at today’s Merritone Family Fun Festival at Hecksher Park, Pavilion No. 2, in East Islip , L.I., from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

This year’s event will celebrate broadcasting pioneers with a “Jamaican Radio Day” presentation honoring celebrities such as Pat and Gil Bailey, Ken Williams, Jeff Barnes, Safia Seivright and Gem Morrison. The GenaRoots Band will back the performers and there will be music provided by Road International with DJ Roy and Oxtail and Stretch with DJ Desu. For tickets and information, call (917) 202-2435 or (917) 779-5827.

New York Carnival kickoff

The New York Caribbean Carnival gets its official launch this week in an invitation-only event at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum in Crown Heights.

Presented annually by the West Indian American Day Carnival Association, the five-day colorful musicfilled carnival begins Aug. 29 and climaxes Sept. 2 with the carnival parade along Brooklyn’s Eastern Parkway on Labor Day, Sept 2.

Visit wiadcacarnival.org for carnival.nyc for information and events. Or call (718) 467-1797.

High-profile Jamaica ball

Former New York Mayor Dinkins, Rep. Yvette Clarke, Grammy Awardwinning music star Shaggy and stars are taking center stage at the Jamaica’s 57th Independence Grand Ball on Aug. 17 at the New York Marriott Brooklyn Bridge hotel, 333 Adams St. in Brooklyn, from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.

The Grand Ball is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. with a lavish cocktail reception and silent auction, followed by dinner, community awards ceremony, entertainment and dancing in the ballroom. With Ambassador Courtney Rattay, Jamaica’s representative to the United Nations, on hand to mark the island nation’s birthday, Dinkins, Clarke and Shaggy (Orville Richard Burrell) are honorees at the affair along with state Supreme Court Associate Justice Sylvia Hinds-Radix, attorney Hettie Powell and JPMorgan Chase executive Wayne Willoughby.

There will also be a special tribute at the affair honoring Marcus Garvey, Jamaica’s first “national hero.” Tickets are $250 per person and available on Eventbrite Jamaica’s 57th Independence Anniversary Grand Ball in Brooklyn New York. or by reserving with JICFI at JICFI@yahoo.com.

Chisholm lives on stage

The spirit and accomplishments of the late pioneering U.S. politician Shirley Chisholm will come to life in “Unbossed & Unbowed,” is a new solo from veteran playwright-performer Ingrid Griffith being staged next Sunday in Manhattan at the 13th Street Repertory Theater, 50 West 13th St., at 4:15 p.m.

Griffith vividly tell the story of Chisholm — first black woman elected to the United States Congress and the first African -American and the first woman to seek the nomination for U.S. president. To purchase tickets, visit brownpapertickets.com/ event/4263797. For information on the play, visit UnbossedUnbowed.com