Amexem Latest News

VANCITY ROOTS & CULTURAL EXPERIENCE





On July 22nd, Amexem Roots Rock Reggae Cultural Society hosted Vancity Roots and Culture Experience, a FREE interactive reggae, hip-hop, soul and R&B music jam featuring some of the best seasoned and up and coming local artists in Vancouver. While celebrating the Earthstrong (birthday) of Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia under the red, gold and green banner, participants got a taste of the cultural experience rooted in reggae music. The Earthstrong of Haile Selassie I is celebrated by thousands of Rastafarians all over the world and is a remembrance of the Emperor’s commitment to peace, unity and freedom for all human beings regardless of ethnicity or economic status.

The all-day event featured live music by Vancouver’s premier reggae band, Mad Riddim with special guests, reggae recording artists Doron Bell, Zukie Joseph and Gisto, First Nations spoken word artist, Ostwelve and rising Vancouver star Zizi as well as Vancouver’s Queen of Soul, Dawn Pemberton, positive dancehall artist, Tugstar from Jamaica and international guest, Adan Samuel Nunez of Golden Ganga Band from Mexico. The event was hosted by long-time CFRO DJ, Lynden V. (Roots Reggae Show) with DJ’s George Barrett (The Reggae Show (CFRO) Rockers (CiTR)), DJ LT Irie (Jamdown Saturdays at Calabash Bistro) and Nasty Jag (Pirates of the Caribbean (CJSF)).

The Chain and Forge is a new public space in the heart of Granville Island that will offers a variety of free public events and activities over the summer. We hope you will join us in 2019 for the next installment of Vancity Roots and Culture Experience, lineuup to be announced soon!

This project is made possible through Granville Island’s Activation Grants and Initiatives.

Live in concert: Alpha Blondy & The Solar System with special guest Camaro ‘67, Mr Fantastik, KETCH DI VYBZ DANCERS at The Vogue Theatre








Live in concert: Alpha Blondy & The Solar System
with special guest Camaro ‘67, Mr Fantastik, KETCH DI VYBZ DANCERS at The Vogue Theatre- 2016

This was a collaboration project with African Hertiage Festival of Music & Dance Society(AHFOMAD). This was a grant funded (Music BC & The Canada Council of the Arts) project that was apart of AHFOMAD programming for their upcoming festival. Amexem collaborated with AHFOMAD because of their planning to bring local musicians and international Reggae superstars together on one stage. With our now establish reputation in the niche cultural music market. We provided more support in promotion, and sound tech areas. As well as hosting and general volunteering for the concert. This was an awesome community funded event that was attended by Mayor Gregor Robertson. This event was almost a sell out, that was attended by people between the ages of 30 – 65 yrs old.



3rd ANNUAL REGGAE REMEMBRANCE DAY w/ 4-time Juno Award winner, Exco Levi at Calabash- 2015

Although we were in recovery mode after the low attendance of the Kabaka Pyramid show, we took the
opportunity to have 5 time Juno Award winner for the Reggae Single category, Exco Levi for a promotional performance showcasing his new album up for the Juno Awards. We were lucky to get him through his manager and founder of the Reggae category of the Juno’s Awards for a great price so we felt compelled to take it on as he had never appeared in Vancouver and we wanted to help build a fan base for him here.

Cautious about our niche market from our last event, we decided to have him at a smaller venue where we had previously had a successful event, so we chose Calabash Bistro. The turnout was full capacity and the show was intimate and energized, showing us that we could definitely go bigger in the future. This event showed us that we were now a major cultural music promotion organization in Vancouver with a solid reputation for bringing unique and creative events to Vancouver with critically acclaimed artists.


Kabaka Pyramid at the Rickshaw


KABAKA PYRAMID & THE BEBBLE ROCKERS Live In Concert: with special guest DJ 151 (Vancouver Hip-hop), B Kenyon (Vancouver/Jamaica) & Tasman Jude- at Rickshaw Theatre - 2015 

 One of Jamaica’s hottest new Roots Reggae Revival artists, with several brand new popular single’s such as, Well Done, produced by Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley, We The People, with Legendary Inner Circle Band at the well-known Vancouver music scene landmark, Rickshaw Theatre.