Israel Darling Dinosaur Bones and Mechanical Hands (Engine Room Recordings - August 4th) August Tour Dates Announced Feeling trapped and isolated is a way of life in Western North Carolina. Its small towns foster unique coming-of-age experiences for adolescents growing up there, and Jacob Darden is no exception. Darden was born in the small, Appalachian town of Drexel and spent the first 20 years of his life in the former milltown that has become the main influence of the songs he writes for his band, Israel Darling. Darden began playing music at a young age, and it became his escape. His father often played blues and Appalachian folk records in the house and Darden felt an immediate connection. Darden’s father had a part-time job as a guitar-maker, and would bring the young boy to meet his musician friends.

These local bluesmen would eventually make major impact on Darden’s songwriting. “Hanging out with the older musicians in Drexel really influenced me,” says Darden. “It was so great to just hang out in the same room with people that I’ll probably never even be able to play as well as.” Like the majority of his community, Darden grew up a devout Baptist. He made a point to go to church even when his family stopped, driving himself there every Sunday. Until two years ago, that is. A downward spiral of events left Darden in the hospital at the age of 19. “I started hanging out with the wrong crowds and making bad choices,” Darden says. When he emerged from the hospital, Darden’s beliefs had changed and he proclaimed himself an atheist. With a new set of ideals, he immersed himself in his music. “I don’t think there’s anything after this so I’ve been trying to do better for myself, living for now and making the most of today.” Darden’s religious past also played a part in the naming of the band. At the ripe age of 15, Darden was playing at an open-mic in the nearby town of Morganton, NC. “A cougar came up to hit on me and asked my name,” Darden recalls. “When I told her, she misheard last name as Darling.” This older woman wasn’t the first to make that mistake and Darden pondered calling himself Jacob Darling. Once he became an atheist, he began to think about the Biblical tale of Jacob, who was re-named Israel by an angel after a great deal of struggling. Darden identified with this tale of inner turmoil and decided to call the band Israel Darling. Darden’s beliefs are strongly expressed in his songwriting.

Despite Biblical references in his songs, Darden approaches religion with irony and bitterness. In the song “Samson the Mason” Darden muses, “led myself to believe, that God’s nothing more than a three letter word, something that can't be touch nor heard.” Beyond the apparent atheist tones, Darden also examines the intricacies of human existence. “I write a lot about angles of everyday life, whether it be personal issues or the shit that scares you at night when you're trying to sleep,” Darden says. Darden recorded a number of tracks along with friend Isaac Crouch, for what would become Israel Darling’s debut record, Dinosaur Bones and Mechanical Hands. Crouch stopped playing music in favor of an academic life and Jacob banded together with a group of local musicians including Mat Masterson (slide guitar), who went to high school with Jacob, and Alex Dagenhart (synth) who grew up one county over from Drexel. Masterson and Dagenhart were living in Greensboro, NC along with Arlie Huffman (drums) and Jeff Bechtel (bass). Darden followed their lead and left Drexel for the more artist-friendly Greensboro in February 2009.

The new lineup of Israel Darling signed to NYC’s Engine Room Recordings and “Dinosaur Bones and Mechanical Hands” is set for a summer 2009 release. A summer tour will ensure that Israel Darling will soon be escaping the ever encroaching hills of Western North Carolina. For more from Israel Darling visit www.myspace.com/israeldarling and www.engineroomrecordings.com Track Listing For Dinosaur Bones and Mechanical Hands: 1. Samson The Mason 2. I'm Dropping By 3. Oh My God 4. Sherwood St. 5. A Brilliant Plan 6. Woman, God, and pity for a man 7. Billy Walker 8. All Is Well 9. Locked In A Safe 10. Dinosaur Bones and Mechanical Hands August Tour Dates: August 6th - The Camel - Richmond, VA August 7th - Twisted Branch - Charlottesville, VA August 8th - Cyclops - Baltimore, MD August 11th - Pianos - New York, NY August 12th - Spike Hill - Brooklyn, NY August 13th - All Asia - Cambridge, MA August 14th - Bar46 - Hackettstown, NJ August 15th - The Fire - Philadelphia, PA For press inquiries contact: Lauren @ Engine Room Recordings Lauren@engineroomrecordings, 708-642-2785

