California Roots Music and Arts Festival is excited to return, after a two year hiatus due to COVID-19, on May 26th! And for those who are unable make it to Monterey County Fair and Event Center this year, the festival is thrilled to announce the return of Cali Roots Live - The Return, the livestreaming event for Cali Roots 2022.
 

This year Cali Roots sees the epic return to the Monterey County Fair and Event Center after a two year hiatus due to COVID-19. The legendary event started in Monterey in 2009 and continues to bring the best lineup for musical acts, visual artists, and food trucks to the community they love. Today the festival celebrates Monterey with locals taking center stage.
 

On June 3, Cumbancha releases the album Mista Savona Presents Havana Meets Kingston Part 2 featuring an all-star lineup of musicians from Cuba and Jamaica. An epic set of 15 tracks, Havana Meets Kingston Part 2 unites the deep roots grooves of reggae, dancehall and rocksteady with the scorching soul of Cuban son, timba and salsa.
 

This album is a soundtrack of Sudan’s revolution.

In late 2021, Ostinato Records returned to Khartoum, Sudan shortly after a November military coup and country-wide protests to capture the sound of an ongoing, inspiring democratic revolution that began in 2019.

Groundation just released their highly anticipated tenth studio album, One Rock, via a partnership between France’s BACO Records and the U.S.’s Easy Star Records. The band, formed in 1998 by vocalist/guitarist Harrison Stafford, has helped define American roots reggae, while building a large and loyal following in Europe and South America, where they have been a consistent major headliner and festival attraction for years.

New Zealand eight-piece The Black Seeds have today released their heavy new reggae single “Game Over,” accompanied by a dub-version. Also out today is a captivating video for the song set on the inside of a pinball machine. “Game Over” is the fourth single to be released from the band’s upcoming seventh studio album LOVE & FIRE, out June 17 via Proville Records/Kartel Music Group in Europe and seminal New York City-based reggae label Easy Star Records in North America.

Kirsty Rock, best known around the world as a member of the internationally renowned reggae super group Easy Star All-Stars, brings the fire with her own distinctive, soulful, and earthy reggae sound on her solo album debut, Slow Burn, out now on Easy Star Records. The release coincides with an official video release of the title track, which was a collaboration between acrobatic dancer Julia Baccellier, Rock, and Rock’s long standing collaborator D888.

After dropping three notable singles, Groundation releases “Market Price,” an inspiring spiritual track showcasing the diversity of the group’s upcoming studio album One Rock. The fourth single kicks off with slow dreamy piano notes, before breaking into an uptempo jazz melody that then slides into sunny, soothing reggae. The music creates a sonic reflection with the music balancing out the heaviness of the lyric.

Cali Roots in partnership with Pollen are excited to announce their second year of Cali Roots: The Mexico Sessions 2022! The Puerto Vallarta getaway brings the best parts of Cali Roots to an all-inclusive destination beach resort to create the ultimate experience. This year’s Mexico Sessions will take place at Meliá Puerto Vallarta, November 2-6, 2022.

For over a decade now, California Roots Music and Arts Festival has been a leader in festival sustainability. As the festival returns to the Monterey County Fair and Event Center for their 11th edition, they are proud to be the first festival in the state to earn the Green Business certification.