After a highly praised 2011 debut, Washington DC’s The Funk Ark surprised the critics with a soon and even tighter follow up album: High Noon. In just a couple of years since the release of From The Rooftops on ESL Music, the world funk ensemble has established itself as one of the strongest players in the scene both in the studio and with their high-octane live performances. The Funk Ark’s sophomore release and was recorded and produced by Adrián Quesada of the Grammy award winning group, Grupo Fantasma.Now DC’s top purveyors of funk are going on an extended summer/fall tour hitting thirteen cities in eight states and they’ll be coming to Denver on August 30th to perform at Cervantes’ Masterpiece.The Funk Ark is the creation of Will Rast, the band’s composer, pianist, and spokesperson, fulfilling his lifelong desire of turning his soul over to The Funk. Rast worked as a freelance jazz session player and made a name for himself as a stylistically versatile sideman with various R&B and world music artists. With The Funk Ark, he gets to play an amalgamation of all the sounds he loves with some of the best musicians in the DC area.You can feel that spiritual element in every note the Funk Ark plays. The band has only been together for a few years, but they’ve made a huge impact, both in their hometown of Washington DC, and nationwide. From the Rooftops, the band’s explosive debut, garnered universal praise for its bottomless grooves and soulful ensemble playing. On High Noon, the band digs even deeper, with a multi-faceted approach that captures the band’s international perspective and irresistible live energy.The Funk Ark’s full tilt boogie makes High Noon a delight from the first note and comes close to capturing the energy of the band’s legendary live gigs. The album’s irresistible pulse never lets up, weaving a hypnotic spell that invites you to become one with the funk.

Easy Star’s Thrillah by the Easy Star All-Stars has debuted at #1 on the Billboard Reggae and iTunes Reggae charts.  Easy Star’s Thrillah (released August 28 on Easy Star Records) is the Easy Star All-Stars’ reggae adaptation of the greatest selling record of all time – Michael Jackson’s Thriller.  The album debuted impressively on other Billboard charts including #11 on the Heatseekers Chart, #69 on the Indie Store Chart, and #121 on the Top 200 Digital albums, amongst others.  The album follows in the footsteps of the ESA line of groundbreaking reggae tribute albums including Dub Side of the Moon (2003), Radiodread (2006) and Easy Star’s Lonely Hearts Dub Band (2009).“With its #1 debut on the reggae charts, the Easy Star All-Stars continue to push forward the emerging US reggae scene with new material that appeals to a broad fanbase,” says Easy Star Records co-founder Lem Oppenheimer.The band kicks off their extensive North American tour this week with Easy Star label mate Cas Haley on September 7 and then is joined by Passafire for the rest of the dates on the first leg of the tour, which goes west through Colorado and California.Upcoming Tour Dates:Sep 12 – Fort Collins, CO @ Aggie Theater – w/PassafireSep 13 – Boulder, CO @ Fox Theater – w/PassafireSep 14 – Denver, CO @ Cervante’s Masterpiece Ballroom – w/PassafireSep 15 – Aspen, CO @ Belly Up – w/PassafireSep 16 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge – w/PassafireSep 18 – Santa Barbara, CA @ SoHo – w/PassafireSep 19 – Solana Beach, CA @ Belly Up Tavern – w/PassafireSep 20 – Los Angeles, CA @ El Rey Theatre – w/PassafireSep 21 – San Francisco, CA @ Slim’s – w/PassafireSep 22 – Santa Cruz, CA @ The Catalyst – w/PassafireOct 04 – New York, NY @ Irving Plaza – w/The Aggrolites, PassafireOct 05 – Baltimore, MD @ Sound Stage – w/The AggrolitesOct 06 – Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle – w/The AggrolitesOct 07 – Washington, DC @ Howard Theatre – w/The AggrolitesOct 09 – Ann Arbor, MI @ Blind Pig – w/The AggrolitesOct 10 – Toledo, OH @ Mickey Finns – w/The AggrolitesOct 11 – Chicago, IL @ Reggie’s – w/The AggrolitesOct 12 – Waterloo, ON @ Starlight – w/The AggrolitesOct 13 – Toronto, ON @ Lee’s Palace – w/The AggrolitesOct 14 – Syracuse, NY @ Westcott Theater – w/The AggrolitesOct 16 – Boston, MA @ Paradise – w/The AggrolitesOct 17 – Stowe, VT @ Rusty Nail – w/The AggrolitesOct 19 – Charlottesville, VA @ Jefferson Theater – w/The AggrolitesOct 20 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Blockley – w/The Aggrolites

Washington, DC’s kings of Tropicaliente, the Empresarios, have found the Magic Sound! For their second album, Javier Miranda and his band of dance floor sorcerers have melted together Salsa, Dub, Cumbia, House and Reggae into 13 mind-bending, genre-busting pieces of wizardry and dubbed it “El Sonido Mágico.”In the year and a half since their debut smash “Sabor Tropical,” the Empresarios have been busy. Hitting the road with their full band, dominating the floor from the DJ booth and getting deep in the studio refining their sound on remixes and Eps. And all their hard work shows on this new release! “Salsa de Gala” and “7th Street Groove” bring some hometown flavor to the mix with updates on the classic Downtempo vibe and the bucket drum rhythm respectively. “Volume” is a floor-burning dose of Latin disco house to be chased with “Rompan Fila,” a tequilla-soaked Latin Reggae riddim that’s just relentless. “Quinto Nivel” takes the record to the next level with an Eastern Electro Cumbia fusion, and “Rey de Reyes” finishes the album with grand flair inna Dub style.With hints of Kingston, San Juan and New York heard throughout, the elements are familiar yet the end result is a one-of-a-kind “Tropicaliente” sound. Each member brings his own background and influence to bear, with singers Frankie Rosado and Felix Perez figuring prominently on numerous vocal scorchers. Adding even more flavor are plenty of horns, melodica and percussion throughout. The 13 tracks on “El Sonido Mágico” represent the Empresarios continued exploration into the sounds of the tropics with an ear to the past and an eye on the future.

‘To Dust’ is the first solo album from British soul sensation, Alice Russell since 2008’s critically acclaimed ‘Pot Of Gold,’ and marks the next step forward in her remarkable career. Whether on a big stage with her 16 piece band, charming a crowd of 4000 into staying out dancing in the rain (as she did at Montreal Jazz Festival) or rocking out an intimate club with a stripped-down six piece, Alice’s natural talent and charisma have always commanded attention and affection. Unfazed by taking to the spotlight after a sober Amy Winehouse or joining Roy Ayers live for ‘Everybody Loves The Sunshine’, it is no wonder she has attracted worldwide media support, and praise from fans as diverse as Gilles Peterson, David Byrne, Dennis Coffey, Massive Attack’s Daddy G, and Groove Armada. “Heartbreaker,” which dropped November 19th, is the first single to be lifted from much loved British soul and blues singer Alice Russell’s upcoming fifth album, ‘To Dust.’  “Heartbreaker” highlights the crisp, cutting edge production and eclectic influences, which nestle alongside a love of vintage soul at the core of Alice Russell’s style, a sound honed over the years with co-writer and producer TM Juke. The perfect introduction to the new LP, the track sees Alice at her best, mixing soul with intoxicating gospel overtones. “It is a broken hearted love song about the end of a relationship”, Alice explains. “it’s about that time when you’re just emotionally exhausted, you know you just have to let it go, you are resigned to it all being over.”The “Heartbreaker” video, directed by Steve Glashier, stars long-time Alice fan Harry Shearer, the Hollywood actor and cult comedy hero known for roles including Spinal Tap’s Derek Smalls and many voices in The Simpsons, and for his long running radio show on LA’s KCRW. It has had 15,000+ views, here.This single release features the original version, acoustic version and killer remixes by fast rising New York based producer Falty DL (Ninja Tune/Planet Mu/Ramp) and Parisian house producer Yakine.Tru Thoughts have recently announced the signing of this new solo material for territories including the UK, Americas, Australasia and Japan; reuniting Alice Russell with the label that introduced her to the world, and where she released her first three albums, as well as myriad collaborations since (including the highly acclaimed, BBC 6Music Playlisted “Look Around The Corner” single and album with Quantic earlier this year).Alice will also be performing in Los Angeles at The Mayan Theater on December 16th for ArtDontSleep presents: That 70’s Soul celebrating the music of Al Green, Bill Withers, Bob James, Curtis Mayfield, Donny Hathaway, Eugene McDaniels, Gil Scott-Heron, Isaac Hayes, James Brown, Marvin Gaye, Minnie Riperton, Roy Ayers, Shuggie Otis, Sly Stone, Stevie Wonder & More.  She will be sharing the stage with an all-star lineup including Seu Jorge, Zap Mama, Spacek, Coco O. and with a DJ set by Questlove (The Roots).  More info at www.ArtDontSleep.com.

Since bursting onto the international music scene in 2003, The Idan Raichel Project has shattered expectations of Israeli pop with their unique blend of African, Latin American, Caribbean, and Middle Eastern sounds, coupled with a spectacular live show.  The project continues to push musical boundaries garnering strong critical praise and winning over audiences worldwide.  On January 12 and 13, the complete 12-musician lineup will be headlining two evenings at the prestigious Town Hall in New York City during the APAP conference. The Idan Raichel Project will be performing their biggest hit songs alongside new material from their upcoming album which will be released later in 2013.Idan Raichel, the creator and leader of the Project, began his musical journey by inviting collaborations from artists of different generations, multiple ethnicities and singing in languages as diverse as Hebrew, Spanish, Arabic, Amharic and Swahili. The resulting albums shattered sales records in Israel, made Raichel his country’s biggest musical breakthrough, and sold over half a million records worldwide. The Idan Raichel Project has headlined some of the world’s most prestigious venues, including New York's Central Park SummerStage, Radio City Music Hall and The Apollo Theater, Los Angeles’ Kodak Theater, the Sydney Opera House and the Bataclan in Paris. They have also performed across Europe, South & Central America, Hong Kong, India, Ethiopia, Ghana, South Africa, and Singapore to enraptured audiences of all backgrounds. The Idan Raichel Project has collaborated with many different artists from around the world, including Mayra Andrade from Cape Verde, Marta Gomez from Colombia, Ana Moura from Portugal, German counter-tenor Andreas Scholl and Vieux Farka Touré from Mali. Recently, Raichel formed The Toure-Raichel Collective with Touré and released The Tel Aviv Session in March 2012. The result of an inspired afternoon jam session in Tel Aviv, the album was hailed by the media as “a masterpiece” (about.com), “simply divine” (Giant Step), “deeply affecting” (The Wall Street Journal), “a cross cultural triumph” (Time Out Chicago) and “the best album this year” (Pop Matters).Currently, Raichel is working with GRAMMY winner India.Arie on their joint recording project Open Door. Idan and India have become close friends and collaborators since they met in 2008 when India was visiting Israel. They performed their song “Gift of Acceptance” at the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize gala event in Oslo, Norway, and in August 2011 they performed together at the dedication ceremony for the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington DC. India and Idan toured the US together in 2011.Don’t miss this opportunity to catch what the Boston Globe calls “a fascinating window into the young, tolerant, multi-ethnic Israel taking shape away from the headlines.”Details:Who: The Idan Raichel ProjectWhen: Saturday, January 12 (8pm) & Sunday, January 13 (5pm)Where: Town Hall, 123 W 43rd Street, New York, NY 10036Ticket Price: $45-100Lineup of Musicians: Idan Raichel, Cabra Casay, Ravid Kahalani, Maya Avraham, Gilad Shmueli, Marc Kakon, Joca Perpignan, Eyal Sela, Yankale Segal, Ziv Rahav, Niv Toar, Alex Terrier, plus special guests.More Info & Ticket Link / Facebook Event Link

154 Ludlow St, New York, NY 1000210:40 pm / FREEhttp://www.cumbancha.com/  - http://kobotown.com/  - http://www.livingroomny.com/

