Jamaican athletes, musicians and artists will come together this summer to celebrate the island’s 50th anniversary of independence at a “cultural extravaganza” in Birmingham.

The “Salute To The Athletes” show is set to take place on 25 July at the Symphony Hall and has been put on for Jamaica’s track and field team, whose pre-Olympic training camp will be based in Birmingham, before they head to London.

Legendary Jamaican artist JIMMY CLIFF played a headline show at the IndigO2 in North Greenwich on Friday night (18 May).

ReggaeChapter.com’s latest podcast hosted by DJ RICHIE BLOOD is now available to download featuring the latest dancehall, reggae, dub and jungle.

British electro-dub band DREADZONE has announced a run of headline shows later this year following a collection of summer festival slots.

DREADZONE was formed out of the ashes of BIG AUDIO DYNAMITE back in 1993 and has since become a festival and live circuit favourite.

The current line-up of legendary ska band THE SKATALITES performed live in Bristol last night (16 May) at the Trinity Centre, Lawrence Hill. 

Check out the tracks "Occupation" and “Simmer Down” below.

The pioneering ska group are out on the road celebrating the 50th anniversary of Jamaican independence and their own 48th anniversary of being a band.

London promoters Soundcrash have announced the details of an all-dayer at The Oval Space in Hackney, East London.

At the top of the 12-hour bill is TROJAN SOUND SYSTEM (live-on stage from 10pm) alongside DJ VADIM and ANCHORSONG.

Legendary Jamaican band DAVE AND ANSELL COLLINS will return to the UK later this year for a run of shows across the country.

Sugar Shack/Nubian Records will release Bristol reggae band BLACK ROOTS’ new album On The Ground on 10 September.

The new 17-track record was recorded in Bristol last month at J & J Studios, produced by BLACK ROOTS and mixed by Loius Becket.

The full tracklisting is:

Bristol Archive Records sister imprint Reggae Archive Records has agreed a partnership deal with Fashion Records to re-release their back catalogue on CD and vinyl.

Jamaican rocksteady singer DAWN PENN performed in Bristol last night (11 May) at the Queen's Head, Lawrence Hill. 

Bristol-based reggae artist TROY ELLIS, the son of legend ALTON ELLIS, made a seemingly impromptu performance before PENN’s headline slot - much to the delight of the hundred or so people crammed into the back room of the pub.

King Of The Dancehall BEENIE MAN is the latest headliner to be announced for this summer's Boomtown Fair festival.

He will be the Saturday night (11 August) headliner at one of the UK's few dedicated reggae, dub and dancehall festival stages: The Lion's Den. 

2Tone ska band THE SELECTER has announced a run of UK tour dates throughout October as part of the Live In Britain Tour 2012.

Fans will be able to get their hands on the brand new Live In Britain CD, which is only available on this 11-date tour.

David Brooks, better known as dancehall artist MAVADO, has been found guilty of “assault occasioning actual bodily harm” and “malicious destruction of property” in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court.

Brooks pleaded "not guilty" to the charges relating to an incident on the Belmont main road district in July last year, but was found guilty by resident magistrate Wilson Smith and fined JMD$100,000 (£700).

The closing speeches from the London International Ska Festival 2012 have been caught on video and provide further explanation as to DANDY LIVINGSTONE’s no-show on Friday night. 

Two new releases from Bristol reggae bands BLACK ROOTS and AMJ DUB COLLECTIVE are now available to buy via Sugar Shack/Bristol Archive Records.

Jamaican reggae artist STEPHEN MARLEY has released the official music video for “Made In Africa” featuring WALE and THE CAST OF FELA.

The track is taken from his Grammy award-winning album Revelation Part 1: The Root of Life.

The video was shot in Ethiopia and can be viewed here:

Jamaican reggae legend DANDY LIVINGSTONE was struck down with food poisoning last night forcing him to pull out of his 40-year comeback show at the London International Ska Festival.

Jamaican reggae group TOOTS AND THE MAYTALS will headline North Yorkshire’s Beacons Festival on 19 August.

The “fresh art and music boutique festival” has been moved to the Funkirk Estate in Carleton (near Skipton) after flooding forced organisers to cancel the event last year.

Lloyd Brevett, a founding member of Jamaican ska band THE SKATALITES, has died at the Andrews Memorial Hospital aged 80.

Lloyd Brevett, the original bass player of seminal ska band THE SKATALITES, is in hospital in Jamaica after suffering a series of seizures and a stroke two weeks ago.

A close family friend told the Jamaica Observer the 80-year-old was in a "critical, but stable condition" in a St Andrew hospital.