Highlights: Not Just Reggae
Not Just Reggae
Jamaican vocalist smooth and soulful
Rochelle takes the Caribbean rhythms and makes them her own with her smooth and soulful voice and mellow spirit. She gracefully goes from a purr to a vibrato to adding an extra dimension to the music.
Rochelle was born into a musical family. Her late father Anthony Bradshaw and uncle Devon Bradshaw, performed with Burning Spear in the ‘80s. Rochelle began singing in church and school choirs as a young teen. She eventually left her hometown for the resort city of Ocho Rios where she was discovered by producer Barry O’Hare.
Rochelle recorded a number of singles on her own and also did backup vocals for Garnet Silk, Luciano, The Original Wailers, Chakademus & Pliers, Burning Spear Anthony B Sizzla, Prezident Brown, Iley Dread and Fayetteville’s own Joseph Israel.
She contributed vocals on the Grammy winning Burning Spear album, Calling Rastafari and toured with some of Jamaica’s hottest reggae artists, performing in Japan, Canada, the U.S., France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Africa, Spain and Brazil.
Rochelle writes her own lyrics and puts no particular brand on her music other than saying it is soulful, hard-hitting, powerful reggae. She will soon release her first album, which will include collaborations with Tarrus Riley, Plucky Ranks and Duane Stephenson.
Rochelle will perform with the Matt Smith Trio at 8 p.m. Friday at Teatro Scarpino. Tickets are $10.
Win a Chicken
Win a chicken—not just any chicken, but a grand champion runner-up layer—and find out more about one of the new fads in Fayetteville: backyard chickens.
Last year, the city council approved allowing small flocks in the city and since then many urban farmers have ventured into this new territory.
At 2 p.m. Saturday at the Pauline Whitaker Equine Center in Fayetteville, there will be a showing of the amusing documentary film “Mad City Chickens” about Madison, Wisc.’s backyard birds, which is a good primer for those interested in having a flock. The film will be followed by a question and answer session with veterinarian Dustin Clark.
And the chicken? The Silver Gray Dorking, raised by Stephanie Elling of Prairie Grove, was the Grand Campion runner-up at last year’s Washington County Fair. The event is free.
Mardi Gras and Music
Mardi Gras is Tuesday, which means the Mardi Gras Parade of Fools on Saturday and the Dickson Street pub crawl and secondline foot parade on Tuesday night. The parade will begin at 3 p.m. at the Fayetteville Square, travel East Street to Dickson Street and end at West Avenue for the float judging.
Tuesday night activities will begin at 6 p.m. with a dinner at Jose’s on Dickson Street followed by the coronation of the new king and queen at 8 p.m. at Jose’s Streetside. The costumed royalty and revelers will parade Dickson Street, stopping at clubs and restaurants.
Musical highlights for Mardi Gras week include a Valentine’s Day show by Delbert McClinton at the Walton Arts Center, a couple of notable shows at George’s, and a traditional New Orleans music show by the West St. Dixie Ramblers at Teatro Scarpino on Mardi Gras Night.
Also on Mardi Gras night, a triumvirate from Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Columbus, Ohio, will play George’s. The Tuesday show will feature electronic master RJD2 from Philadelphia, emerging hip-hop artist Keenan Bell of Los Angeles and indie rocker Happy Chichester of Columbus.
In addition to performing around the world, RJD2 has created music for TV shows (Mad Men and CSI) and movies (“Freedomland,” “Wimbledon”).
Bell will release his first album “Until the Future” next month. Bell, who was a schoolteacher for four years, did his first live show in 2008 and since then has opened for the likes of De La Soul, Jane’s Addiction and Dizzee Rascal.
Multi-instrumentalist, vocalist and songwriter Happy Chichester has a long musical history and did time with a couple of major labels. The man is all about his music and it shows.
Wednesday night, George’s will be sizzling with the sounds of Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe. The sax player, who spent many years with Lenny Kravitz, is one of a rare breed who successfully melds jazz, funk, hip-hop and jam into a delectable pie.