After the successful release of their first album together as a duo, San Francisco’s Bay Area-based Meklit and Quinn will be touring Colorado during the month of February. Their self-titled album was released last fall by Porto Franco Records and received rave reviews across the board.Singer-songwriter Meklit Hadero, a Senior TED Fellow and deeply involved pioneering force in San Francisco's artistic scene, is a global tapestry of musical and cultural influences. Her music blends New York jazz and West Coast folk with traditional Ethiopian and much more. "She sings about fragility, hope, and self-empowerment, and exudes all three," (SF Chronicle), offering her messages in a voice as sensuous and original as it is stunning. Equally at home across genres, Quinn DeVeaux is a commanding frontman who turns out remarkable original work filled with joy, grit and irresistible beats. A catchy crossroads of Chicago blues and New Orleans soul and gospel, he is packing in Bay Area dance floors and beyond. Now, for the first time, these two artists of universal appeal and unbounded optimism join forces. Their chemistry and piquant blend of influences take the spotlight in this selection of originals and covers of their favorite pop songs. From Arcade Fire and MGMT to Lou Reed and Stevie Wonder, the San Francisco duo's imagination and passion buoy well-loved songs to new heights.The duo has also just released their new music video for their original tune “Sent By You”.  Directed by Meklit and Quinn, shot and choreographed in one impressive take.“Eclecticism is the hallmark of their debut disc as a duo…the tracks are quite unlike anything the two singers had previously done on their own - richly harmonized renditions of rock tunes.” - SF Chronicle“…a fine example of the symbiotic power of two artists working toward a greater expressive voice.” - Santa Barbara News PressThe soft grooves and stirring melodies are modern in composition, but they reflect a sort of classical ambiance from America's early music history. The music is not rock or folk; it's just good music with good instrumentation. It's that simple...and delectable. - Inside World MusicCO Tour Dates:02/08/13 @ Steve’s Guitar – Carbondale, CO02/09/13 @ The Community House (Chautauqua) – Boulder, CO02/10/13 @ Lannie’s Clocktower Cabaret – Denver, CO

Meet Brownout - the hardest working band in show business today. For those who haven’t yet heard, Brownout has gone from the alter-ego of Austin, Texas’ Grammy award winning Latin ensemble Grupo Fantasma to a full-blown split personality.For over eight years Brownout has forged its own truly greasy, unparalleled path on the Latin psych-funk frontier. No longer just the little brother to Grupo Fantasma, Brownout has become an independent creature of its own. Imagine if Dr. Jekyll drank the potion and became so damn vicious and demented that he decided to start a new life as Mr. Sexican. Now they’re back with a fresh batch of stick-to-the-roof-of-your-mouth Latin funk with Oozy, their third full-length album and their debut on the Nat Geo Music label.It’s been just a year since the Grupo Fantasma mothership won its first Grammy, and while most bands would be out celebrating their success, Grupo hit the road with a vengeance, touring almost non-stop for the past year. Yet the ensemble’s members still found time to shift into Brownoutmode and hit the studio during whatever downtime they had in between touring. The result of this breakneck creative pace is Brownout’s strongest, most cohesive album yet – a stone groover that taps the vocal and soulful side of this Latin funk machine.“Brownout has successfully avoided trends and musical movements for close to a decade now, choosing to take the music and sound in our own direction,” says guitarist Adrian Quesada.  “Rather than trying to sound like a lost record from 1970s, our analog sound is all our own - big, bombastic and at times psychedelic.”Brownout’s trademark dual guitars, no nonsense percussion, ensemble vocals and monster horns stay intact, while the funk gets cranked up to 11.Oozy steps away from the group’s Latin roots and delves into more hardcore, gutbucket R&B territory spiked with a dose of psychedelia just for kicks. But old fans needn’t worry – Brownout still kept one foot planted on the Latin side. Think James Brown with a touch of War or The Meters with hints of early Santana.The title track says it all. “Oozy” is all sweet falsetto vocals and hefty low end as gooey as the melted cheese on a Fatburger. “It started off as a bass line that came to me in the shower,” explains guitarist Beto Martinez. “The title and imagery associated with ooze seemed intriguing to me, and the song type fit into the general push for more funk on this album as opposed to Latin funk specifically. It does, however, feature the Afro-Cuban bata drums which was a first for us as well.”Other tracks invoke Brownout’s wide array of influences, like “Stormy Weather” which takes cues and insight from War - complete with harp to compliment the horns.  “Poor You” was inspired by the drumbeat from the old Kinks song "Strangers” and boasts a mind-expanding mellotron effect.  The soulful "What You Did" features vocals from Sonia Moore and Sheree Smith and addresses the group’s lousy treatment by the Recording Academy after their Grammy win as Grupo Fantasma last year.And if you’re still not clear on the relationship between the two bands, bassist Greg Gonzalez breaks it down: “When Brownout first came together some eight years and four albums ago, we called ourselves the ‘alter ego.’ At this point it's more like a split personality. The bands play completely different repertoires of music in different and varied styles…It's like two separate movies with mostly the same cast. One movie is set in a pan-tropical world, spoken in Spanish with subtitles and the other takes place in a psychedelic Afro-centric reality…same actors but unique plot and context”.With Oozy, Brownout proves that they’re more than ready to step into the leading role.Brownout Southeast Tour, February 20132/11 New Orleans, LA - Maison2/12 Hattiesburg, MS - Thirsty Hippo2/13 Jackson, MS - Duling Hall2/14 Atlanta, GA - The Masquerade2/15 Asheville, NC - Asheville Music Hall2/16 Raleigh, NC - The Pour House Music Hall2/22 Baton Rouge, LA - Chelsea's2/23 Monroe, LA - Live Oaks Bar & Ballroom

After a Grammy nomination and a Latin Grammy Award for best Alternative Album, Los Amigos Invisibles are ready to take back the Latin music market by storm with their seventh studio album titled Repeat After Me, to be released by Nacional Records on April 2^nd 2013.

Grammy winners Los Amigos Invisibles are definitely amognst the hardest working bands in the Latin Alternative scene. Having toured over 60 countries, the NY-based Venezuelan funk combo has been able to maintain and untouchable reputation for both their meticulously crafted albums and stunning live performances. To celebrate the release of their new album, the band will be embarking on an coast-to-coast tour during the month of April.

Since their first album in 1995, Los Amigos Invisibles have developed a sound based on what they call “gozadera” - an irresistible fusion of Latin rhythms with fiery funk, disco grooves and quirky retro lounge music. The band got their first break when David Byrne (Talking Heads) discovered them and signed them to his label: Luaka Bop. Byrne opened doors for the band across the globe and Los Amigos Invisibles soon became an international touring machine. 

Los Amigos Invisibles moved to New York City from their hometown of Caracas in 2001 and entrenched themselves in the local scene. With their electrifying live show and an appeal that reaches way beyond the Latin Alternative niche, the group began building a considerable fan-base across the U.S.

After Luaka Bop and a try at independence, Los Amigos Invibles signed to Nacional Records for their groundbreaking album Commercial in 2009 where they pursposely tried to make their songs more accessible to a wider audience, albeit without appealing to top-40 clichés. Ironically, Commercial earned them a Latin Grammy award in the Aleternative Album category and was followed in 2011 by Not So Commercial, which was nomintated for a Grammy in the category for "best Latin pop, rock or urban” album.

Los Amigos Invisibles live performances are known for their constant uptempo energy and their live mash-ups and tongue-in-cheek interpolations of internationally famous tunes mixed in their set.

Tour Dates:

04/02 - Atlanta, GA @ Terminal West
04/03 - Chapel Hill, NC @ Cat's Cradle
04/04 - Washington, DC @ The Fillmore
04/05 - Philadelphia, PA @ World Cafe Live
04/06 - New York, NY @ Webster Hall
04/09 - Boston, MA @ The Paradise
04/10 - Montreal, QC @ Club Soda
04/11 - Toronto, ON @ El Macombo
04/12 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Mr Small's
04/13 - Chicago, IL @ House of Blues
04/15 - Minneapolis, MN @ The Varsity Theater
04/17 - Denver, CO @ The Bluebird Theater
04/19 - Seattle, WA @ Neumo's
04/20 - Portland, OR @ Star Theater
04/21 - Vancouver, BC @ The Vogue Theater  
04/24 - San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore
04/26 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Fonda
04/27 - San Diego, CA @ House of Blues

Anyone familiar with Mop Mop will already know that their refined style has already lend them a unique place somewhere between the worlds of jazz, funk, Latin and the Italian Postmodern style allowed the band to enter the international film business as part of Woody Allen’s “To Rome With Love” movie soundtrack. But with this latest LP Isle Of Magic, Mop Mop digs even deeper to bring us one of their most engaging and organic records yet.

Mop Mop’s fourth studio album has come together over the course of a couple of years where producer Andrea Benini has been searching for new directions with the band. Collaborations in the album include funk legend Fred Wesley, Trinidad-born poet/singer Anthony Joseph and Finnish-Egyptian vocalist Sara Sayed. Over fifteen musicians were involved during the production of the album, including Andrea Benini’s co-arranger Alex Trebo on piano, Pasquale Mirra on vibraphone and marimba, Guglielmo Pagnozzi on clarinette and flute, Johannes Schleiermacher (Bajka, Radio Citizen, Woima Collective) on baritone sax, Lorenzo Ternelli and Salvatore Lauriola on bass and Danilo Mineo on percussions — just to name a few.

Isle Of Magic contains 13 tracks of pure voodoo jazz, Caribbean flavors, Afro-funk, exotic rhythms and soul music. The album has been recorded between Germany and Italy with the use of vintage analog equipment to achieve a sound with all the warm qualities of vintage analog tape recordings; sessions have been recorded during the period March/ August 2011.

Isle Of Magic is an imaginary land populated by musicians who spend their time fishing, cooking, playing and practicing voodoo rites at night. The whole album represents the soundtrack of this imaginary life.

Mop Mop 'Isle Of Magic' EPK from Andrea Benini on Vimeo.

WALK WITH ME presents that last recordings done by original drummer Lloyd Knibb who passed away shortly before this album saw release. The 11 tracks on this album are a tribute to all the members who have passed on over the years and is another in long line of outstanding collections from the grandfathers of Reggae and all Jamaican music.

The Skatalites began performing in Jamaica in May 1964. The group was so hot that their first rehearsal became a show. So many people had lined up outside the venue, they decided to just charge admission and let everybody in! They were the top musicians on the island at the time, having come together after playing in different bands and on various recording sessions. These records were made to be played at the many competing sound systems around the island. The band became legendary, backing all the developing artists of the day, such as Toots and The Maytals, Prince Buster and “The Wailing Wailers” featuring Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer. These groups were all recording on the new beat called ska, which had an infectious rhythm that was catching on like wildfire. Eventually, the beat slowed down into rocksteady, and then reggae. This wildfire spread unstoppably around the world, developing into a huge musical tree with many stylistic branches, including lover’s rock, dub, dancehall/ ragga, ska-punk, ska, jazz and others. Hugely popular groups, like The Police, The Clash, The Specials, The English Beat, Sublime and No Doubt, all have their roots firmly planted in the music of The Skatalites.

The Skatlites regrouped in 1983, and began regular touring as a unit in 1989, they have not stopped thrilling audiences in every corner of the globe. Even after 48 years, and various lineup changes as members leave one stage for another, the band continues to perform and record new music in the inimitable Jamaican style, like only they can.  Often asked “when will you stop?” and “how do you keep doing it after all these years?” the answer is simple: never – It’s the love of the music and the way our fans respond that keep us going Forward!

Featuring original alto sax man Lester “Ska” Sterling and vocalist Doreen Shaffer, along with the current lineup of outstanding musicians they have chosen to accompany them, the band proudly presents Walk With me – their long-awaited collection of newly-recorded classics and brand new compositions. This new release features some of the last tracks ever recorded by founding member and legendary drummer Lloyd Knibb, who not only perfected the ska beat but paved the way for nearly every single reggae drummer after him. “Love is the Way” was the last song he recorded. RIP.

