Live acts to get you moving at carnival
Jam to music of Jamaica, Grenada, Trinidad and Toronto this week
This is the weekend when Toronto’s musical and social life is transformed annually by the Toronto Caribbean Carnival, known informally and possibly permanently as Caribana. It’ll be boisterous.
Recorded music, whether remixed by DJs or unaltered, will be easy to find at a hundred parties and booming out the window of many a passing car.
There will be dance parties and blockos from Brampton to Regent Park, hosted by everyone from Jamaican hip-hop hit machine Sean Paul to LeBron James.
However, if you what you want is live entertainment, here are a few examples of what’s underway and meant to coincide with the festival (check ticketport.com, ticketweb.ca, or playderecord.com — or even ticketmaster.ca — for tickets):
Jab Jab J’Ouvert, a bill full of Grenadian musicians including LavaMan and Wuss Ways: Friday, 3 p.m. (gates), 747 Flea Market, 75 Parkhurst Square, Brampton
Rejouvernate, featuring Trinidadian soca/pop act Kes the Band: Friday, 7 p.m., Markham Fairgrounds, 10801 McCowan Rd.
Beres Hammond Band, featuring, yes, Beres Hammond, the Jamaican lovers-rock titan: Friday, 6 p.m. (doors), Woodbine Shopping Centre, 500 Rexdale Blvd.
Pan Alive Panorama, the annual percussion and steel pan drumming competition: Friday, 6 p.m. (to midnight!), Lamport Stadium, 1155 King St. W.
Summer Love returns Kes the Band to the Markham Fairgrounds but adds Trinidadian chutney star Ravi B and his band, among others: Monday, 3 p.m.
OVO Fest is … well, you may have heard of this one. Drake’s annual party starts on Sunday with the R&B veterans B2K and Mario, and their rap peers Ying Yang Twins, Lloyd, Chingy and more. Then on Monday night comes the man himself, with undisclosed guests (which in the past have been everyone from Eminem to Stevie Wonder). Sunday and Monday, 6:30 p.m., Budweiser Stage, 909 Lake Shore Blvd. W.
And those are just the paid events. If you want live performance
and you’re a cheapskate, Harbourfrout Centre has you covered with the following free events, all at the Concert Stage, 235 Queens Quay W. (harbourfrontcentre.com/islandsoul/):
á Chelsea Stewart, 2019 Juno nominee for Reggae Recording of the Year: Friday, 8 p.m.
á Nature Ellis, Jamaican reggae star known for positivity: Saturday, 8 p.m.
á Jamaican singer-songwriter Etana, nominated for a Best Reggae Album Grammy for last year’s Reggae Forever: Saturday, 9:30 p.m.
á The Arsenals, Toronto veterans of 25 years of blending Jamaican ska, rockstead y rhythms and pop: Sunday, 2 p.m.
Reggae/dancehall institution Johnny Osbourne, a 50-year veteran of Jamaican music: Sunday, 8 p.m.
And last, but no way least, local hero and Juno nomine Jay Douglas brings R&B, reggae and more: Sunday, 9:30 p.m.