A Great Taste In Music: February’s “Flavours & Vibes” Curated By Jones & Jones Serves Up A Full Menu Of Styles
Mark the date and get ready to dig in! Flavours & Vibes will bring a sumptuous mix of uplifting sounds to Brampton’s The Rose Mainstage on February 22, 2024, in an evening of songs and sensations headlined by international roots, rock, and reggae sensation Jesse Royal. With performances by The Human Rights, Omega Mighty, JUNO Award winner Kairo McLean and Joshua Lucas—and hosted by MC Bondé—the eagerly anticipated event will be a celebration of music in its truest form. Presented by Jones & Jones and Brampton On Stage, it’s a live-band experience that’ll have you rocking and swaying all night long.
This “Peace, Love, Unity Edition” of the crowd-pleasing pop-up has been engineered to, once again, connect worlds with a global blend of vibes that truly reflect the community. Positive energy will flow from a lineup that’s indicative of a diverse cultural mosaic, connecting listeners of all ages through the unifying power of music.
Let’s check out that overflowing buffet of skills:
JESSE ROYAL is a Grammy-nominated, internationally acclaimed singer-songwriter, performer, and recording artist from Kingston, Jamaica. Renowned for his numerous 21st-century reggae anthems—including “Modern Day Judas,” which rails against bad-minded people, and 2015’s “Finally,” which was written in recognition of the long overdue decriminalization of marijuana in Jamaica—this Rastafarian chart star is one of the island’s most charismatic young talents. His debut album, 2017’s Lily of Da Valley, hit #1 on the U.S. Billboard Reggae Album Chart, and his eagerly awaited follow-up LP, Royal, dropped on June 11, 2021. (Both albums were released by Easy Star Records.)
Through vivid storytelling rooted in the belief of a universal truth, his music carries a message of hope, strength, love, and consciousness. Over the course of his career, he’s been blessed to collaborate and create with some of the world’s most respected artists, musicians, and producers, including Sean Paul, Vybz Kartel, Stonebwoy, Protoje, Chronixx, Noise Cans, Steve Aoki, Damian Marley, Major Lazer, and many others.
Not just a musician, Jesse Royal is also a father, a community activist, a thought leader, and a global citizen guided by his spirituality and sense of righteousness.
THE HUMAN RIGHTS have become one of Canada’s most beloved and respected independent reggae bands since coming together in 2007 around one of the true lions of the Toronto reggae scene, Friendlyness (Big Sugar, Culture Shock, Truth And Rights). In 2014, Tréson joined the band to create a uniquely powerful two-man vocal frontline that delivers roots reggae, soul, R&B, and dancehall vibes—all backed by the propulsive rhythm section of Tyler Wagler (bass) and Eric Woolston (drums), plus Canadian reggae legend Dave Jackson on keys, two blazing guitarists and the Declaration of Human Rights horn section.
The band has played over 200 club and festival shows across Canada, and recently toured the United States for the first time to a fantastic response. They’ve released three full-length albums, with a fourth on the way in late 2024. The Human Rights have performed at major Toronto venues like Roy Thomson Hall, the Sound Academy, and Harbourfront Centre, as well as major events across Canada, including the Calgary Reggae Festival.
Their songs have become staples on reggae radio shows everywhere, and on CBC Radio programs like Big City, Small World. Fans of the Trailer Park Boys will know them for their version of the Boys’ theme song that’s featured in the movie Don’t Legalize It.
Canadian R&B-fusion/dancehall artist OMEGA MIGHTY has an eclectic sound, switching between Jamaican patois, sultry vocals, and an energetic rapflow with confidence. Her 2021 EP, Me & Youforia, put her on the map with its winning exploration of genres like R&R, dancehall, Afrobeat, and pop.
Born to a Jamaican father and British-Bajan mother, Omega cherishes playing records at home as one of her earliest memories. She started in music early, training in classical piano at the age of 4, then added singing at 6 and dance at 9. Growing up in Toronto, known as the most diverse city in Canada, Omega was exposed to a rich and varied culture that’s helped shape her sound. She’s since been seen gracing the stages of various festivals, including the RBC Canadian Open, Canada Day Vancouver, Riverfest, and AfrowaveTO, opening for acts like Flo Rida, Fefe Dobson, and the legendary band the Wailers.