Tracklisting:

1. Desert Ska
2. Lalibela
3. Hot Flash
4. The Leader
5. Love Is The Way
6. Walk With Me
7. Piece For Peace
8. Song For My Father
9. Little Theresa
10. King Solomon
11. Dub Lalibela

Musicians:
» Lester Sterling – alto saxophone
» Doreen Shaffer – vocals
» Azemobo “Zem” Audu – tenor saxophone
» Andrae Murchison – trombone
» Kevin Batchelor – trumpet
» Val Douglas – bass guitar
» Natty Frenchy – guitar
» Cameron Greenlee – keyboards
» Lloyd Knibb – drums
» Trevor “Sparrow” Thompson – drums

Tour Dates

03/07/13 @ Black Eyed Sally’s – Hartford, CT 

03/08/13 @ The Bull Run – Shirley, MA

03/09/13 @ The Knickerbocker Cafe – Westerly, RI 

03/13/13 @ The Gingerman – Dogfish Brewery Event [SXSW] – Austin, TX

03/14/13 @ Flamingo Cantina [SXSW Showcase] – Austin, TX 

03/15/13 @ VZD’s Restaurant & Club – Oklahoma City, OK

03/16/13 @ The Stage on Sixth Patio [SXSW Showcase] – Austin, TX 

03/17/13 @ Mango’s – Houston, TX

03/20/13 @ Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom – Denver, CO

04/03/13 @ Ex-Plex – Los Angeles, CA

04/04/13 @ World Beat Center – San Diego, CA

04/06/13 @ The Bunkhouse – Las Vegas, NV

04/07/13 @ Club Red – Tempe, AZ

04/10/13 @ Boom Boom Room – San Francisco, CA

04/11/13 @ Soho – Santa Barbara, CA

04/12/13 @ Moe’s Alley – Santa Cruz, CA

04/13/13 @ The Jambalaya – Arcata, CA

04/14/13 @ Caspar Inn – Caspar, CA

04/18/13 @ El Corazon – Seattle, WA

After a Grammy nomination and a Latin Grammy Award for best Alternative Album, Los Amigos Invisibles are ready to take back the Latin music world by storm with their seventh studio album titled Repeat After Me, to be released by Nacional Records on April 2nd 2013. To celebrate the release of their new album, the band will be embarking on an coast-to-coast tour during the month of April.Grammy winners Los Amigos Invisibles are definitely amognst the hardest working bands in the Latin Alternative scene. Having toured over 60 countries, the NY-based Venezuelan funk combo has been able to maintain and untouchable reputation for both their meticulously crafted albums and stunning live performances.Since their first album in 1995, Los Amigos Invisibles have developed a sound based on what they call “gozadera” - an irresistible fusion of Latin rhythms with fiery funk, disco grooves and quirky retro lounge music. The band got their first break when David Byrne (Talking Heads) discovered them and signed them to his label: Luaka Bop. Byrne opened doors for the band across the globe and Los Amigos Invisibles soon became an international touring machine. Los Amigos Invisibles moved to New York City from their hometown of Caracas in 2001 and entrenched themselves in the local scene. With their electrifying live show and an appeal that reaches way beyond the Latin Alternative niche, the group began building a considerable fan-base across the U.S.After Luaka Bop and a try at independence, Los Amigos Invibles signed to Nacional Records for their groundbreaking album Commercial in 2009 where they pursposely tried to make their songs more accessible to a wider audience, albeit without appealing to top-40 clichés. Ironically, Commercial earned them a Latin Grammy award in the Aleternative Album category and was followed in 2011 by Not So Commercial, which was nomintated for a Grammy in the category for "best Latin pop, rock or urban” album.Guided by the genious of guitarist DJ Afro (who has also released two albums independently as a Latin house DJ/producer/remixer) Los Amigos Invisibles live performances are known for their constant uptempo energy and their live mash-ups and tongue-in-cheek interpolations of internationally famous tunes mixed in their set.TOUR DATES:4/2 - Atlanta, GA @ Terminal West4/3 - Chapel Hill, NC @ Cat's Cradle4/4 - Washington, DC @ The Fillmore4/5 - Philadelphia, PA @ World Cafe Live4/6 - New York, NY @ Webster Hall4/9 - Boston, MA @ The Paradise4/10 - Montreal, QC @ Club Soda4/11 - Toronto, ON @ El Mocambo4/12 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Mr Small's4/13 - Chicago, IL @ House of Blues4/15 - Minneapolis, MN @ The Varsity Theater4/17 - Denver, CO @ The Bluebird Theater4/19 - Seattle, WA @ Neumo's4/20 - Portland, OR @ Star Theater4/21 - Vancouver, BC @ The Vogue Theater  4/24 - San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore4/26 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Fonda4/27 - San Diego, CA @ House of Blues

After a Grammy nomination and a Latin Grammy Award for best Alternative Album, Los Amigos Invisibles are ready to take back the Latin music world by storm with their seventh studio album titled Repeat After Me, to be released by Nacional Records on April 2nd 2013. To celebrate the release of their new album, the band will be embarking on an coast-to-coast tour during the month of April.Los Amigos Invisibles are amongst the hardest working bands in the Latin Alternative scene. Having toured over 60 countries, the NY-based Venezuelan funk combo has been able to maintain and untouchable reputation for both their meticulously crafted albums and stunning live performances including sets at Coachella, Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza. The lead single, "La Que Me Gusta" is out now and available with the iTunes pre-order of the album.TOUR DATES:4/2 - Atlanta, GA @ Terminal West4/3 - Chapel Hill, NC @ Cat's Cradle4/4 - Washington, DC @ The Fillmore4/5 - Philadelphia, PA @ World Cafe Live4/6 - New York, NY @ Webster Hall4/9 - Boston, MA @ The Paradise4/10 - Montreal, QC @ Club Soda4/11 - Toronto, ON @ El Mocambo4/12 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Mr Small's4/13 - Chicago, IL @ House of Blues4/15 - Minneapolis, MN @ The Varsity Theater4/17 - Denver, CO @ The Bluebird Theater4/19 - Seattle, WA @ Neumo's4/20 - Portland, OR @ Star Theater4/21 - Vancouver, BC @ The Vogue Theater  4/24 - San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore4/26 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Fonda4/27 - San Diego, CA @ House of Blues

Joanna Borromeo (pronounced “Boro-May-o”), the Calgary-based singer and pianist has spent nearly a decade working with some of the biggest names in Canadian soul, pop and beyond, from Juno-winning songstress Divine Brown to acclaimed East Coaster David Myles. She has supported them at festivals and concert halls on three continents, fleshing out their sound and finding inspiration of her own. Now, with the March 26 release of her debut LP, Kaleidoscope, she’s ready to take her place beside them.  Borromeo is prepping to debut her new album to US audiences with a West Coast tour starting in April with stops in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Stockton, San Jose and Sparks, Nevada.The debut album finds Borromeo pulling together the threads of soul, R&B and pop that have run through her career; it’s full of timeless touches, with subtle strings and classic soul grooves, but it’s no throwback. Borromeo proves she can hit hard on album opener “Move Mountains” and the bombastic "Your Shoes,” and she’s just as strong when she slows things down for the powerful slow-build of “Good Times in Love,” and the heartfelt poetic ballad “No One Like You.” The album closes with the electronic pulsing bonus track “Wide-Eyed and In Your Arms” about two lovers who reunite after walking out, proving Borromeo can make an impact without acoustic driven productions. Early album praise has been pouring in from the Canadian press, with CBC Radio, gushing, “Joanna’s the real deal…Joanna’s emerged as the artist’s artist with a unique and refreshing sound…depth, brilliance, and sheer greased-up funkiness!” and Radtastic, CSJW 90.9 FM, stating “[Kaleidoscope] is Joanna’s sophomore solo release.  She’s an incredible pianist, vocalist and songwriter.  When all combined she turns out some awesome R&B with a mix of eclectic flavour and pop sensibility.”Her 2009 EP, titled Through The Dark made waves online, from Really Not Radiostating, “the musicality, her soulful vocal instrument and the album recording is so in your face and so sonically pleasing…,” to tastemaker blog BamaLoveSouladding, “The project is 5 tracks of beautiful, sweet soul.”In recording Kaleidoscope, Borromeo took a different approach than her EP.  This was a considerably larger project than the EP, so she called on producers/engineers Spencer Cheyne and Craig Newnes to co-produce the record.  She states, “they helped in facilitating my ideas, leaving me with plenty of artistic freedom, but giving enough creative input to keep me focused on the direction I wanted to go in – to create an album that was still identifiably soul/R&B/jazz, but with a touch of pop." She also spent large chunks of time in the studio with a more stringent timeline to complete her album. As a result, the album was finished, from bed tracks to mastering, in three months Borromeo enthusiastically says, “doing this album made me realize how much I absolutely love being in the studio creating music with people.  It ends up feeling very much like play.  Giving myself a strict timeline pushed me to do everything better – be a better singer, a better artist, a better musician, a better producer, and a better team player.”Which brings us back to the present. It’s fair to say that Borromeo has put in her time to get to this point, but that’s not quite right—it’s hard to call it paying your dues when you’re doing what you love. Borromeo has been learning from the best, and with Kaleidoscope, she’s put it together into something new and distinct, a fresh voice in the Canadian soul scene. She’s found her voice, and it’s ready to be heard.US Tour Dates:April 12th – Weber Point Event Center – Stockton, CAApril 16th – South First Street Billiards – San Jose, CAApril 17th – Yoshi’s SF lounge – San Francisco, CAApril 19th – Witzend Live – Venice, CAApril 20th – Nugget Casino, Celebrity Showroom – Sparks, NV (with Mark Sexton Band)Canada:April 30th – Ironwood Stage and Grill – Calgary, AlbertaMay 3rd – The ARTery – Edmonton, Alberta (with Nuela Charles)

British soul sensation Alice Russell is set to tour America and release a special US-only edition of her blistering new album To Dust (Tru Thoughts/Caroline)Alice Russell’s eagerly anticipated return to the States kicks off on May 3rd in San Francisco and sees her performing in LA, Seattle, Washington and New York. An incredible live performer, Alice has become infamous for her live shows, she has the ability to charm a crowd of 4000 into staying and dancing in the rain (as she did at the Montreal Jazz festival) whilst also commanding attention and affection when rocking out an intimate club. Alice has an indescribable charm, endearment and charisma when in front of a crowd, it is with this charm and natural talent that she has managed to attract an impressive army of prominent supporters; Gilles Peterson, David Byrne, Dennis Coffey, Massive Attack’s Daddy G, Groove Armada and ?uestlove amongst many others.The tour will support the release of an exclusive US-only version of To Dust. To Dust is set for release on April 30th (via Tru Thoughts/Caroline), the US-only version will include a bonus track and exclusive remixes by Brighton’s hyped dance producers Let Machines Do The Work and DJ/producer/drummer Typesun.Full tour dates below, Alice will be joined by her band The Park, do not miss your chance to witness Alice Russell live.Alice Russell To Dust May Tour DatesSan Francisco - May 3rdMezzanine SF444 Jessie St @ MintSan Francisco, CA 94103http://www.mezzaninesf.com/Tickets HERE - $20 advance / $25 doorLos Angeles - May 4thFirst Unitarian Church2936 W. 8th St.Los Angeles, CA 90005http://www.uula.org/Tickets HERE - $20 advance / $23 doorSeattle - May 7thNeumos925 E. Pike St.Seattle, WA 98122http://neumos.com/Tickets $13 advance / $15 doorDC - May 9thLiv Nightclub2001 11th St. NWWashington DC 20001http://www.livdc.com/Tickets HERE $18 advance / $23 doorNYC - May 12th(Le) Poisson Rouge158 Bleecker St.New York, NY 10012http://www.lepoissonrouge.com/Tickets - $15

As reggae music continues to reach new heights in America, John Brown's Body (JBB) has been there from the beginning, constantly pushing and evolving the U.S. reggae scene through explosive live shows and critically-acclaimed recordings.  Their new album, Kings And Queens, out April 16th on Easy Star Records, is no exception.  Kings And Queens is the band’s most ambitious release to date, encompassing the entire history of the band’s sound and legacy.  Lead vocalist Elliot Martin reaches new levels of songwriting by striking the fine balance between classic JBB roots and a fresh new JBB sound.  A perfect example is the track “Old John Brown,” available for FREE download on the band’s Facebook and through an embeddable stream on the band’s Soundcloud.

After releasing their exceptional and (mostly) instrumental JBB In Dub EP late in 2012, the band is already back with their eighth studio album, and first full-length since 2008’s chart-topping (#1 Billboard Reggae) Amplify.  Kings And Queens features twelve new songs that are dripping in their signature “Future Roots” sound influenced by British Reggae (Aswad, Steel Pulse), roots classics (Burning Spear, Alpha Blondy), dub experimentation (Scientist, King Tubby, Sly & Robbie), and electronic music.  The results are a thicker, heavier style than most modern reggae.

Over the past five years, the Boston/Ithaca/Brooklyn-based octet has toured throughout Europe, New Zealand, and of course the U.S. performing at notable festivals Bear Creek, Gathering of the Vibes, Jam Cruise, and Wakarusa and with acts including Galactic, Groundation, and label mates The Black Seeds and Easy Star All-Stars.  This road warrior-like behavior has lent its influence in the studio by capturing the infectious energy of a JBB show throughout Kings And Queens.

