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    Monday, August 24, 2009

    AMNESIA ANNOUNCES 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS

    THE LEGENDARY “AMNESIA” TORONTO OLD SCHOOL EVENT
    ANNOUNCES 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

    August 21st 2009 – Toronto, Canada – Amnesia, one of Toronto’s most beloved monthly music events, will celebrate 10 years during a 3 day celebration, September 18-20th 2009.

    In 1999, a chance conversation amongst friends unearthed the fact that the Toronto Urban entertainment scene lacked substance and failed to play music if it wasn’t new music. In fact, certain musical genres were found neglected and omitted – almost as though DJs and patrons had musical memory loss. In response, “AMNESIA”, a monthly old school event was born - with a mandate to play Classic House and Old School, and has grown to encompass other “forgotten genres” such as New Jack Swing (90s R&B), True School Hip Hop, Classic Slow Jams, and Retro including 70s and 80s television themes packaged as “Scratch’s #onky #its.

    The Amnesia team consists of 3 members, the award winning and number one club/radio DJ in the country, DJ Starting from Scratch, and underground legend, Jason Chambers of the Attitude Sound crew (both of whom play mixed shows on Flow 93.5fm), and Canada's top Urban promoter, Ian Andre Espinet.

    Since it’s humble beginnings in Toronto’s Granite Lounge, where it played host to a 150 friends, Amnesia has grown to average 600 patrons monthly, and has gone on to produce over 115 unique events including boat cruises, roller skating all-nighters, old school dress up events and Pajama Jammy Jams - in the process playing host to tens of thousands of patrons in dozens of venues, while often collecting food for those less fortunate.

    Its euphoric music selection, theme based and costume parties, have garnered the event legendary status with music enthusiasts nationwide, becoming the focus of print and internet articles and even the backdrop for Much Music’s urban programming - appearing in episodes of RapCity and MuchVibe.

    A major catalyst in the phenomenal resurgence of old school and retro nationwide, Amnesia celebrated its 7 year anniversary in 2006 with yet another milestone, as the Amnesia team became the first ever EVENT to sign to a major recording label deal in Canada. In September 2006, Universal Music Canada rewarded the trio’s hard work with the release of “Amnesia: Thee Old School Album” (nationwide at HMV, Music World, Sunrise location). Boasting over 70 minutes of Old School mixed by Canada's top duo - Starting from Scratch and Jason Chambers of the Attitude Sound Crew, the album was a runaway success taking retail by surprise, selling well despite the industry climate at the time.

    The event has also played host to old school musical legends at Amnesia's Annual Anniversary with surprise guest performances for the last 9 years. 2009’s surprise guest performances by pop icon Shannon (“Let the Music Play”), and hip hop anthem kings, Naughty By Nature took place before yet another sold out crowd at Toronto's Koolhaus.

    Past surprise anniversary guests have included hip hop icons MC Lyte, Special Ed, Greg Nice, CL Smooth, and Chubb Rock, house and dance acts Ten City (featuring Byron Stingly), CeCe Peniston, Lisa Lisa and the Cult Jam and Canadian mainstays Maestro Fresh Wes, Michee Mee, Dream Warriors and the “T-Dot All-Stars” featuring Kardinal Offishall, Saukrates, Choclair, Ro Dolla and Solitair as well as dance crews Bag-A-Trix and Do Dat Dance Agency.

    ###
    Press/Media Contact :: press@amnesia.ca
    Event Info: www.amnesia.ca /
    www.amnesiaforever.com coming soon.


    =========================================

    ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

    AMNESIA ANNIVERSARY CHRONOLOGY

    1 & 2 YEAR ANNIVERSARIES AT THE LEGENDARY KAJMERE NIGHTCLUB
    DJ STARTING FROM SCRATCH & JASON CHAMBERS OF ATTITUDE SOUNDCREW

    3 YEAR: THE LEGENDARY PARTY CENTRE (IT NIGHTCLUB)
    SURPRISE GUEST PERFORMANCES BY:
    MAESTRO FRESH WES & BAG-A-TRIX

    4 YEAR: KOOLHAUS
    SURPRISE GUEST PERFORMANCES BY:
    GREG NICE [NICE & SMOOTH]
    MICHEE MEE & MAESTRO FRESH WES
    DO DAT DANCE AGENCY

