On February 2, 2011 The Jolly Boys rocked the house at the first in a series of Reggae Month concerts held at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts in Jamaica. The night saw a number of astounding performances from the reigning Kings of Mento including a mixture of classic and modern mento hits.



It was after their cover of New Order’s “Blue Monday” that the crowd began shouting their request for the smash hit cover of Amy Winehouse’s “Rehab” and the moment The Jolly Boys began performing it they were interrupted by members of the audience who had rushed forward to show their excitement. In case you missed this magnetic performance enjoy this snippet of The Jolly Boys performing “Rehab” at the event. read more!

On February 2, 2011, as part of the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association‘s (JaRIA) “Reggae Month” celebrations the reigning “Kings of Mento” gave an electrifying performance at the first in a series of free concerts held at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, branded ‘Heritage’.



Mento is a style of Jamaican folk music that predates and has greatly influenced ska and reggae music and not only are The Jolly Boys the embodiment of this genre, but they have proven to be the perfect fusion of old and new with their introduction of “Modern Mento” into the world of music. After having spent so much time on tour in Europe it only took a few seconds on stage in Jamaica for The Jolly Boys to realize they were home. The crowd erupted in cheers as lead singer Albert Minott kicked things off with the Classic Mento hit “Dig, Dig”. The song’s subtle, sexual innuendos were mirrored in the gyrations of the singer.
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February is Reggae Month in Jamaica and among the festivities the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association (JaRIA) has planned for the month is a weekly series of free concerts each Wednesday at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts. Tonight (February 2, 2011) the reigning “Kings of Mento” will perform among other acts in the first in the series, branded ‘Heritage’.



Mento is a style of Jamaican folk music that predates and has greatly influenced ska and reggae music and The Jolly Boys are the embodiment of this genre. The Reggae Month concert will feature music ranging from Folk and Mento to Jazz, Classical and Drumming. Performances will include The Jolly Boys, Dennis Rushton, & more. The show starts at 7:30 pm. Come out tonight and see The Jolly Boys among other great acts!

Calypso-style ‘mento’ music, which pre-dates reggae by decades, is enjoying a revival. Pioneering practitioners the Jolly Boys are coming to the UK.
‘Everybody knows Albert,” says Albert Minott proudly as he walks through the streets of Port Antonio, Jamaica, recognised by many of the passers-by. “This is my town. I was born here, and I’ll die here. All my life, singing and dancing. It’s like a fire inside.”

Tall and lean, the 71-year-old Minott cuts a dapper figure in a matching ensemble of crisp shirts and slacks, waistcoats and cravats, set off with nifty colour co-ordinated trilby hats. He would stand out anywhere, let alone amid the faded Caribbean glamour of Jamaica’s north coast resort, where painted wooden shacks lean up against collapsing colonial buildings, and the locals favour bright T-shirts and shorts. (more…)