Easy Star Records, one of the leading reggae labels in the world, has been working with JBB since 2004. Easy Star co-founder Lem Oppenheimer enthusiastically states, “JBB has been a large part of our roster for a long time, because it’s rare to find a relationship where both label and artist have the same drive to be progressive and push each other forward. JBB and Easy Star are like family.”

In the age of fickle trends and gone tomorrow music, John Brown’s Body provides refreshing integrity and longevity.  Don’t miss what All Music Guide calls, “some of the most gorgeous melodies in all of modern reggae music,” when JBB tours this spring to celebrate their new release.

Tour Dates

• 4/12 @ Fete Ballroom | Providence, RI     [TICKETS]
• 4/13 @ Sugarloaf Ski Resort | Carrabassett, ME [TICKETS]
• 4/19 @ Brooklyn Bowl | Brooklyn, NY – with Easy Star All-Stars  [TICKETS]
• 4/20 @ GrassRoots Shakori Hills | Pittsboro, NC  [TICKETS]
• 4/26 @ Water Street Music Hall | Rochester, NY – JBB presents BIG UPstate Reggae Festival  [TICKETS]
• 4/27 @ Paradise Rock Club | Boston, MA  [TICKETS]
• 5/17 @ Jewish Mother | Virginia Beach, VA
• 5/18 @ Electric Factory | Philadelphia, PA -with SOJA  [TICKETS]
• 5/23 @ Tralf Music Hall | Buffalo, NY
• 5/24 @ Rex Theater | Pittsburgh, PA
• 5/25 @ Dark Star Jubilee Festival | Thornville, OH  [TICKETS]
• 5/26 @ Summer Camp Music Festival | Chillicothe, IL  [TICKETS]

Justin Ancheta is a music making, social changing, conscious spreading, teacher and artist. His eclectic style of reggae flavored indie-rock, funk and jazz is a down-to-earth and moving music with lyrics that reveal his passion for community, awareness, and change. He has been working on creating a style of music coined ‘Folklyrico Americana’ – showing his roots from Northern California’s Sierra Mountains. Ancheta has played with Joan Baez and opened for the Wailers, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Charles Neville, Ricky Skaggs, and numerous other internationally renowned artists. Ancheta has released five independent albums in the past 4 years, selling over 12,000 CDs without label support. After a successful Kickstarter campaign, Ancheta is to release his first full-length studio album in over five years. He has gained recognition in Northern California, Hawaii, and Europe, and is excited to pursue the dream of making music to inspire a peaceful revolution towards more sustainable societies (notice the plural).

Ancheta’s newest CD, ‘Plant’ is set to be released in April 9, 2013. It was recorded in Northern California at 4 different locations; Grass Valley – Sunsound Studio’s, JW Studio’s in SF, Lighthouse Recordings in San Anselmo, and Mixed at Hyde Street, Studio C in San Francisco.  The songs have been a collection of writings from the past 8 years, since Ancheta has moved to the Bay Area to pursue a musical career. After years of working the streets, selling thousands of CDs hand to hand while playing on warm – cold – and even rainy nights and days, Ancheta simultaneously dove deeper into the music scene of the Bay Area, gaining recognition as a singer, composer, and accomplished classical guitarist and tres player.

He now performs regularly at the top music venues in the Bay Area including Slim’s, the Independent, Cafe Du Nord, GAMH, and many others. Ancheta has created multiple albums in the past, solo and with the band ‘Pills & Jackets’, formerly ‘Sinclair’, yet this is the first fully produced album he has ever envisioned in this way; styles to create a movement for recognition and acceptance of each other. For a list of lyrics, and a brief description of each song by Justin Ancheta, you can visit: http://justinancheta.bandcamp.com

Busy with the full band project, Ancheta, to keep things rolling with passion, he takes time to play with Cradle Duende (Klezmenco-Hop from San Francisco), Shake Your Peace (Whup-Music), numerous solo shows (Justin Ancheta-Acoustic), as well as sitting in with other local and international touring artists.  Ancheta was a featured artist at the Hawaii Spirit Festival 2010 on North Shore Oahu, Wanderlust Festival Lake Tahoe, MannaFest Grass Valley, headlined Barcelona’s first Bicycle Music Festival, and was a featured artist at San Francisco’s prestigious Yoshi’s Jazz Club.

With this eclectic array of musical tastes and styles, Ancheta’s new release(s) show a taste for compassion to show the differences between cultures describing the melting-pot effect of his own multi-cultural background of being born-and-raised in northern California. His father is a Filipino/Spanish/American from Hawaii, and Mother an English/Norwegian/American with family roots going back to some of the first settlers on Native American land. While being raised in the Sierra Foothills close to Auburn, California, Ancheta didn’t realize his own ethnic background until much later in his life. Now living in San Francisco for the past eight years, he has dove deep into his cultural past, pulling melodies and lyrics from old folk songs from the Philippines, Flamenco from Spain, and the Hawaiian Reggae from Hawaii and Cali roots. This artist is here to represent a piece of time in history where we turn the page to truth, with all the grotesque underbelly, Ancheta hopes to reveal the weakness of the beast and allow for the people to feel true peace and prosperity once again, an image he can only describe when dreaming of old ways of the Natives of this land that he speaks of in his songs.

The new Album is released April 9th, 2013. The featured track ‘Better Predicament’ focuses on the topic of the turning of the age of Aquarius and seeing what comes from us watching what we feed to the next generations, hoping for the awakening to be seen now – and created now.

And stay tuned for new on the upcoming releases of ‘Justin Ancheta Acoustic’ as well as ‘Cradle Duende’ and ‘Shake Your Peace’ – all due in 2013.

When Cas Haley set out to make the follow-up to his successful 2010 release Connection, one thing drove him in the writing and planning for the sessions. “I kept thinking,” says the Paris, TX-based singer/songwriter, “if I died tomorrow, and my kids had only one musical statement through which to know me, what would I want that record to be?” The resulting record, La Si Dah, is packed with what makes Cas Haley who he is: personal lyrics, musical diversity, outstanding musicianship and authenticity. Adding to this unique vibe is the manner in which the recording sessions were financed; working with the crowd-sourcing website Pledge Music, Haley was able to raise money through his fans (many of whom are thanked in the record).  La Si Dah, out May 28, 2013 on Easy Star Records, was produced by Haley himself, with consultation on the recording by his good friend, the Grammy-Award Winning Producer/Engineer Rob Fraboni, best known for his work with Bob Dylan, The Eagles, Keith Richards and The Rolling Stones.  When it came to the recording process, the above principles driving Cas led him to aim for a more authentic sound, in line with the honesty and integrity he tries to live by in his daily life. As Cas so passionately states, “Being in a world so heavily influenced by commercialism and the expectations of perfection paired with the technology and tools to synthesize that perfection, in my opinion, has zapped the very essence out of the majority of music today. The last two years I have been searching for the solution to this problem. With the guidance of my great friend and mentor Rob Fraboni, this album is my attempt to find the spirit of music.”  La Si Dah’s pure sound and vibe was accomplished by using the recording techniques of Rob Fraboni. “The first thing we did was take away all elements of separation. All the instruments and most of the vocals were recorded in the same room at the same time with no isolation and no headphones.  Fraboni is from the day when capturing the sound of the performance was the goal versus manipulating them,” Haley enthusiastically adds.The 13 tracks on La Si Dah continue Cas’s ability to mine his own personal narrative for poignant and catchy songs.  First single “La Dah,” came from a dream Cas had about his grandmother, where she helped him to forgive his father for things he had never done for Cas. (You can stream “La Dah”.)  “Wait For Me,” a powerful ballad, reads like a personal love letter to his wife from the road. “Let Her Go,” a slow burner steeped in old R&B, came out of a weekend spent with his father, jamming together and discussing his parents’ marriage. The nyabinghi-drum inflected “Tally Tally” grew from ongoing conversations with his manager, where the two of them had to come to terms with their own personality differences to further Cas’s career goals.  Just as important to the record are three instrumentals (“Jackson,” “Capricorn,” “Trash Day”) that help show off Cas’s natural abilities as a musician, since the focus on him is most often squarely on his powerful voice.For Easy Star Records, a leader in independent reggae, La Si Dah is an exciting addition to their tastemaker catalog.  Easy Star CEO Eric Smith says, “All of us at Easy Star were captivated by the songs Cas created for Connection and were so thankful to be a part of that album.  But it has been especially gratifying be able to continue that partnership with La Si Dah and witness first hand the beautiful evolution of Cas’ tremendous talent.”  While the record is obviously not strictly a reggae recording (though it does feature some great straight-up reggae tracks in “Mama,” “Slow Down,” and “Crazy Good Woman”), Easy Star is still a great home for the release, considering it has always tried to connect reggae to a broader musical spectrum, from classic rock to salsa to Ethiopian jazz. In the three years since the release of Connection, Cas Haley has kept busy with plenty of touring, as well as the release of a holiday EP (Gifts To Give). He continues his time on the road with a number of college shows as a solo acoustic act, followed by a number of club shows and festivals where he will team with his band members to perform much of the La Si Dah album.  In July, he’ll make his first appearances in Europe, including a solo acoustic set at the Mighty Sounds Festival in the Czech Republic. Tour DatesApril 10 – Spokane, WA – Gonzaga University (solo acoustic)April 11 – Walla Walla, WA – Whitman College (solo acoustic)April 16 – Havre, MT – Montana State Northern (solo acoustic)April 17 – Bozeman, MT – Montana State (solo acoustic)April 18 – Butte, MT – Montana Tech (solo acoustic)April 19 – Lynwood, WA – Edmonds Community College (solo acoustic)April 20 – Portland, OR – Pacific University (solo acoustic)April 26 – Juneau, AK – University of Alaska Southeast (solo acoustic)May 17 – Paris, TX – That Guy’s Coffee (with band)May 25 – Ft. Worth, TX – Live Oak (with band)May 31 – Dallas, TX – House of Blues – Cambridge Room (with band)June 14 – Ocean Beach, CA – Winston’s (with band)June 15 – Hermosa Beach, CA – Saint Rocke (with band)July 7 – Baden, Switzerland – Triebguet Frischluft Bar (solo acoustic)July 14 – St. Peter Ording, Germany – Café Instinkt (solo acoustic)July 20 – Tabor, Czech Republic – Mighty Sounds Festival (solo acoustic)

The CSC Funk Band is like a musical pinball that’s been getting flipped around the Brooklyn music scene for over 5 years now bumping into just about any influence imaginable in the borough that spawns countless musical hybrids. Spearheaded by Colin Langenus of acclaimed experimental rock outfit USA Is A Monster, the group was formed as a party band within the loosely-defined parameters of funk with references pointing to Sun Ra’s 70’s fusion-inspired Lanquidity and the psychedelic rock leanings of Funkadelic. Players were plucked from a wide-ranging stylistic constellation and the group continued expanding beyond its party-band britches by absorbing the diverse influence of its members, including a former GWAR drummer, a keyboardist who played with the Akron Family, an Anthony Braxton collaborator, and a trombonist for ska legends Bad Manners. In 2011 the group was picked to be the house band for a full-on tribute to MC Guru of the legendary hip hop duo Gang Starr at Fat Beats warehouse in Brooklyn and backed MC Masta Ace among others invariably adding another stylistic gear to the group’s colorful pedigree.Their second full-length release, Funkincense, on Electric Cowbell Records for Record Store Day 2013, differs from their predecessor Things Are Getting Too Casual (Fat Beats 2011) in that it was recorded entirely at Fat Beats studios in Brooklyn whereas their first record was more of a collection of singles and recordings of the group’s first 3 years. Around the time of the Gang Starr tribute the group was tapped by Fat Beats to work on an instrumental record of Gang Starr instrumentals in the vein of 2009’s El Michael’s Affair’s reinterpretation of Wu-Tang music, Enter the 37th Chamber. The project was never realized however countless hours were logged in the Fat Beats studios distilling CSC Funk Band’s expansive breadth into shorter bursts of tighter popping funk pockets. When the group finally convened to record their new original music the studio settings were already dialed in and Funkincense came to life. Everything that is the essence of the CSC Funk Band sound is here: the hard-boiled, cop show funk of ‘Catcher’s Mitt’ and ‘You Say,’ the flirtings with Afrobeat grooves in the title track ‘Funkincense,’ and the heavier psychedelic explorations a la Funkadelic are evident on ‘Choom Gang,’ as well as a few surprises in the minimalistic ‘Make Your Mind Up’ and the 70’s sunshine burst of ‘Ticket To Cabo.’Rocking sax, moog, guitars, trombones, drums, trumpets, a bass, and an oboe, the band is a random, diverse, and eclectic collective whose members draw from their rich histories to effortlessly entertain every flight of fancy while never once stepping out of sync or into categories.  The ‘Funkincense’ 12” vinyl album with scratch ‘n sniff promo sticker was pressed as an exclusive Record Store Day limited-edition release and available mostly in independent record stores internationally that specialize in vinyl records on Record Store Day (April 20, 2013). The album will also be available through digital outlets worldwide Tuesday, April 23, 2013.Record release shows for Funkincense April 2013:Friday April 26at Secret Project Robot389 Melrose StreetBrooklyn NY 11237with HardbodiesSaturday April 27at Free Range Music FestivalBelfast, MaineSunday April 28at Deep Thoughts138B South StreetBoston, MA. 02130with Aykroyd + Gangsta of Love

John Brown’s Body's Kings And Queens has debuted at #1 on the Billboard and iTunes Reggae charts.  Kings And Queens (released April 16, 2013 on Easy Star Records) is the band’s eighth studio album and most ambitious release to date, encompassing the entire history of the band’s sound and legacy.  The album debuted impressively on other Billboard charts including #23 on the Heatseekers Chart, #4 on Northeast New Artist Chart, and #188 on the Top 200 Digital albums, amongst others.  The album mirrors the success of 2008’s album Amplify, which also debuted at #1 on the Billboard Reggae Charts, outselling that album’s first week.

