The Virgin Mobile Fest is not today’s only big event. The Reggae Summerfest is taking place in downtown DC today.  The lineup includes speedy dancehall reggae toasters Beenie Man and Capleton plus more rootsy, slower-tempoed performers such as Marcia Griffiths, Cocoa Tea, the Itals and I-Wayne.

 One of the most interesting acts on the bill is not a reggae artist. Mahmoud Ahmed is an age 60-something singer from Ethiopia, who has gained attention from non-Ethiopians since the 1990s thanks to his cuts on the widely heralded Ethiopiques compilations and director Jim Jarmusch’s usage of fellow Ethiopian Mulatu Astatke’s songs in the 2005 movie Broken Flowers.  Here is some 2006 and 2008 footage of Ahmed that shows he is still vital. 

Reggae Summerfest Sunday August 30 at 12 noon with Beenie Man, Capleton, Marcia Griffiths, Cocoa Tea, I-Wayne, Mahmoud Ahmed from Ethiopia, The Itals, Jovi Rockwell, Fire Star, Kunzo & Tonestar from Nigeria, Lionize, Image Band, The Iternals, S.T.O.R.M., and more at  City Center DC, 900 9th Street NW, Washington DC 
Information Line: 202-725-0331

The DC Caribbean Carnival is more than just the 11 a.m. Saturday parade down Georgia Avenue and the two concerts in Banneker Park on Saturday and Sunday afternoons from noon till 7.  It is also the late night concerts and dj’d parties going on from, well, Thursday night through Monday morning.  WPFW 89.3 DJ Tony Carr (whose fine show is on Sunday night/Monday morning 12 to 2 a.m.) has most of the events on his dccaribbeanconnection website.  Here are a few  I recommend:

Saturday night brings a Jamaican dancehall host, Beenie Man, along with mostly soca artists to the DC Star Club.  Performers include Fayann Lyons and her husband, rough-voiced Bunji Garlin, Hunter Patch, rising star Benjai, the always catchy Destra Garcia (pictured), and Trini Jacobs at the DC Star Club, 2135 Queens Chapel Road NE.

The Promoter for Saturday night’s Machel Montano gig is billing him as “The Biggest Soca Artist in the World.”  That is not mere hype.  I hope that his wonderful band Xtatik (also now known as HD) will be with him.  They wowed me several years ago at the Crossroads with their ability to play frenetic soca, r’n’b, reggae, and rock as the charismatic Montano prowled the stage dispensing vocals that worked well with every style.  With the right marketing, he could have appeal beyond the Caribbean community. He will joined by NY and DC djs from 10PM – 4AM at Zanzibar on the Waterfront, 700 Water Street SW, Washington DC, 202-536-4004.