Author: Opastaff
Thousands attend for music and fun in the sun for 1st annual Fort Lauderdale Haitian Compas Festival Lauderhill, FL–May 17–Al Haitian Compas Festival Fort Lauderdale shocked many as they actually pulled in a good several thousand people into the Central Broward Regional Park in Fort Lauderdale. Despite all of the drama and controversy surrounding the event, this year’s 1st edition proved impervious to the negativity as thousands came out to support the movement. While final reports from sources estimated ~5,000 people at the park, the festival organizers state otherwise. “We made it. We had over 10,000 people at the park,”…
On Saturday, May 16, 2009, the 11th Annual Compas Festival took place at Bicentennial Park in Downtown Miami, featuring a lineup that included many of the hottest bands in the Haitian music industry. Unlike previous years, this festival included over 15 bands, a potential stage management nightmare. To address this, the organizers set up two stages to cut down on dead time and keep the festival on schedule. Initially, the two-stage setup seemed promising, but as the evening progressed, it became clear that it presented more challenges than solutions. The crew struggled to manage the double stage setup, resulting in…
Tragic Death of Djakout Mizik Fan Reveals Darker Side of Haitian Crime Port-au-Prince, Haiti – May 07, 209 — The Haitian music community is learning of the following tragic death of Altanaze Guerrier aka Fizi Bwa, a well-known fan of the popular band Djakout Mizik. Guerrier, who was a familiar face in the Haitian music scene, was kidnapped and murdered by a group of criminals in Haiti, a development that highlights the complex and dangerous interplay between criminal activities and community affiliations. According to a press conference held by Haitian police, the kidnapping occurred on Sunday, May 3rd. Four individuals,…
Stacy, a member of the group Tempo, has been suspended for reportedly “not following the band’s rules,” according to a reliable source. The incident in question occurred two weeks ago at SOBS, where Tempo was scheduled to perform. While the band adhered to a coordinated white and red ensemble, Stacy arrived wearing an all-black outfit. Tempo management expressed dissatisfaction with Stacy’s attire. Stacy responded by stating that she was not informed of the dress code. Following this incident, Tempo’s management decided to place her on suspension, which explains her absence from the events “La Nuit des Jeune” and the recent…
https://www.opamusic.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/cob.mp4 For months the Haitian Academy for the Performing Arts presented to us a challenge they’ve embarked on; the challenge to take Compas to Broadway. It seemed almost impossible that this was going to take place as many industry insiders expressed concerns, disbelief and even skepticism vis-à-vis the event even before the nomination list was made public. The time had finally arrived on Sunday April 12, 2009 and the scene for the inaugural Compas on Broadway Haitian Music Awards ceremony was the Avery Fisher Hall at the Lincoln Center in Manhattan. OpaMizik.com was there on the red carpet to cover…
Jimmy Jean-Louis hosts first “Hollywood Unites For Haiti” event in NY.The first of what’s to become an annual fundraiser took place on Saturday, April 11, 2009, at New York’s Chelsea Pier and consisted of a celebrity in-door soccer match; several well-known athletes and celebrities participated in it. As per Mr. Jean-Louis, goal of the non-profit organization is to promote help promote sports and other cultural activities for children in Haiti. Also, there will be other events in the coming months in places like Florida, Haiti The Hero star also said that he is looking forward to having more fundraisers in…
Harmonik and its management would like to take the opportunity to address the present situation regarding the alleged contract for the band to perform in Paris this month. We find it imperative to address this issue only because we value our reputation for conducting business that benefits those who support it the most…the public. In addition, we feel the responsibility to provide accurate information as we establish ourselves in the HMI in a manner that promotes longevity and credibility in the industry. We first stand to correct the Paris-based promoter, Fanfan, on several issues. He is accurate in that negotiations…
Remember Opa reported before how Compas Festival was suing Al Compas Festival of Fort Lauderdale? Well, it seems like Compas Festival has teamed up with some other heavy weights to further secure their date and festival. Below is a copy of the new law suit below. Haitian Compas Festival et al v. Al Haitian Compas Festival Fort Lauderdale Inc. et al Lawsuit Details RFC Case Number:T-H09-20768A Court Case Number:1:09-cv-20768-JEM File Date:Wednesday, March 25, 2009 Plaintiff:Haitian Compas Festival Philippe Le Brun Claude Lebrun, Jr. Carel Alexandre Dominique Lauture Patrice Millet Plaintiff Counsel: Frank Herrera, Gustavo Sardina of Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler Defendant:Al…
NY Promoters’ Coalition Faces New Challenges Amidst Industry Rivalries New York, NY – March 25, 2009 — Back in November 2007, New York City’s Haitian music promoters convened a pivotal meeting aimed at quelling rising tensions within the industry. This gathering was organized in response to escalating public altercations, including incidents where a musician was forcibly removed from the stage and a promoter physically attacked a fan. These events raised concerns among musicians, the public, and media, prompting a significant move towards damage control. In an effort to prevent further conflicts and safeguard future investments, the promoters formed a coalition…