“It’s great to see the positive reaction of JBB fans worldwide to their new album.  Since 2004, we’ve seen the band grow and evolve in such unique ways, but maintain a sound that still has broad appeal outside of just a reggae audience.  Its dedication from fans new and old that helped them reach #1,” says Easy Star CEO Eric Smith. 

The band is currently on tour showcasing songs from the new album and back catalog.  Press accolades for King And Queens have been pouring in from a diversity of media outlets.

“Now this was worth waiting five years for…John Brown’s Body’s new Kings And Queens is the band’s best album to date, hands down…The music is a sweet homegrown hybrid of classic reggae spirit and inventive sonic explorations.  John Brown’s Body comes across as confident and strong; this is the sound of a group of reggae masters in a very good place.” – Jambands.com

“With “Kings and Queens,” John Brown’s Body delivered once again, demonstrating the diversity that is “American Reggae” and pushing musical boundaries in ways very few bands are capable. The progressive and refreshing mix of sounds has “Kings and Queens” poised to top the reggae charts, making the album one of reggae’s best in 2013.” – The Pier

"What a glorious record. Beautiful, heartening, and well deserved for this hard working band. It's great to see reggae gain footing, and it's great to see the revolutionists continue to burn walls and build bridges…I could talk about this record forever. Just go get it." – Angelica Music

“Kings And Queens picked up right where Amplify left off, and thats leaving a legacy that has inspired and carved a path for the now thriving contemporary American reggae scene…JBB is the King!” – Rudeboy Reggae

"Go back to Kings and Queens for a second or even third listen and you’ll discover the poetry JBB delivers with rhythmic aplomb…" – Pop-Break

“Their new album Kings and Queens is fit for royalty.” –That Music Mag

“Kings And Queens is incredibly catchy and the musicianship is top notch.” – Pop Stereo Reviews

“[John Brown's Body] peaks high, higher than the others by a long shot." – The Grateful Web

“John Brown’s Body Puts Out Their Best Studio Album.” – New York Music Daily

“Future roots, reggae, and dub with intricately balanced weaving of vocals, percussion, keyboard, bass, guitar, and stunning 3-piece horn section that ties it all together.” – WRUV

Tour Dates:

4/26 Water Street Music Hall | Rochester, NY – BIG UPstate Reggae Festival  

4/27 Paradise Rock Club | Boston, MA  

5/17 The Jewish Mother | Virginia Beach, VA 

5/18 Electric Factory | Philadelphia, PA -with SOJA  

5/23 Tralf Music Hall | Buffalo, NY 

5/24 The Rex Theater | Pittsburgh, PA 

5/25 Dark Star Jubilee Festival | Thornville, OH  

5/26 Summer Camp Music Festival | Chillicothe, IL  

6/23 Onondaga Lake | Liverpool, NY –with Rusted Root

7/12 & 13 The Beachcomber | Wellfleet, MA

7/19 Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival | Trumansburg, NY

8/01 Horning’s Hideout | North Plains, OR

Vieux Farka Touré's latest album was recorded as an homage to his homeland.  Being that his native Mali has been splintered by territorial fighting between Tuareg and Islamic rebels since January 2012, his new album, Mon Pays (My Country), is devoted to reminding the world about the beauty and culture of his homeland.  The album is out on May 28, 2013 on Six Degrees Records with an extensive North American tour starting in June.‘For me it is a statement for the world that this land is for the sons and daughters of Mali, not for Al Qaeda or any militants. This land is for peace and beauty, rich culture and tolerance.This is our heritage, what we must always fight to protect in any way that we can. For me, that means making music that reminds the world of who we are.’Translating as ‘My Nation,’ this predominantly acoustic undertaking had been planned before the invasions began. Inspired by his work with Israeli pianist and vocalist Idan Raichel, Touré initially went into a Bamako studio to honor the acoustic blues tradition of Northern and Southern Mali. Since that time, Mon Pays transformed into an artifact of cultural preservation.Two songs on the project -Future’ and ‘Peace’ feature Sidiki Diabate’s kora leading an emotional charge complemented by Touré’s spectacular guitar work. Both tracks represent an important generational "passing of the torch" as Sidiki’s father, Toumani is considered one of the greatest living kora masters and was a close friend of Vieux’s father Ali. Their two records together, In the Heart of the Moon and Ali and Toumani, were awarded Grammies. At the 2011 ceremonies, Vieux accepted the prestigious award for his father, who had recently passed from bone cancer.Mon Pays is the most mature and lovely record yet from one of this generation's most exciting artists to come out of Mali and one of world music's true rising stars.Tour Dates:06/15/13 @ Takin’ It to the Streets (Marquette Park), Chicago, IL06/16/13 @ Clearwater’s Great Hudson River Revival, Croton-on-Hudson, NY06/19/13 @ The Dirty Bourbon, Albuquerque, NM06/20/13 @ Arroyo Seco Live, Arroyo Seco, NM06/21/13 @ eTown Hall, Boulder, CO06/23/13 @ Performance Works, Vancouver, BC, Canada06/24/13 @ Sugar Nightclub, Victoria, BC, Canada06/25/13 @ Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley,  Seattle, WA06/26/13 @ Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, Seattle, WA06/27/13 @ The Wild Buffalo, Bellingham, WA06/28/13 @ Mississippi Studios, Portland, OR06/30/13 @ Harbourfront Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada07/01/13 @ Zaphod Beeblebrox, Ottawa, ON, Canada07/03/13 @ Club Soda, Montreal, QC, Canada07/05/13 @ Iron Horse, Northampton, MA07/06/13 @ Higher Ground, South Burlington, VT07/09/13 @ Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis, MN07/10/13 @ Vaudeville Mews, Des Moines, IA07/11/13 @ La Fete de Marquette, Madison, WI 07/13/13 @ Yoshis, San Francisco, CA07/14/13 @ California WorldFest, Grass Valley, CA08/02/13 @ Pickathon, Happy Valley, OR08/03/13 @ Pickathon, Happy Valley, OR08/04/13 @ Crestone Music Festival, Crestone, CO08/06/13 @ Walnut Room, Denver, CO08/07/13 @ JAS Cafe Downstairs At The Nell, Aspen, CO

Fresh on the heels of their critically acclaimed Hurricane Season In Brooklyn album, drummer and studio don Amon returns to his Analog Players Society project with a 3 track excavation entitled CKY to JFK Vol. 1.  Setting out to explore his original West African influences, this project is once again a collective effort spearheaded and curated by Amon in his home turf of The Hook Studio and features a revolving cast of singers and musicians close to the cause, this time hailing from the country of Guinea.Things kick off with “Coule’ba”, a foot-stomping track with an infectious guitar lick, a pulsing synth bassline, percussion blasts and the soaring, powerful vocals of Missia Saran Diabate, a well known Guinean vocalist who has made an indelible mark on New York City’s West African Jazz scene.  Next up is the live vibe of “Korosi” with its killer drum break, inspired horns, Highlife guitar, deep percussion and call-and-response vocals from Petite Conde and Missia Saran Diabate on backup. Rounding off the EP is “Moula”, a driving, spiritual joint with mystical balaphone melodies, sky-high vocals and four to the floor drums. It’s a beautiful, hypnotic track that would not sound out of place in a late night Berlin club or a sunrise DJ set at Burning Man.This is the brilliance of the Analog Players Society – a seamless melding of traditional vibes and instrumentation and razor sharp studio wizardry coupled with modern Dance production in a way only they can do. Watch out for the single from the next album dropping in May – there’s much more where this came from!Tracklisting:1. Coule'Ba (feat. Missia Saran Diabate)2. Korosi (feat. Petite Konde & Mamady Kouyate3. Moula (feat. Missia Saran Dioubate & Famoro Dioubate)4. Coule'Ba - Version***More info:In 2009, deep in the heart of Red Hook, Brooklyn at The Hook Studio, Amon was laying the foundation for his new project – Analog Players Society. He came to The Hook Studio the year before as a new partner. The studio was raw and intriguing. He was fresh from 4 years of playing as the resident percussionist for Afrokinetic and hungry to get back to recording music. Up until that time, he had been messing around with electronic / drum-centric material but it wasn’t satisfying his artistic desire to play real music with other musicians. He was tired of working “in-the-box”. His new studio digs put him in an incredibly creative space with a revolving door of great musicians. He came to The Hook Studio by way of Peter Fand, a fellow student of M’bemba Bangoura and M’bemba’s best student and mentor to Amon, Michael Markus. As you can imagine, they did a ton of West African music, and it was AMAZING! They were lucky to be recording and making music with master musicians and living legends from Guinea and Mali.MISSIA SARAN DIABATE – An incredibly powerful vocalist. Well-known in Guinea, West Africa and in New York in the havens of West African Jazz such as: Barbes, Zinc Bar, and The Shrine. A Guinean version of Tina Turner comes to mind.MAMADY KOUYATE – Super Tropical Jali Band, Bembeya Jazz Orchestra, Mandingo Ambassadors. A Legendary Guitar virtuoso straight from the amazing birth of afro-Jazz in Guinea West Africa during the 60’s and 70’s This master musician also toured the globe with the world renowned Bembeya Jazz Orchestra. Later he was granted political asylum and now lives in New York City where he leads his own group The Mandingo Ambassadors.FAMORO DIOUBATE was born in Conakry, Guinea into a griot family He is the grandson of El Hadj Djelli Sory Kouyate, a living legend of the Mandeng balafon. Famoro played in several groups across West Africa including Mory Kante‘s orchestra. Here in the states he leads his band Kakande and produces a variety of West African talent, truly, too many acts to name.

Los Amigos Invisibles new chart topping album, Repeat After Me (Nacional Records), continues to receive critical praise.  About.com says, “Los Amigos Invisibles proved once again why they are one of the coolest bands in Latin music…one of the best Latin music albums of 2013,” while Blurt gushes, “The unfettered joy powering these tunes – hell, every tune here – gives the music wings that fly it beyond analysis and categorization, straight into irresistibility. Deny Repeat After Me and you deny both heart and hips.”

Their new music video for “La Que Me Gusta” was premiered on Entertainment Tonight online.

Los Amigos Invisbles is ready to kick off their second leg of their US tour with headlining sets at the Wakarusa Festival and Free Press Summer Festival alongside stops in Dallas, Austin, Orlando, Miami, and Chicago.  Full dates below.

