Toronto, June 5, 2006 - Harbourfront Centre World Routes 2006 summer season presents various free events every weekend, featuring Canadian and International artists in music, dance, theatre, food, readings, visual arts and family activities! Some highlights of the more than 40 Caribbean events include: a rare one time show of profile Toronto musicians Jamaica to Toronto (July 15); Trinidadian Calypso King The Mighty Sparrow (Aug. 4); legendary Rastafarian Tony Rebel (Aug. 5); and Toronto Calypso favourites Roy Cape and the Kaiso All Stars (Aug. 7).

Other highlights include dance performances by Toronto’s own Iré Omo Afro-Cuban Drum and Dance Ensemble (Aug. 4) and Reggaerbics and Socacize with Tamla Matthews (Aug. 6), along with food demos by popular Caribbean chefs.

All of these and more make Harbourfront Centre the Toronto destination this summer for Caribbean performers! Complete event and concert listings available at www.harbourfrontcentre.com/wr/info/media.php

Summer Events Include:

Roots: Remix (July 14 to July 16)
Roots: Remix delves into how traditional cultures have influenced today's popular music and culture. A festival highlight is the Jamaica to Toronto one time only concert and CD launch (July 15), featuring an all-star cast of: Jay Douglas (musical director/vocalist), Val Bent, (guitar player from The Sheiks), Lloyd Delpratt (played with Bob Marley and recorded on the Studio One label), Everton Pablo Paul (drummer from Wayne McGhie & The Sounds of Joy/The Cougars), The Mighty Pope, Jo-Jo Bennett (Sattalites), Terry Lewis and Bob & Wisdom (owner of Wisdom's Barber shop on Eglinton Ave. West). These artists revolutionized the Toronto urban scene in the late 60’s and early 70’s. Some of their most notable tracks are featured on the new CD, Jamaica to Toronto: Soul Funk and Reggae 1967 – 1974.

Another profile performer, Belize musician Aurelio Martinez makes his Toronto debut blending Caribbean and African sounds with Amerindian rhythms and electronic beats (July 16).

Island Soul (August 4 to August 7)
Island Soul celebrates the vitality of the Caribbean islands through an exploration of the diversity within this beautiful region. The multiplicity of Pan-Caribbean voices will be reflected in the various arts, music and cultural performances, as well as a delicious array of Caribbean dishes cooked to perfection by some of Toronto’s finest chefs. Island Soul features many events celebrating worldwide Rastafarian and Chinese culture within the Caribbean. Rastafest (in partnership with Upfront Theatre Foundation and Masani Productions) displays the rich and diverse Rastafarian lifestyle and history. Rastafarian artists from the Caribbean, Jamaica, England, America and various cities throughout Canada participate in this historical event. Activities include music, dance, drumming, arts and crafts display, ital cooking, film screenings and a Rasta crafts and jewellery market (Aug. 4-7). The festival also presents a number of events in co-operation with the Hakka Chinese Association, exploring the Chinese culture in the Caribbean with events ranging from food to readings to films. More details TBC.

MUSIC:
Free concerts by living legends include Trinidadian calypso king The Mighty Sparrow (Aug. 4) and Jamaican reggae Rastafarian Tony Rebel (Aug. 5). The Duke Ellington of calypso music, Roy Cape, returns with his celebrated band The Kaiso All Stars from Trinidad and Tobago (Aug. 7).

Exciting and up and coming performers consist of Atlanta’s Abba Shaka & The Ark of the Covenant Sound (Aug. 5) and Haitian-Canadian musical wonderkind MIKA (Aug. 6).

DANCE AND FAMILY ACTIVITIES:
Iré Omo Afro-Cuban Drum and Dance Ensemble
Latin Caribbean rhythms and soca and calypso vibes come alive during this colourful and moving dance performance (Aug. 4).

Reggaerbics and Socacize with Tamla Matthews
Tamla Matthews hosts a dance workshop that uses reggae/dancehall and calypso/soca music to fuel stretching, cardio and toning with African, Caribbean and contemporary movement. Fun for people of all ages (Aug. 6 and Aug. 7).

Asheba
Putumayo recording artist visiting from Trinidad and Tobago, Asheba, spreads stories of hope and happiness for children of all ages, abilities and backgrounds with his Caribbean, reggae and neo-folk music, call and response arrangements and impromptu ditties. Asheba also hosts an interactive calypso workshop for kids (Aug. 7).

FOOD:
Caribbean flavours collide at the ROTI Cook-off! between Roti Palace and Mona’s Roti Shop (Aug. 6). Taste Rasta Pasta by the Irie Food Joint (Aug. 6). Sample Hakka Caribbean Cuisine with Chef Herbert Lee (Aug 7) and watch Chef Maria Marquex of Island Thyme Callalo Frits cook to perfection at Roots: Remix (July 15).

FILM:
Women West Indies is a Canadian premier of six short portraits of outstanding women from the Caribbean (15 minutes each) part of a 66 portrait series (Aug. 6 and Aug. 7). Some of the women featured include St. Marteen’s patron of the arts Ruby, Haitian music legend Emeline and renowned Antiguan artist Heather. Other film highlights include: two short animated films part of the Caribbean Animated Magic Series (Aug. 7), the Canadian premier of dancehall documentary It’s All About Dancing (Aug. 6), Chinese Restaurant: Cuba (Aug. 7), Uncomfortable: The Art of Christopher Cozier (Aug. 7) and Roaring Lion-the first documentary endorsed by leading elders of the Rastafarian movement (Aug. 6).

VISUAL ARTS:
Chinese in Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago-A Retrospect
This retrospective photo exhibition celebrates Hakka Chinese contributions and influence to Caribbean culture to mark 2006 as the 200th year anniversary of Chinese arriving in Jamaica and over 150 years of Chinese history in Trinidad and Tobago (Aug. 4 – Aug. 7).

Harbourfront Centre Focus - The Power Of Place
Geography, history, memory all guide us as we struggle to find a sense of belonging and identity. They can direct us as clearly as a map or a compass. But does your heritage define you or does it make you part of a community? Do you belong to your neighbourhood or does it belong to you? What is your place in the world? Power of Place is part of an ongoing exploration of ideas-based programming at Harbourfront Centre, June through December 2006.