LISTEN: LENNIE HIBBERT'S "REAL HOT" - Alpha Boys School Radio: Your #1 Musical Passport to Jamaica!

KADS MIIDA. VISUAL ARTIST FOR ERNEST RANGLIN & THE ALPHARIANS "JUST WHAT IT IS" FEATURING TAN TAN

5/20/2018

Kads Miida, a Tokyo-based visual artist created the throwback visual for the cover of the upcoming release, Just What It Is by Ernest Ranglin And The Alpharians Featuring Edward 'Tan Tan' Thornton. Click here to get your copy!

Visual Artist Kads Miida was born in Kyoto, and is now a Tokyo resident. Mr Miida fuses art and music. Since his first opportunity to paint a mural for a reggae club, Mr Miida says he was inspired by the energy of reggae music. As told to designer Maria Papaefstathiou, Miida says since the first time “I touched the riddim of Reggae [it] fit well with me, and I thought that I would like to paint simply the energy. I want to show the people what I see in the dancehall culture and reggae riddims.”

Facebook| facebook.com/kadsmiida Instagram| @kadsmiida

HAVE YOU HEARD? GIVE A GIFT AND GET A GIFT!

5/14/2018

In celebration of Alpha’s 138th anniversary on May 1, 2018, Alpha is pleased to give back to the school’s supporters a special musical gift–a pre-release copy of the song “Just What It Is” (Pop Up Music JA) recorded by the acclaimed guitarist Ernest Ranglin accompanied by Alpha past students. Indeed all the musicians donated their services with Alpha, and you, our friends and family, in mind. We are grateful to them for their generosity and their music and we look forward to sharing it with you.

LEGENDS OF JAMAICAN JAZZ REUNITE TO BENEFIT ALPHA

5/1/2018

From his role in Jamaica’s first smash hit, Millie Small’s “My Boy Lollipop”, to his eclectic contributions to Jamaican jazz and reggae, 85-year old Jamaican guitarist Ernest Ranglin is the elder statesman of Jamaican music. Challenging him for the position might be 86-year old Edward ‘Tan Tan’ Thornton, a graduate of the Alpha Boys School whose training at Alpha launched an amazingly varied work experiences--from performing with Eric Deans Orchestra as a teenager to a Beatles recording session as a young man and now touring with Rockabilly Punk outfit Kitty, Daisy & Lewis. Pop Up Music JA is pleased to partner with some of Jamaica's most influential musicians on this, its debut, Friday, June 1 release.

Until June 1 "Just What It Is" will be available exclusively on the Alpha Boys School website > alphaboysschool.org.

MELBOURNE SKA ORCHESTRA DONATES A COPY OF "MAN IN THE STREET" TO EVERY REGGAE AUCTION BIDDER!

2/24/2018

This year, everyone who bids on any item in the Reggae Auction (click here) will receive a complimentary digital copy of "Man In The Street" recorded by the Melbourne Ska Orchestra!

Originally recorded by the Skatalites featuring Alpha past student Don Drummond, "Man In The Street" is a ska classic!

ALPHA ALL STARS & RAE TOWN OLD HITS UNITE IN OLD HARBOUR BAY

10/19/2017

THE LONDON INTERNATIONAL SKA FEST LINE UP IS SET

9/3/2017

DERRICK MORGAN
THE ORIGINAL ACES
PAMA INTERNATIONAL
ALPHEUS
MAROON TOWN
BOMBSKARE
THE UPPERTONES
CARA-JANE MURPHY
SMILEY & THE UNDERCLASS

DJS/SOUNDS:
Gladdy Wax sound system
Axis valv-a-tron valve sound system
Phil Bush Sounds & Pressure lo-fi valve sound system
Tighten Up crew

REGGAE SUMFEST CELEBRATES 25 YEARS WITH SEAN PAUL, BEENIE MAN, KABAKA PYRAMID AND MORE!

