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SUNDAY
Although the title of this music- and arts-filled event suggests that it’s a sampler of culture from across the islands, its focus, at least musically, will be on Jamaica. Subtitled “A Tribute to Dennis Brown,” this celebration will highlight both reggae crooners whose style is evocative of that recently deceased vocalist and motor-mouthed dancehall chanters whose connection to the soulful singer is more tenuous. The former category includes three of reggae’s most respected warblers, Gregory Isaacs (pictured), Freddie McGregor, and Ken Boothe. Isaacs, the Cool Ruler, may be overly prolific, but his masterful, suave timbre often turns even run-of-the mill compositions into lush, affecting lovers’ rock. McGregor spends much of his time these days running his own studio, but he still occasionally performs, displaying a unique brand of passionate balladeering. Boothe, name-checked by the Clash on its debut, is best known for his ’60s post-ska, pre-reggae rocksteady material, heavily influenced by American R&B from the period. Lady Saw and Spragga Benz use their distinctive voices not to sing, but to rap. Lady Saw, who guests on Missy Elliot’s latest, often uses her commanding tone for slang-filled, sexually explicit tracks. Benz’s deep-voiced delivery of his patois-filled compositions is striking even if one can’t understand a word he’s saying. They’ll be joined by Trinidad’s Machel Montano & Xtatik and dancehaller Tanya Stephens at 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 22, at Crossroads, 4103 Baltimore Ave., Bladensburg. $25. (301) 927-1056. (Steve Kiviat)