Opening Ceremony

11:30 am – 12:15 pm

Ras Michael and The Sons and Daughters of Negus

12:15 pm – 1:15 pm

The Pyrx Band

1:45 pm – 2:15 pm

Bobby T and The Magical Voyagers

2:45 pm – 3:30 pm

Rebelution

4:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Norris Man backed by The Gravity Band

5:30 pm – 6:00 pm

Messenjah Selah backed by The Gravity Band

6:00 pm – 6:30 pm

Jah Dan backed by The Jah Current Band

7:00 pm – 7:30 pm

NiyoRah backed by The Jah Current Band

7:30 pm – 8:30 pm

Queen Ifrica and Tony Rebel

9:00 pm – 9:45 pm – 10:30 pm

DeMarco

11:00 pm – 12:00 am

Luciano

12:30 am – 2:00 am

Saturday August 1 schedule is looking like this:

New World Ballet featuring Fogo na Roupa

11:30 am – 12:00 pm

Medicine Drum

12:00 pm - 12:30 pm

Ishi Dube

1:00 pm - 1:45 pm

Prezident Brown with The Solid Foundation Band featuring Andrew Diamond

2:15 pm - 3:00 pm

Rootz Underground

3:30 pm - 4:15 pm

Dezarie

4:45 pm - 5:45 pm

New World Ballet featuring Fogo na Roupa

5:45 pm - 6:15 pm

Toots and The Maytals

6:15 pm - 7:15 pm

Million Stylez

7:45 pm - 8:30 pm

Chezidek backed by Double 07

8:30 pm - 9:30 pm

Jah Mason backed by Double 07

9:30 pm - 10:45 pm

Lutan Fyah backed by Double 07

11:00 pm – 12:15 am

Capleton

12:45 am – 2:00 am

Sunday August 2 line up includes:

Jahcoustix

11:00 am - 11:30 am

Moese Angel Tribute featuring The High-Grade All Stars

12:00 pm - 12:45 pm

Humble Soul

1:15 pm - 2:00 pm

The Alliez

2:30 pm - 3:15 pm

Chino

3:45 pm - 4:15 pm

Laden

4:15 pm - 4:45 pm

Freddie McGregor

5:00 pm - 5:30 pm

Sister Carol

6:00 pm - 6:45 pm

The Original Wailers featuring Al Anderson and Junior Marvin

7:15 pm - 8:00pm

Marcia Griffiths

8:15 pm - 9:15 pm

ASWAD

9:45 pm - 11:00 pm

Gentleman

11:45 pm - 1:15 am

***with special guest performers

Dancehall deejay

and Roots Reggae Empress

music by the Irie Jam Radio Family

and

DATE: Tuesday, August 4th

TIME: 7pm - Midnight

LOCATION: TOUCH

240 West 52nd Street

(bet. 8th Avenue & Broadway in NYC)

RSVP: events@msraineinc.com

anthonyhturner@gmail.com

or call 347-492-3977

**guest artists are doing SCHEDULED MEDIA INTERVIEWS ONLY

to schedule an interview contact media@msraineinc.com or 347-492-3977

Great Music, Food & Perfect Weather

Tickets are available at the door, each day!

July 18-19 2009

Beres Hammond, Toots & The Maytals, Sister Carol, Yellowman, Culture with Kenyatta Hill, Frankie Paul, with Inner Roots,

The Ravers, Soulshot, and MAMADOU Diop

55.00 one day

$110.00 two day with free camping.

Children under 12 are free!

All campers must purchase a two day ticket.

Band submissions are complete for 2009 and that 2010 submissions will be accepted in August 2009

David Squeeze, the promoter for the event, said that “I was highly impressed, that an artiste so young in the game could electrify and captivate an audience this way”. DJ Max Glazer spun for her. She sang all her hits plus more, and ended with a tear-jerking rendition of God Blessed. Dancehall Diva Macka Diamond also performed.

Other celebs were in the building and also Industry executives, including Michael Rose. It was known that T-I-F-A rocked S.O.B’s Café and converted the audience into major fans by the end of the night.

After her return to Jamaica, Tifa performed at both Queens High and Meadowbrook High Barbeque, where she delivered songs Crawny Gal, Bottom of the Barrel excellently, but it was the single Spell It Out that had the students singing every word, every line of the song. The catchy single is said to be Tifa’s biggest single yet.