    5 YEAR: KOOLHAUS
    SURPRISE GUEST PERFORMANCES BY:
    TEN CITY [BYRON STINGLEY]
    SPECIAL ED
    TDOT ALLSTARS
    (SAUKRATES, KARDI, CHOCLAIR, RO DOLLA, SOLITAIRE]

    6 YEAR: KOOLHAUS
    SURPRISE GUEST PERFORMANCES BY:
    CECE PENISTON & CL SMOOTH...

    7 YEAR: KOOLHAUS
    SURPRISE GUEST PERFORMANCES BY:
    MC LYTE & CHUBB ROCK
    with special guests GREG NICE & SPECIAL ED

    8 YEAR: KOOLHAUS
    LISA LISA & THE CULT JAM
    DREAM WARRIORS

    9 YEAR: KOOLHAUS
    NAUGHTY BY NATURE
    SHANNON

    LET THE ANTICIPATION BEGIN FOR AN ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
    SO BIG, IT WAS 10 YEARS IN THE MAKING.

    AMNESIA.

    10

    Special guests. Live performances. Mind-blowing music.
    Prepare.

    =========================================

    DJ STARTING FROM SCRATCH

    Canada's foremost urban club and radio DJ. He can be heard daily on Toronto's Flow 93.5 fm during afternoon & evening drives and throughout the country at club & concert engagements weekly. DJ Starting from Scratch, FLOW 93.5 FM's mix show magician, has been pleasing club crowds across the country for about 12 years and overseas from Greece, Antigua, Grenada, Barbados, Cancun, Acapulco, Germany, Cuba, St.Kitts & much, much more.

    ACHIEVEMENTS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
    • NOW Magazine's Best of Toronto Hip Hop DJ 2008
    • Official Tour DJ for Usher
    • Official Tour DJ for comedian Russell Peters
    • Canadian Urban Music Award for DJ of the year 2002,2003,2004 & 2005
    • Voted T.O.'s #1 DJ in Now Magazine's "Best Of Toronto" edition
    • Winner of Toronto Night Club Awards "DJ of the Year 2004 & 2005"
    • Winner of Toronto Bartender?s Ball Award for "Best Urban DJ for 2004"
    • Named "Greatest Of All Time" by Flavor Pool (Nov/2005)
    • Toronto Record Pool award for "DJ of the Decade - 90s"
    • Featured in Source Magazine
    • Featured in Vibe Magazine's Anniversary Edition, as one of the "100 Most
    Influential People in the Music Industry"
    • Voted "DJ Of The Year 2004" in Eye Magazine's "Reader's Poll"
    • Four time Toronto Record Pool award for "DJ of the Year"
    • Lifetime Achievement Award as voted by the Toronto Record Industry
    • Canadian Rep (& only Canadian member) of DJ Whoo Kid's "Shadyville DJ's”
    • Official member of Clinton Sparks' "Smash Squad" DJ Crew
    • Appeared in the movie "Honey" with Jessica Alba
    • Awarded Gold and Platinum Records from Virgin, BMG and Universal
    • 2006 Stylus Canadian Club DJ of the Year
    • 2006 Stylus Toronto DJ of the Year
    • 2006 Stylus Radio Mixshow DJ of the Year
    • Winner of Toronto Night Club Awards "Best Local (Toronto) DJ"
    • Official DJ for SONY BMG Recording artist Keisha Chante

    =========================================

    JASON CHAMBERS

    DJ Jason Chambers of the Attitude Soundcrew is one of Canada's foremost talents and a fixture of the Canadian Urban music scene. In Toronto, he maintains a dj schedule formittable to any schedule or planner, balancing roles on his daily "Midday Mix" show on Flow 93.5 and in the city's hottest and largest clubs. Today, his vast musical tastes, creative selections and original, on-the-fly live remixing continue to make him a crowd favorite from coast to coast, headlining events in Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Montreal, continually propelling his name toward international celebrity dj status.