Inspired by ’90s R&B and new age music alike, Omega draws influence from artists like Rihanna, Wstrn, Doja Cat, Missy Elliott, Brandy, Stefflondon and Vybz Kartel. She’s proud to wear multiple hats, acting as singer/songwriter, producer, and creative director for her energetic live performances, which spotlight her smooth vocals, vibrant movement, and militant aura.
KAIRO MCLEAN says he was born to play music. Obviously, it’s something he’s always gravitated to: He started playing drums at age 3 and guitar at 6. And in 2022, at the ripe age of 15, he became the youngest person to ever receive a Juno Award, for his EP Easy Now.
A true connoisseur of all aspects of reggae, rock-steady and sound-system culture, he takes his cues from greats like Dennis Brown, Gregory Isaacs, Sugar Minott, and Peter Tosh. All this and more makes Kairo a phenomenon to keep an eye on as his star continues to rise in the Canadian music scene.
Referred to by many as “the future,” JOSHUA LUCAS has been striving to preserve authentic Jamaican and Caribbean culture through music and DJing. Since he started on his path at the tender age of 9, his position as one of Canada’s most talented DJs has continued to be reinforced as he delights crowds at clubs, parties, and festivals alike. He’s blazed a trail in Toronto music and entertainment, taking on a role as a cultural preserver of authentic music and culture via his DJing, live performance, event promotion, and music production.
With his family’s record collection as inspiration, Joshua had decided by age 3 that music was his favourite thing. By the time he turned 9, he had begun DJing and playing drums and piano. In the years that followed, he continued to refine his skills; he even created his own production company, Avalanche Productions A/V, in 2012.
His sound selections, versatility, mixing skills, and knowledge of the music began getting attention from a growing fan base around Toronto and attracted some of the industry’s heavy hitters, like Jones and Jones Productions. That led to Joshua’s first appearance at the JAMBANA One World Festival at the age of 15. Famous Jamaican actor and comedian Oliver Samuels was so impressed by the performance that he heaped accolades on the young selector.
Joshua Lucas has shared stages with many international artists and deejays, including Shabba Ranks, Yellow Man and Marcia Griffiths, Metro MediaSound, Stone Love, and Dr Jay De Soca King. His career has not been limited to the reggae community, as he has spread his talent to the soca scene through Jamal Magloire’s Toronto Revellers Mass Band. He plays at corporate events for companies like Bell Canada, Revera Living, and CIBC, and he’s regularly booked for weddings, private events, and school events for a variety of school boards.
Joshua continues to preserve and promote reggae culture through his events “Skanking Sweet The Spirit of Reggae Music,” the throwback party “Carnival Inception” and “416 & Park.” Joshua has lately expanded his endeavours to live streaming through the Twitch platform and to sound clash culture through the newly organized National Soundclash League.
MC BONDÉ is a Zimbabwean-born actor and a multi-award-winning emcee/host who has been in the entertainment business since 1995, DJ’ing/MC’ing events, parties, concerts, and weddings in North America, Europe, and Africa. He has been an MC/host at over 250 weddings and over 3,500 events/concerts worldwide.
He made his acting debut in the Nollywood feature film Clash (#ClashTheMovie), which was released by Diamond Pictures Inc. Canada and streamed on Netflix from May 8, 2021. (The movie features “first lady of Nollywood” Omoni Oboli and actor Pascal Atuma, who also directed.)
MC Bondé was a radio host on CHRY 105.5FM (now VIBE 105.5FM) and G98.7FM (which later became Flow 98.7FM Toronto). One of the shows he hosted on G98.7FM and Flow 98.7FM, The African Groove Show, represented a first for the community: a program on commercial radio dedicated to African music and entertainment. The show won multiple awards in the 11 years it was on air.
MC Bondé is a freelance voiceover and the host of Interactive Buzz on Feva TV (www.fevatv.com), a show in which he interviews entertainers from all over Africa.
Presented by Brampton on Stage and The Jones & Jones Group, and graciously sponsored by TD, this edition of Flavours & Vibes will begin with a preshow mix-n-mingle at 7 p.m., followed by the show at 8. The Rose is located at 1 Theatre Lane, Brampton. For tickets, visit tickets.brampton.ca/ Online/default.asp