Tifa’s mega hit single Spell It Out is currently positioned on the Jamaica Music Countdown at number 11, its number 13 on outaroad.com, 19 on the RE TV countdown, and it just entered the E-strip and Hitlist at number 5.

Tifa has a number of singles to be released, some that are currently being recorded and others that are recorded and are ready to take the world by a massive storm.

“I’m ready to show the world what I can do musically, I am very versatile and I have A LOT of songs that are ready to tek it dem,” Tifa added.

The latest single from Tifa is entitled Dem Ting Nuh Good, produced by Skilly B, and it’s on the G35 Riddim. The riddim also has songs from, Flippia Mafia, Bugle and Elephant Man just to name a few. The song is already catching on, after just been released. Be on the look for TWO new music videos for the single, Without Warning and the new single Dem Ting Nuh Good and also new singles from powerhouse Ward 21.

Tifa has been booked for a number of upcoming shows overseas and locally in the next few months, one of which is the Jamaica Aids Support Concert later this month.

Source: Kyle G Campbell

"Un'altro Mondo È Possible" - "another world is possible" was the motto at Rototom Sunsplash 2009 and once again, festival-goers, organizers and staff proved that it is indeed. Regardless of ethnicity, colour, or creed people can live together respectfully, in harmony, peace, tolerance, love and unity.

Having participated at last year's festival, I can happily attest to the harmonious atmosphere experienced - nothing but positivity and love present in the park. Every year people come from all over Europe and beyond, to see, hear and learn more about Reggae, Jamaica and its culture, as well as its influence on the music and culture of people around the world. This is indeed a peaceful gathering. Although unable to attend the 16th annual European Reggae Festival this year, I was able to participate virtually. Broadcast live over radio, television and live-streaming online, the festival's reggae-loving audience has expanded far beyond the borders of the Parco del Rivellino at the base of the Alps. Naturally, as a virtual participant, the energy and vibrations that one feels amongst the throngs of people in the park were sorely missing, but some of the performances were so powerfully brilliant that the vibrations were indeed carried through the ether and felt here in Toronto. On night six, the energy of Michael Franti and Spearhead on the main stage vibrated at such a high frequency that I danced, sang, and cheered, sharing love with them and the several thousands of joyous fans who did the same under a torrential downpour.

At the close of the show, I was moved to tears as I watched a most gracious, loving Franti step down off the stage to walk out amongst his drenched and devoted fans to thank them personally, embracing everyone he encountered as the rain continued unabated. This was an extraordinary and magnificent moment. I was also fortunate enough to participate in a history making moment when Bunny Wailer, took centre stage for the first time, in Italy. The only living, original Wailer had for years declined invitations to perform in Italy because of its history of injustices in Ethiopia. Finally, he explained on stage, he changed his mind when he recognized that Italians and Ethiopians are now creating families together. He knew this was his time and Rototom the place. The audience remained enthralled as Bunny took us through the "history of reggae" including his classic Blackheart Man. Bunny Wailer, in his reconciliation with Italy, also announced that he would donate a portion of his fees to the victims of the recent earthquake in the Abruzzo region and the balance to organizations in Shashamane Ethiopia.

Other concert highlights included Junior Kelly, Steel Pulse, Alborosie, Lynton Kwesi Johnson, and Horace Andy among a whole slew of other stellar performers. From this side of the Atlantic I was also able to enjoy Sunsplash TV between main stage acts. Sunsplash TV featured informative and entertaining interviews with performers, guests, organizers, and key personnel working to make this festival such a huge success. This year the broadcast also featured London Town, a documentary by reggae historian, radio and Sunsplash TV host, Pier Tosi. Performances and debates can still be seen from the Rototom website or on arcoiris.tv On the down side and much to the dismay of festival-goers, Rototom president, Filippo Giunta announced, during the closing ceremonies, that as a result of police harassment tactics, next year's location and dates remain undetermined. Over the course of the ten days, police and other inspectors conducted searches of merchants' stalls, people's tents and personal belongings for "no real reason connected to emergencies or public order". Clearly, when masses of people come together in peace, love and unity, Babylon is threatened and unleashes the dogs of hell. How appropriate therefore that Anthony B closed this year's Rototom Festival with a fiery performance.

Despite the distance and Babylon interference, this edition of Rototom Sunsplash was an enormous success! Congratulations to all the organizers, staff and participants. I look forward to next year's festival al vivo.