US TOUR DATES:

5/30 – Dallas, TX @ Trees 

6/01 – Ozark, AK @ Wakarusa Festival 

6/02 – Houston, TX @ Free Press Summer Festival 

6/04 – Austin, TX @ Waterloo Records [In-Store]

6/06 – Austin, TX @ The Belmont 

6/07 – Orlando, FL @ Glitz Ultra Lounge 

6/08 – Miami, FL @ Grand Central 

6/09 – Chicago, IL @ Viva La Fiesta

“Cas’ new album expresses his growth not only as a person, but in the studio and in his music. The diversity of La Si Dah showcases the many sides of him. It’s wonderful to see his fans embrace Cas from album to album with such strong support,” says Easy Star CEO Eric Smith.Cas has also added more tour dates to his already prolific tour schedule including a solo acoustic show with the legendary Sheryl Crow on June 13 at Innsbrook After Hours in Richmond, VA. He joins his band for shows in San Diego, Los Angeles and Scottsdale, AZ, right after. In July, he heads to Europe for his first tour on the continent, which will bring him to Germany, Switzerland, Holland and the Czech Republic. And he has already seen his Fall begin to fill up with appearances at Shangri-La Festival in September, Yonder Mountain String Band’s Harvest Festival in October, and plenty of college and university shows slated throughout.Tour Dates:June 13 – Glenn Ellen, VA – Innsbrook Snagajob Pavilion (opening for Sheryl Crow)June 14 – Ocean Beach, CA – Winston’s (with band)June 15 – Hermosa Beach, CA – Saint Rocke (with band)June 16 – Scottsdale, AZ – Martini Ranch (with band)July 12 – Baden, Switzerland – Triebguet Frischluft Bar (solo acoustic)July 13 – Neustadt, Germany – Kulturwerkstatt ForumJuly 14 – St. Peter Ording, Germany – Café Instinkt (solo acoustic)July 16 – Leiden, Netherlands – QbusJuly 17 – Winterswikjk, Netherlands – Living Room ConcertsJuly 18 – Beusichem, Netherlands – Bruine KipJuly 19 – Augsburg, Germany – Outdoor Festival (solo)July 20 – Tabor, Czech Republic – Mighty Sounds Festival (solo acoustic)July 21 – Berlin, Germany – Yaam (solo)Aug 16 – San Juan Capistrano, CA – The Coach HouseAug 22 – Sioux City, IA – Morningside University (solo)

Hawaii’s The Green are back with their anticipated new album, Hawai‘i '13, set for worldwide release on August 20 through Easy Star Records.  Hawai‘i '13 is the band’s third studio album and was recorded and mixed with Danny Kalb (Ben Harper, Beck, Jack Johnson) mainly in Costa Mesa, CA, at Hurley Studios.Since the 2011 release of their chart-topping (#1 Billboard and iTunes Reggae) sophomore album Ways & Means (Easy Star Records), the sextet continues to raise their profile to the top of the thriving US reggae scene. The Green’s previous two albums have sold over 50,000 copies worldwide, winning awards (iTunes Best Reggae Album 2010, Best Reggae Album at Hawaii’s 2011 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards) and receiving critical praise from media outlets like NPR, Billboard, The Huffington Post, and the San Francisco Chronicle.  Their prolific touring has yielded countless sold out shows, while sharing the bill with reggae heavyweights Damian Marley, Rebelution, and SOJA, to name a few. Internationally they’ve toured in Japan, New Zealand, and Guam, while at home performing at notable festivals including the Vans Warped Tour, Wakarusa, Sierra Nevada World Music Festival, and the California Roots Festival.  “The talent and creativity coming out of the band is getting stronger by the minute and the new album captures this growth beautifully” says Easy Star Records Co-Founder Eric Smith.The first single off the new album - “Take Me On” - is already receiving heavy commercial radio airplay in Hawaii and is currently charting #3 on Oahu’s Island 98.5 FM.  National Geographic Music touted “The Green's radio friendly modern roots sound, sweetening their deep island grooves with just enough vocal honey to entrap legions of new fans.” Hawai‘i '13, recorded in February and March 2013, is the first Green album using a dedicated producer/engineer.  Kalb, best known for his work with Ben Harper, was introduced to the band by Easy Star Records.  Guitarist-vocalist Zion Thompson explains, “Danny was one of a few mixing engineers we had on our second album Ways & Means. We were really happy with his work on that project and his overall vibe seemed right so we asked him to be our main guy for this record and the results are pretty magical.”The album title Hawai‘i '13 has meaning on multiple levels.  The obvious ones are the year it was created and released in and that there happens to be 13 songs on it.  But, there is also a bigger significance according to Zion and the band.  He states, “It's also a reference to a song that we grew up with called "Hawai‘i '78" by Israel “IZ” Kamakawiwo‘ole.  The song deals with the issues and ongoing conversations about the changes that have happened to our land and people. It questions how our ancestors would react to seeing things like over-crowding, technological advancements and unwanted industrial growth. Something that many people and cultures around the world can relate to, but is an ongoing issue to the people of Hawai‘i to this day and is still very fresh in our minds.  On this record we wanted to encapsulate this push and pull feeling of both a connection to the past and a progression forward, all in one.” Starting today (July 16), Hawai‘i '13 is available for digital pre-order on iTunes.  The CD and vinyl (please note the vinyl ships September 17) pre-order is available through the band’s web store, where fans can also add in newly designed Green tank tops for men or women.  First week (7/16-7/23) pre-orders will also receive a 25% discount through the web store.The Green, hot on the heels of their recent headlining “Take Me On Tour,” will be back with another US tour this Fall.  More details coming soon.

Passafire is back with their fifth studio album, Vines, set for worldwide release on November 11^th.  Vines is the band’s debut release for leading reggae label Easy Star Records.  Since the 2011 release of their chart-topping (#1 Billboard and iTunes Reggae) album Start From Scratch, the Savannah, GA-based quartet continues to raise their profile to the top of the exploding U.S. reggae scene.

Much of Vines was recorded just outside of El Paso, TX at the legendary Sonic Ranch Studios, the largest residential recording studio complex in the world. Acts as diverse as Animal Collective, Sublime, Gogol Bordello, and Band of Horses have all shared the unique facilities and atmosphere where the new album was recorded.  It was finished in the band’s own home studio, which allowed for a much more relaxed, off the clock approach to the final sessions. After the recording was completed, Passafire worked with Paul Leary (of the Butthole Surfers), who produced their last album, to nail down the final mixes.  Leary’s impressive resume includes work with Sublime, Pepper, Slightly Stoopid, U2, Meat Puppets, and Daniel Johnston, to name a few.  Vines is Passafire’s most ambitious release to date, thanks in large part to the focus of the current line-up – singer/guitarist Ted Bowne, drummer Nick Kubley, bassist/vocalist Will Kubley and keyboardist Mike DeGuzman.  The results find its makers at a creative peak combined with a comfort level on stage and in the studio that Passafire has never achieved before.  Early critical praise of Vines is already coming in, with The Pier enthusiastically stating, “…the tracks have a maturity and depth to them, traits gained only by working out material together on the road.”

The band’s relentless touring schedule has gained a loyal national following with notable performances at festivals including the Vans Warped Tour, Wakarusa, and the California Roots Festival.  2013 has only accelerated the bands’ momentum on the road.  On October 4^th, Passafire will kick off an extensive tour co-headlining with friends and scene-mates Ballyhoo! The string of 29-dates is aptly titled the “BrewHaHa” Tour.  Details can be found here: http://bit.ly/1awfy2z

Starting today (September 30), Vines is available for digital pre-order on iTunes: http://smarturl.it/9nm635.  The iTunes pre-order includes an instant grat track of “Earthquake,” the album’s first track. The physical CD pre-order is available through Easy Star’s web store (http://smarturl.it/v82oum) where fans can also add in newly designed T-shirts for men or women.  The first 100 CDs pre-ordered will be signed by the band.  First week (9/30-10/7) pre-orders will also receive a 25% discount off their order.  In addition, anyone who pre-orders the physical will get a full download of the album on release day.

Fall BrewHaHa Tour Dates:

Oct 04 @ The Maquerade. Atlanta, GA

Oct 05 @ Downtown Melbourne Street Party. Melbourne, FL

Oct 06 @ Culture Room. Fort Lauderdale, FL

Oct 09 @ Visualite Theatre. Charlotte, NC

Oct 10 @ New Earth. Athens, GA

Oct 11 @ The Jinx. Savannah, GA

Oct 12 @ Oktoberfest. Myrtle Beach, SC

Oct 13 @ Ziggy’s Tavern. Winston Salem, NC

Oct 15 @ Southgate House Revival. Newport, KY

Oct 16 @ Birdy’s. Indianapolis, IN

Oct 17 @ The Majestic. Madison, WI w/ Tribal Seeds

Oct 18 @ Bottom Lounge. Chicago, IL w/ Tribal Seeds

Oct 19 @ Kobo. Columbus, OH

Oct 20 @ Magic Bag. Detroit, MI

Oct 22 @ Peabody’s. Cleveland, OH

Oct 23 @ Water Street. Rochester, NY

Oct 24 @ The Note. West Chester, PA

Oct 25 @ Baltimore Sound Stage. Baltimore, MD

Oct 26 @ California Roots: The Carolina Sessions.Wilmington, NC

Oct 27 @ Capitol Ale House. Richmond, VA

Oct 29 @ Stanhope House. Stanhope, NJ

Oct 30 @ Higher Ground. Burlington, VT

Oct 31 @ StageOne. Fairfield, CT

Nov 01 @ Revolution Bar & Music Hall. Amityville, NY

Nov 02 @ The State Theatre. Falls Church, VA

Nov 03 @ Martin’s. Roanoke, VA

Nov 06 @ Vinyl Music Hall. Pensacola, FL

THE GREEN @ Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom

Passafire’s Vines has debuted at #1 on the Billboard Reggae and iTunes Reggae charts. Vines, the band’s fifth studio album, "is Passafire's best,” according to Angelica Music.  The record was released November 11th and is the band’s debut release for leading reggae label Easy Star Records.  The album debuted impressively on other Billboard charts including #10 on the Heatseekers Chart, #57 on the Independent Releases, #1 on South Atlantic New Artist Chart, and #109 on the Top 200 Digital albums, amongst others.  The album mirrors the success of 2011’s album Start From Scratch, which also debuted at #1 on the Billboard Reggae Chart, but outselling that album’s first week.“As our label grows, we are always looking for new talent that compliments and enhances our roster.  Passafire is a natural fit to our family, but also brings a diverse and alternative sound that is truly unique to them.  With their new album Vines debuting at #1 on the Billboard Reggae chart, it further elevates their profile to the top of the exploding U.S. reggae scene,” says Easy Star CEO Eric Smith. Tour Dates – Opening for Slightly Stoopid:Dec 27 @ Wellmont Theater. Montclair, NJ Dec 28 @ The Paramount Theater. Huntington, NY Dec 29 @ House of Blues. Atlantic City, NJ Dec 31 @ The Fillmore. Silver Spring, MD

Considered one of the leaders in the U.S Reggae Movement, reggae artist Mighty Mystic’s fresh sound and musical diversity has proved to be a magnet for music lovers in search of that next level sound that has been missing in the reggae genre. It has attracted listeners of all ages, and from all walks of life. A charismatic man on a mission: Mighty Mystic has gone from being a fan of reggae music, to being a contributor to the art.Mighty Mystic has turned himself into one of the more sought after U.S based Reggae artist on today’s scene. His brand of “HARD ROOTS” has proven to be a magnet to young music lovers all over and continues to grow. He has managed to hold firm to his Jamaican roots while adding elements of Hip Hop & Rock giving Mystic a more unique sound. Mystic has toured and shared the stage with some of Reggae’s biggest names such as Steel Pulse, Damian Marley, Toots and the Maytals, Lee Scratch Perry, Barrington Levy, Buju Banton, The Wailers, Shaggy, Collie Buddz, Sean Paul, Badfish, Dirty Heads, SOJA, John Brownʼs Body, Luciano, and Capleton to name a few. His message of peace, love, struggle and perseverance isn’t something new under the sun. However, it is the passion and flare delivered by Mystic that has the people saying yes!Mighty Mystic has been described by many as an artist who could potentially take Reggae music back to its rightful place. However that is something that only time can tell. On January 28th 2014 Mighty Mystic will release his sophomore album Concrete World via VP Records Music Group. Though early, the album has the makings and momentum to be a classic for the genre.UPCOMING TOUR DATES:Jan 30 @ Nectar’s – Burlington, VTFeb 01 @ Stone Church – Newmarket, NHApr 05 @ Macedonia Community Center – Mount Vernon, NY