    In the early stages of his career, he built a name via his now-legendary Attitude Sound Crew Mixtape series, which garnered fans across Canada and the US, and by wowing crowds of tens of thousands as the official DJ for the NBA's Toronto Raptors. In addition, he has shared the stage with musical icons such as Run DMC, CeCe Peniston, Lisa Lisa, Naughty by Nature, Nice & Smooth, Special Ed, Chubb Rock, Michee Mee, Maestro Fresh Wes and MC Lyte as well as DJ's Jazzy Jeff, D.J. A.M., Funkmaster Flex.

    In 1999, Jason, alongside partners Ian Andre Espinet and DJ Starting from Scratch, co-founded "Amnesia", a legendary old school monthly event which has been credited as the blueprint for both events and the resurgence of old school music nationally. In 2006, his contributions were acknowledged as "Amnesia" became the first ever event to sign to a major Canadian recording deal. Jason comixed/produced the critically acclaimed "Amnesia: Back in the Day" compilation, released by Universal Music later that year taking retail by storm and selling out nationally.

    His hard work has also taken the notice of his peers, as evident in his numerous nominations for Toronto Club DJ of the Year and Radio Mixshow DJ of the year at the Stylus Awards.
    For Jason, whom many of the world's top dj's site as one of their favorites, the future is as bright as his love of music.

    =========================================

    IAN ANDRE ESPINET

    Ian Andre Espinet Entertainment is a young dynamic company with a mandate to provide quality, theme oriented entertainment to the Urban community. Now in its 9th year, the company has grown into Toronto’s leading nightclub and promotions entity. As such, it has produced/co-produced hundreds of events, playing host to tens of thousands of patrons and numerous celebrities from the GTA, the United States and worldwide during events such as the annual Caribana festivities.

    Ian Andre Espinet began his journey in the Urban entertainment scene as founder of Black Star Graphic Design & Communications, Canada's Leading Urban Graphic Design Studio, and brings a 12 year proven marketing track record to the Urban entertainment scene. In such capacity, he has worked for virtually every significant promotional entity, DJ, community organization and event planner in Toronto, as well as many from across Canada and throughout the States.

    In 1999, he partnered with the country’s number one urban club and radio D.J., DJ Starting from Scratch and underground sensation, Jason Chambers.. They decided that the Urban entertainment scene in Toronto was lacking something - substance. Consequently, they created Amnesia, a monthly old school event, which celebrated its 9th year anniversary last September with Hip Hop icons Naughty by Nature & 80s pop artist Shannon, at the Koolhaus.

    Due to its euphoric music selection, theme based and costume parties, roller skating events, pajama jams, boat cruises and the such, 9 plus years later, Amnesia has achieved near legendary status to music enthusiasts nationwide, becoming the focus of print and internet articles and even the backdrop for Much Music’s urban programming.

    This however, was only the beginning. Since then, the company has gone on to enter all facets of nightlife entertainment - weekly, long weekend, special events, and even niche areas such as the emerging Soca/Calypso market. The promotional company is now among the premier groups in the urban market servicing nightclub patrons of the market in the 19-35 demographic. Event brands include but are not limited to: Soul Kitchen, ICON, Big People Fete, GroovEssentials, B-Boy Document, THE ONE, re:connect, A Rollerskating Jam Named Saturdays.

    Whether involved as a team member, individually, or in a combined role, Ian Andre Espinet has been involved in some capacity in many of the major successful club events presented in the Urban market over the past 9 years in the city’s most beautiful clubs.

    1 & 2 YEAR ANNIVERSARIES AT THE LEGENDARY KAJMERE NIGHTCLUB 3. MAESTRO FRESH WES + BAG-A-TRIX
    4. GREG NICE [NICE & SMOOTH] + MICHEE MEE with return guest MAESTRO + DO DAT DANCE AGENCY
    5. TEN CITY [BYRON STINGLEY] + SPECIAL ED + TDOT ALLSTARS feat. SAUKRATES, KARDI, CHOCLAIR, RO DOLLA, SOLITAIRE
    6. CECE PENISTON + CL SMOOTH 7. MC LYTE & CHUBB ROCK with return guests GREG NICE & SPECIAL ED
    8. LISA LISA & THE CULT JAM + DREAM WARRIORS 9. NAUGHTY BY NATURE & SHANNON

    10 YEARS...?????
    Let the Anticipation begin...
    $25 tickets go on sale Saturday August 29th 2009...

    Stay tuned for the Amnesia Rollback event before the 29th...

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