YAADCONNECTION

KINGSTON, Jamaica: International recording star Sean Paul will be celebrating his birthday tonight (Wednesday, January 11) at the Fiction lounge as part of the party series Brand New Machine (BNM).

“What better place to celebrate than in Kingston, Jamaica?,” said Sean Paul.

Long-time friend, road manager and party promoter, Steve Wilson of BNM fame will host the ‘star studded’ event.

“Wednesday’s are always popping a Fiction. But Sean and his superstar friends will take it to another level,” said Steve. “In addition to the party, the music and the vibe, the video screensin the club will showcase the Material Riddim Medley video.”

Sean Paul is currently putting the final touches on his fifth studio album Tomahawk Technique, set to be released by VP/Atlantic next month. The 12-track album includes Got 2 Luv U featuring Alexis Jordan, She Doesn’t Mind and Wedding Crashers. Sean Paul also serves personal tracks like How Deep Is You Love featuring Kelly Roland, formerly of Destiny’s child.

However, he switched roles in the studio to produce the Material Riddim with a host of artistes including Wayne Marshall, Fambo, Bounty Killer, and Cecile. Sean Paul also produced a groundbreaking 10-minute medley video, with supporting behind the scenes footage, which was directed by Mikal Chushnie.

The Shaggy Make A Difference Foundation will continue with the charity auction aspect of this year’s Shaggy and Friends concert. The concert, which will be staged on Saturday, January 7, is organised by the foundation to benefit the Bustamante Children’s Hospital.

“Our focus this year is on the cardiac unit at Bustamante, and we’re really trying to ensure we get a great turn-out and raise as much money as we can for the hospital,” said Rebecca Packer, a director of the Shaggy Make A Difference Foundation in a release sent to The STAR.

She said that the auction was an important part of making the overall event a success. 100 per cent of all proceeds from the Shaggy & Friends concert, including the charity auction, godirectly to aid the Bustamante Children’s Hospital, which is the only hospital of its kind in the English-speaking Caribbean.

save more lives

Patrons of the concert who hold platinum tier tickets are able to participate in the auction, which begins at 6:30 p.m., and gates to the event for platinum-ticketed patrons open at 5 p.m. There will be more than 20 items on auction, which Packer says “will entice people to make a bigger difference and save more lives”.

Items to be auctioned include a diamond watch from celebrity jeweller Chris Aire, exclusiveclothing designs from Carlton Brown and Lubica, tickets to the highly-rated Michael JacksonImmortal Cirque Du Soleil tour in Miami, a one-on-one surprise experience with the world’s fastest man Usain Bolt, a VIP Black Card from Fiction Nightclub, art pieces, a catered dinner for four to six persons done by chef Brian Lumley, spa and villa experiences, signed memorabilia, HD cable boxes courtesy of Flow and more. Additionally, the foundation will also be auctioning cardiac surgeries, where participants in the auction will be able to contributedirectly to the cost of heart surgeries for those children at Bustamante Hospital who are in need.

With tickets now on sale, its full speed ahead for the 2012 staging of Shaggy & Friends. Tickets are available at The Jamaica Pegasus, Usain Bolt Tracks & Records, Liguanea Drug and Garden, Susie’s Bakery & Coffee Bar, Music Mart, LG Service Station, Sun Island Outlets islandwide, LIME Lifestyle Stores (47 Half-Way-Tree Road, Bargain Mall, Sovereign, Portmore Mall and Knutsford Boulevard). They are available in three tiers – Platinum, Silver and Gold. Shaggy & Friends 2012 will see the likes of Shaggy, Lauryn Hill, Eve, Half-Pint, Coco Tea, Maxi Priest, I-Octane, Gyptian, Mr Vegas, Wayne Marshall, Tami Chynn, Deniece Williams, Assassin and Romain Virgo. Set for Saturday, January 7, it will be held on the grounds of Jamaica House.