Fort Collins/Denver-based band Eufórquestra (pronounced: yoo • FOHR • keh • struh) returns with their fourth full-length studio album, Fire, set for worldwide release on March 25, 2014.  Fire was produced by Kyle Hollingsworth (The String Cheese Incident) and mastered by Dominick Maita, whose credits include Billy Joel and Herbie Hancock.  The album spans 14 funk-infused tracks featuring guest spots by roots vocalist Elliot Martin (John Brown’s Body), soul singer Kim Dawson, trumpeter Gabriel Mervine (The Motet), and keyboardist Kyle Hollingsworth rounding out the stellar cast.  Eufórquestra’s foundation may be smothered in funk, but their style also blends healthy doses of Afrobeat, Reggae, and Dub.Eufórquestra spent the time between their last album Soup heavily touring over 100 days per year and coming up with new songs.  They finally laid down the new tracks at Scanhope Sound studios in late 2013.  As opposed to their previous releases, this is the band’s first album using a producer.  Mike Tallman, guitarist and vocalist of the group says, “We’ve always been self-produced, so it was great to have a dedicated producer on board to help guide us.  Working with Kyle was an honor. He really jumped in and made this his project as well.  Kyle helped with pretty much every aspect shaping the songs for this record. He edited lyrics and song forms; he helped with bass lines, guitar parts, saxophone melodies, etc.  He really did a little bit of everything. He coached us through vocal performances and cutting solos. He also encouraged us to experiment, improvise and try new things.”This new focus and experimentation in the studio has led to impressive tracks like “Fire,” a gritty, hard-driving funk anthem with a big gang vocal-hook and huge horn sound.  It’s a heavy, nasty groove that rightfully earned its place as the title track for the record.  “The Price Is Right” is a high-energy funky dance floor tune inspired by sweaty club nights, which sets the tone for the record.  “Road Funk” is an ode to being on the road and the funk involved with being a touring musician.  “Take Me Dancing” is an upbeat dance tune featuring Kim Dawson on vocals. It’s a soul tune with massive energy, telling the story of a couple that need a night out dancing in order to shake off the troubles and stress of day-to-day life. The added bonus is that it also features a killer synth solo by Kyle Hollingsworth.  These are just four of the tracks featured out of the diverse collection of 14 tunes on Fire.Before the band relocated to Colorado, they were rooted in Iowa City, IA.  They still have strong ties there and have created an amazing festival, aptly titled Camp Euforia, which the band hosts every July in eastern Iowa (Lone Tree, IA).  Camp Euforia will be celebrating its 11-Year Anniversary in 2014.  What started out as a casual “fan appreciation party” has become a well-respected music event that has hosted Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk, Greensky Bluegrass, The Pimps of Joytime, EOTO, Juno What?!, Hot Buttered Rum, Cornmeal and many other local, regional and national artists.Tallman enthusiastically concludes, “We want to spread this album as far as we possibly can and then go to all those places so we can perform for the people there. This record feels like a milestone moment for the band and we want take advantage of the positivity and momentum behind it.”  With a Spring tour starting in April and their strongest release to date, it seems like only a matter of time until the world experiences Eufórquestra’s Fire.

When Easy Star Records released Dub Side Of The Moon a decade ago, they never expected the impact that the complete reggae version of Pink Floyd’s Dark Side Of The Moon would have on the world.  The album received a groundswell of international press, including praise from Rolling Stone, NPR, Entertainment Weekly, Vibe, and countless other media outlets, while managing to sit on the Billboard Reggae Charts for more than 7 years.  On July 22, 2014, the leading independent  reggae label will release a special anniversary edition of this classic album with new artwork, an in-depth liner note booklet and two bonus tracks, including a new version of the song “Breathe” featuring additional vocals by Eric Rachmany of Rebelution, Metric Man, and Ruff Scott of the Easy Star All-Stars.
 
The huge success of Dub Side of the Moon (2003) spawned a popular series of reggae tribute albums by the band including Radiodread (2006), Easy Star’s Lonely Hearts Dub Band (2009), and Easy Star’s Thrillah (2012).  The Easy Star All-Stars have also released an original EP (Until That Day, 2008), an original album (First Light, 2011), and a remix of Dub Side called Dubber Side Of The Moon (2010). They have toured worldwide over the past decade, playing in over 30 countries on 6 continents.

This spring the band hits the road for the Dub Side Of The Moon Anniversary Tour performing the album live in its entirety alongside classic material from the band’s career including original songs and tracks from the other tribute albums.  Select shows will also include new animated visuals that were debuted at live shows in November 2013.

The tour features a number of great pairings as well, including five co-headlining shows with John Brown’s Body (including the third teaming up for 4/20 weekend at Brooklyn Bowl), two shows with Ted Sirota’s Heavyweight Dub, and four shows with Rochester’s celebrated Thunder Body. Longtime collaborator Cas Haley (who sang on both Thrillah and First Light) brings his band Big Hope along to open all of the dates on the Southeastern section of the run.  The band also makes its first appearance during JazzFest in New Orleans with a show at Howlin’ Wolf along with Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk.
 
Dub Side Of The Moon Anniversary Tour

*with Thunder Body  #with Ted Sirota’s Heavyweight Dub 
^with John Brown’s Body
+ with Cas Haley & Big Hope

The 5^th annual California Roots Music and Arts Festival will take place at the historic Monterey County Fairgrounds from May 23-25, 2014.  This year’s impressive lineup combines the best talent from the progressive US Reggae scene with SOJA, Rebelution, 311, and Pepper with Jamaican favorites including Steel Pulse, Ziggy Marley, Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley, and many more.

This annual festival has come a long way in just four short years.  Festival Director Dan Sheehan enthusiastically states, “We have worked so hard over the last few years to really put this festival on the map not only in California but nationwide.  The event started off as a one day event back in 2010 with about 1200 people in attendance to a festival that is now 3 days with over 10K people coming through the gates each day.  We work year round on this event and our North Carolina event and we wouldn’t have it any other way!”  The art side of the festival is equally important.  Dan adds, “Live painters on stage has become part of the California Roots Festival since year one and it just keeps getting stronger.  We look at it as part of the overall experience of the event and the fans and bands really get into it.”

For more than a decade, U.S. Reggae artists have been organically building a solid foundation from the Hawaiian Islands to the west and east coasts.  This new generation of Reggae artists like Rebelution, SOJA, and The Green continue to reach new heights of success through prolific music releases, relentless touring, and collaboration.  The budding American scene will make you sit up and take note with impressive album sales (charting in the Billboard 200), sold out shows in top tier venues (The Catalyst, The Warfield, Fox Theater, The Greek in Berkley, Fillmore, Club Nokia) and savvy social media skills (SOJA has over 3 million followers).  The California Roots Music and Arts Festival was the first major event to take these likeminded artists and showcase them in a festival setting.

California Roots Festival uses social media year-round, engaging fans, bands, artists, and brands.  They showcase a variety of content, mixed media, and contests through networks like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.  Curtis Bergesen of Rootfire, co-manages Hawaii-based band The Green and leverages social media in strategic ways.  He says, "Digitally connecting with people through a shared passion for music is an incredible thing. Social media has allowed The Green to grow their fan base across continents, in real time.  Whether it's sharing a new photo, or replying to a fan's question, being active online has been vital to the band's success.  The Green recently won a Hawaii Five-0 fan built episode contest, beating out much larger artists The Black Keys and Switchfoot.  They achieved this by engaging their audience through social media, and motivating passionate fans to vote for them."

Jamaican Reggae artists have also recognized the potential in the flourishing US scene and have embraced collaboration with stateside artists and co-billing on tours and festivals like Cali Roots.  Well-respected reggae label VP Records, who has been at the forefront of Jamaican reggae and Caribbean releases, have recently been releasing compilations highlighting more stateside artists like their Dub Rockers, Vol 1.   “VP Records is excited to be a part of the California Roots Festival and help to create a unified global Reggae scene through the Dub Rockers label,” says Zack Reed.

The festival sold out last year so the organizers had to expand into a bigger area of the Monterey County Fairgrounds, home to the famous 1967 Monterey International Pop Festival, where Jimi Hendrix lit his guitar on fire and Janis Joplin rose to prominence.  The 5^th annual California Roots Music and Arts Festival looks to be on its way to selling out again, due to its strong brand and reputation as a top tier national festival.

FRIDAY, MAY 23

• SOJA
• STEEL PULSE
• J BOOG
• KATCHAFIRE
• STICK FIGURE
• PASSAFIRE
• B SIDE PLAYERS
• CISCO ADLER
• KIMIE
• MAOLI
• THE EXPANDERS
• SIMPKIN PROJECT
• BUMPIN' UGLIES
• THE STEPPAS
• THE STIRCRAZIES
• REEFORM

SATURDAY, MAY 24

• REBELUTION
• ZIGGY MARLEY
• IRATION
• ZION I
• ALBOROSIE
• NAHKO AND MEDICINE FOR THE PEOPLE
• AER
• LOS RAKAS
• CAS HALEY
• KATASTRO
• SARITAH
• TRUE PRESS
• OJO DE BUEY
• TATANKA
• PAPAFISH
• DEWEY AND THE PEOPLES

SUNDAY, MAY 25

• DAMIAN "JR GONG" MARLEY
• 311
• PEPPER
• THE GREEN
• SKUNK 25TH ANNIVERSARY LIVE ON STAGE
• GROUNDATION
• THE MOVEMENT
• NEW KINGSTON
• HIRIE
• MICAH BROWN
• KROOKED TREEZ
• BEYOND I SIGHT FEATURING GONZO
• CLEAR CONSCIENCE
• BLACK SALT TONE
• IRIEFUSE
• WHITE GLOVE SERVICE

The 5^th annual California Roots Music and Arts Festival will take place at the historic Monterey County Fairgrounds from May 23-25, 2014.  This year’s impressive lineup combines the best talent from the progressive US Reggae scene with SOJA, Rebelution, 311, and Pepper with Jamaican favorites including Steel Pulse, Ziggy Marley, Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley, and many more. 
 
This annual festival has come a long way in just four short years.  Festival Director Dan Sheehan enthusiastically states, “We have worked so hard over the last few years to really put this festival on the map not only in California but nationwide.  The event started off as a one day event back in 2010 with about 1200 people in attendance to a festival that is now 3 days with over 10K people coming through the gates each day.  We work year round on this event and our North Carolina event and we wouldn’t have it any other way!”  The art side of the festival is equally important.  Dan adds, “Live painters on stage has become part of the California Roots Festival since year one and it just keeps getting stronger.  We look at it as part of the overall experience of the event and the fans and bands really get into it.”  
 
For more than a decade, U.S. Reggae artists have been organically building a solid foundation from the Hawaiian Islands to the west and east coasts.  This new generation of Reggae artists like Rebelution, SOJA, and The Green continue to reach new heights of success through prolific music releases, relentless touring, and collaboration.  The budding American scene will make you sit up and take note with impressive album sales (charting in the Billboard 200), sold out shows in top tier venues (The Catalyst, The Warfield, Fox Theater, The Greek in Berkley, Fillmore, Club Nokia) and savvy social media skills (SOJA has over 3 million followers).  The California Roots Music and Arts Festival was the first major event to take these likeminded artists and showcase them in a festival setting.

California Roots Festival uses social media year-round, engaging fans, bands, artists, and brands.  They showcase a variety of content, mixed media, and contests through networks like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.  Curtis Bergesen of Rootfire, co-manages Hawaii-based band The Green and leverages social media in strategic ways.  He says, "Digitally connecting with people through a shared passion for music is an incredible thing. Social media has allowed The Green to grow their fan base across continents, in real time.  Whether it's sharing a new photo, or replying to a fan's question, being active online has been vital to the band's success.  The Green recently won a Hawaii Five-0 fan built episode contest, beating out much larger artists The Black Keys and Switchfoot.  They achieved this by engaging their audience through social media, and motivating passionate fans to vote for them."

Jamaican Reggae artists have also recognized the potential in the flourishing US scene and have embraced collaboration with stateside artists and co-billing on tours and festivals like Cali Roots.  Well-respected reggae label VP Records, who has been at the forefront of Jamaican reggae and Caribbean releases, have recently been releasing compilations highlighting more stateside artists like their Dub Rockers, Vol 1.   “VP Records is excited to be a part of the California Roots Festival and help to create a unified global Reggae scene through the Dub Rockers label,” says Zack Reed.

The festival sold out last year so the organizers had to expand into a bigger area of the Monterey County Fairgrounds, home to the famous 1967 Monterey International Pop Festival, where Jimi Hendrix lit his guitar on fire and Janis Joplin rose to prominence.  The 5^th annual California Roots Music and Arts Festival looks to be on its way to selling out again, due to its strong brand and reputation as a top tier national festival.