6/10/2017

Reggae Sumfest started in 1993 and is the largest concert festival in Jamaica, taking place each year in mid-July in Montego Bay. Sumfest kicks off on Sunday with the Sumfest Beach Party held at the Aquasol Theme Park located on the Walter Fletcher Beach Complex; the All White Party (dress code) held on Tuesday at Pier 1 On the Waterfront followed by Sound Explosion and two nights of electrifying live performances beginning with Dancehall Night on Friday and finishes with Reggae Night on Saturday at the Catherine Hall Entertainment Complex.

SATURDAY JULY 22
SEAN PAUL
BEENIE MAN
MAD COBRA
QUEEN IFRICA
JAH CURE
CHRISTOPHER MARTIN
RICHIE STEPHENS & THE SKA NATION
SEAN KINGSTON
KABAKA PYRAMID
MELEKU

ALPHA 137TH ANNIVERSARY DANCE IN PHOTOS

6/7/2017

The Spanish Court Hotel was transformed into a dance session last Friday June 2 in support of the Alpha Institute. Special guests from Rae Town joined the Alpha Alumni Ensemble, Ken Boothe, Toots and DJ Welton Irie for an amazing night of music and dancing to benefit Alpha's vocational and educational programs for inner city youth. The Alpha 137 Anniversary Dance was sponsored by The Spanish Court Hotel, VP Records, Wisynco, Wata, Island Grill, NCB Foundation, Copperwood Pork, Rainforest Seafoods, Purity Bakers, Best Dressed Chicken, J Wray & Nephew, Jamaica Producers, Digita Global, Hot Off The Press, Alpha Boys School Radio, The City of Kingston, Idle Awhile (Negril), King Alarm, Coldwell Banker, The Gleaner Company, Rosh Marketing.

ALPHA 137TH ANNIVERSARY DANCE

5/5/2017

On Friday June 2nd, patrons will hear the music of past Alpha students played by past students. The 10-piece Alpha Big Band will be joined by DJ Welton Irie who will be spinning classic hits and rare cuts from the 60s, 70s and 80s for your dancing pleasure. The event will be broadcast on Alpha Boys School Radio. The all-inclusive event features a tantalizing menu of traditional Jamaican food and drink. Expect a high energy evening of dancing and celebration of Jamaica and Alpha’s 137th year of providing services to at risk youth.

Tickets are available online using Eventbrite (click here) and the following locations... (Purchases of 4 tickets or more are eligible for deliver! Call 578-1181 and ask for Joshua.)

Halfway Tree: Cafe Nita, 2 Phoenix Ave. (off Hope Road) 648-7686
Downtown: Alpha Institute, 26 South Camp (across from Suzuki) 928-1345
New Kingston: Cannonball Cafe 754-4486
Liguanea: Cannonball Cafe (Sovereign North) 970-1532
Manor Park: Cannonball Cafe 969-3399
Barbican Centre: Cannonball Cafe 946-0983

FEBRUARY 25 IN MELBOURNE. JAMAICA JUMP UP TO BENEFIT ALPHA INSTITUTE

2/10/2017

PBS 106.7FM Melbourne’s ska, rocksteady and early reggae party Jamaica Jump-Up is back after a summer break with a massive line-up for a very special, one-off fundraiser for the Alpha Boys School in Kingston, Jamaica.

Click here for the Facebook page!

Featuring live performances from none other than the Melbourne Ska Orchestra, Ska Vendors and The Moonhops! Yes, THREE huge live sets from some of Melbourne’s most celebrated ska/rocksteady outfits.

Plus, selections by our own Mohair Slim (Blue Juice Radio Show, PBS 106.7FM), Jesse I (Babylon Burning radio show, PBS 106.7FM), Rick Howe (Riddim Yard, PBS 106.7FM) with guest selectors Systa BB (@The Good, The Dub, The Global, Triple R - 3RRR 102.7FM) and Fabulous Fez.