The formation and success of The Touré-Raichel Collective, the band led by Israeli keyboardist and songwriter Idan Raichel and Malian guitarist Vieux Farka Touré—icons in their own countries and abroad—is a reminder of the unique power of music to bridge geographic, ethnic, political and religious differences. As a follow up to their acclaimed 2012 debut, The Tel Aviv Session, the group will release a new album, The Paris Session, September 30 on the Cumbancha label. The Touré-Raichel Collective will tour the U.S. this fall; please see below for an itinerary.
 
Although a collaboration between an Israeli Jew and a Malian Muslim has unavoidable political implications, what inspired Touré and Raichel to work together was not the potential to make a statement; they simply connected as artists and friends seeking to find musical common ground.
 
They met for the first time by chance, in 2008 at the Berlin airport, where they expressed mutual admiration and a desire to get together and play. Touré’s father, the late great Ali Farka Touré, was one of Raichel's musical heroes and inspirations. Raichel invited Touré to Israel, where they assembled a few musicians and convened an unscripted, improvised jam session. The chemistry between Touré and Raichel was instant and profound. They assumed the name The Touré-Raichel Collective and used the material from that first gathering as the basis for an album, The Tel Aviv Session, which found poignant, musically beautiful common ground between the artists’ cultures.
 
Due to popular demand, The Touré-Raichel Collective has undertaken multiple international tours and performed on some of the world's most prestigious stages. In June of this year, Touré returned to Israel to join Raichel's band The Idan Raichel Project in a performance at Masada, an archeological site of immense significance in Jewish history.  
 
Since they recorded their first album in Tel Aviv, the plan was to make the follow-up in Bamako. But the latter was deemed too risky at the time, so the artists traveled to France to record. For three days Raichel, who produced, and Touré sequestered themselves at Studio Malambo in the outskirts of Paris where they were joined by a number of special guests. While The Paris Session is the result of the same freeform approach that was used in the first album, this time around they decided to feature more songs with vocals, a wider range of instrumentation, and appearances by musician friends such as Senegalese artist Daby Touré on bass, Israeli trumpeter Niv Toar, Malian singer Seckouba Diabate and others. Touré and Raichel have honed their interplay over the course of multiple tours together, but the album possesses the same spontaneous, heartfelt magic as its predecessor.
 
One highlight of the recording is a rendition of the song “Diaraby,” written by Ali Farka Touré and featured on his landmark collaboration with Ry Cooder, Talking Timbuktu. Raichel says that there was a period of six or seven years during which he had listened to the song nearly every day. Upon sharing a stage with Vieux for the first time, Raichel suggested they play the elder Touré’s song together, and doing so brought tears to Raichel’s eyes. He describes feeling “a big, big circle from Ali Farka Touré in Niafunke to me in Tel Aviv, then going back to Ali’s son.”
 
More broadly Raichel says of his collaboration with Touré, “I’m a musician from Israel, and I will always make Israeli music. And Vieux Farka Touré for me represents the spirit of Mali. I think world music artists by definition are people who reflect the soundtrack of the place they come from. I think that this collaboration between Mali and Israel—and remember we don’t even have diplomatic relations between the two countries—creates a new imaginary island located somewhere between Bamako and Tel Aviv.”
 
Touré says, “Idan comes from Israel, he’s Jewish. I come from Mali, I'm a Muslim. This project shows the point where there are no real differences between us. Working on these recordings we learn a lot about each other.”

The Touré-Raichel Collective U.S. Tour Dates
Check www.cumbancha.com/events for updates
NOV 07 @ The Valley Performing Arts Center – Northridge, CA [LINK]
NOV 08 @ Nourse Theater – San Francisco, CA [LINK]
NOV 09 @ The Center for the Arts – Grass Valley, CA [LINK]
NOV 10 @ Boulder Theater – Boulder, CO [LINK]
NOV 11 @ Musical Instruments Museum – Phoenix, AZ [LINK]
NOV 14 @ Peery’s Egyptian Theater – Ogden, UT [LINK]
NOV 15 @ Meany Hall – Seattle, WA [LINK]
NOV 18 @ Symphony Space – New York, NY [LINK]
NOV 19 @ Weinberg Center for the Arts – Frederick, MD [LINK]
NOV 20 @ Quick Center for the Arts – Fairfield, CT [LINK]
NOV 21 @ Koerner Hall – Toronto, ON [LINK]
NOV 22 @ Swyer Theatre at The Egg – Albany, NY [LINK]
NOV 23 @ Zoellner Arts Center – Bethlehem, Pennsylvania [LINK]

2014 marks the 30-year anniversary of Prince’s Purple Rain, one of the most influential albums of all time.  To celebrate this milestone, Radio Riddler has announced their debut album, Purple Reggae, out October 28, 2014 on MITA Records.  The tribute album takes Radio Riddler’s unique style and pairs it with legendary vocalists including Sinead O’ Connor, UB40’s Ali Campbell, Citizen Cope, Beverly Knight, and more. 
 
What started out as a labour of love experiment between Fun Lovin’ Criminals’ Frank Benbini and Fast Leiser (known together as production outfit Radio Riddler) has turned into a fully conceived reggae tribute album.  The pair has been working together for the past five years doing remixes for acts including Coldplay and Lily Allen, when they conceived the idea of a possible reggae tribute album to their musical hero Prince.  Initially they thought it wouldn’t work, but as tracks progressed the project grew organically and took a life of its own.  Word got out and notable musicians were eager to join the project and pay tribute to the Purple One.  Frank Benbini of  Radio Riddler/Fun Lovin’ Criminals enthusiastically states, “Prince is the reason I started playing music.  I grew up on this album.  It’s the soundtrack to my life and this is a tribute to him from me.”
 
The featured artists on this project include UB40’s Ali Campbell with his vocals on “Purple Rain,” that has caused a buzz during his live shows.  Rock and blues singer Deborah Bonham, US artist Citizen Cope, and soul singers Beverly Knight round up the talent for the album.  But the most surprising is Sinead O’Connor’s take on “I Would Die 4 U.”  Radio Riddler approached her personally, since she had international success with her take on Prince’s “Nothing Compares 2 U,” and she enthusiastically was on board.  Their diverse vocal styles over an infectious reggae foundation have resulted in a fresh, perfectly crafted tribute that will inspire as much affection as Purple Rain did 30 years ago.

New Kingston’s Kingston City has impressively debuted at #1 on the Billboard Reggae chart.  Kingston City (released January 27, 2015 on Easy Star Records) is the band’s third studio album and their first release to claim the #1 spot on the Billboard Reggae chart.  The album is also their first release on the leading US reggae label Easy Star Records. The family group, which features three brothers (Stephen, Courtney Jr., and Tahir) and their father, create what Top Shelf Reggae calls, “…a genuine body of work that displays an incredible vocal range, candid lyrics and impressive instrumentals. It gives the listener the sort of meaningful connection and escape that every piece of music should provide.”
 
“With its #1 debut on the reggae chart, Kingston City solidifies New Kingston’s place with the reggae elite.  Their hard work, prolific touring, and positive community continue to give the band momentum in 2015,” says Easy Star CEO Eric Smith.  He adds, “Furthermore it’s thrilling to see a fast rising New York band who embodies the perfect balance of old and new reggae sensibilities.”
 
The new record includes 12 songs and guest appearances by members of Tribal Seeds, Hawaiian singer-songwriter Kimie Miner, Sister Carol, The Wailing Souls, and the late, great reggae legend Sugar Minott.  The band is currently on tour (which includes select dates with Common Kings and Through the Roots) showcasing songs from the new album and back catalog.

Tour Dates
Feb 06, 2015 – Portland, ME – Port City Music Hall
Feb 07, 2015 – Boston, MA – Paradise Rock Club 
Feb 08, 2015 – Brooklyn, NY – Knitting Factory 
Feb 19, 2015 – Orlando, FL – The Social *
Feb 20, 2015 – Jacksonville, FL – Jack Rabbits *
Feb 21, 2015 – Cocoa Beach, FL – Dog N Bone [FREE] *
Feb 24, 2015 – Kingston, Jamaica – Ranny Williams Ent. Complex [FREE]
Feb 28, 2015 – St. Mary, Jamaica, WI – Oneness Reggae Festival
Mar 06, 2015 – Morgantown, WV – Schmitt’s Saloon ~
Mar 07, 2015 – Chicago, IL – Chop Shop ~
Mar 08, 2015 – Kansas City, MO – Riot Room ~
Mar 10, 2015 – Denver, CO –Bluebird Theater ~
Mar 12, 2015 – Boise, ID – The Reef ~
Mar 13, 2015 – Tacoma, WA – Jazzbones ~
Mar 14, 2015 – Portland, OR – Wonder Ballroom ~
Mar 15, 2015 – Sacramento, CA – Ace of Spades ~
Mar 17, 2015 – Petaluma, CA - Zodiacs
Mar 19, 2015 – Albuquerque, NM – Launchpad
Mar 20, 2015 – Tucson, AZ – The Rock
Mar 21, 2015 – Santa Barbara, CA – Velvet Jones
Mar 22, 2015 – Fresno, CA – Strummers
Mar 25, 2015 – Hermosa Beach, CA – Patrick Molloy’s [FREE]
Mar 26, 2015 – Bakersfield, CA - Elements Venue
Mar 27, 2015 – Santa Cruz, CA – Moe’s Alley
Mar 29, 2015 – Bend, OR – Volcanic Theatre Pub
Apr 01, 2015 – Spokane, WA – The Pin
Apr 03, 2015 – Billings, MT – Pub Station [FREE]
Apr 04, 2015 – Bozeman, MT – Filling Station
Apr 05, 2015 – Greeley, CO – Moxi Theater
Apr 08, 2015 – Springfield, MO – Outland Ballroom
Apr 09, 2015 – St. Louis, MO – Broadway Oyster Bar
Apr 11, 2015 – Columbus, OH – Scarlet and Greg
Apr 15, 2015 – Asbury Park, NJ – The Saint
Apr 16, 2015 – Virginia Beach, VA – Shaka's
Apr 17, 2015 – Wilmington, NC – The Palm Room
Apr 19, 2015 – Austin, TX – Austin Reggae Fest
May 09, 2015 – Orlando, FL – Reggae On The Block
* with Through the Roots
~ with Common Kings

Brooklyn’s Pimps of Joytime announce their highly anticipated third studio album, Jukestone Paradise, forthcoming on April 7, 2015 on their Write Home Records imprint.  The quintet showcases their kaleidoscope of influences by weaving ten new songs through their musical tapestry.  Special guests on the album include New Orleans funk leader Ivan Neville and Rubblebucket’s Alex Toth.
 
The album is a culmination of recording and touring for the past two years tallying over 100 shows per year including slots at major festivals like Bonnaroo, Outside Lands, and High Sierra.  Lead guitarist and singer Brian J enthusiastically states, “Jukestone Paradise is the most focused and evolved piece of work we’ve done to date, both musically and sonically.”  The album was recorded at Vibromonk Studios and Brian J’s studio in Brooklyn between their heavy touring schedules. 
 
“I closed my eyes and kept thinking of what a weird, spaced out futurist Juke Joint might be like and the music you would find there,” Brian J mentions about the title and direction of Jukestone Paradise.
 
Breaking down some of the focus tracks on the album cues you into their diverse musical world coined the “Pimps pot.”  “Red Golden” kicks off the set as a scorching blues number that evolves into a pop-psychedelic sound.  It’s one of the most uniquely produced songs on the album and a perfect way to showcase the bands evolution.  “Dance Cardia” which was recently premiered on tastemaker site Wax Poetics (http://smarturl.it/WP_DanceCardia) has Brian J’s falsetto vocals bumping over a polyrhythmic heavy funk groove.  The track features Rubblebucket’s Alex Toth bringing his quirky creativity throughout. 
 
“Sky” is a perfect song to lead the listener deep into album with its sing and clap along style chorus.  It's a spiritual uplifting tune about finding a source of inspiration at a dark time. Ivan Neville puts a nice touch on piano and B3, which has become a fan favorite during their exhilarating live performances.  “Cut Off” is a hard-hitting blues-rock tune that is expansive and irresistibly catchy with a signature Brian J guitar lead.  “Body Party” written by Brian J’s friend Anthony Cole (Nat King Cole Family) and was discovered in a bunch of demos that Anthony sent to him.  This is a room shaker, crowd pleaser, type of groove highlighted by powerful three part vocal harmonies.  This is just a selection of the overall vibe off the new album, which will be showcased at a city near you.
 
Pimps of Joytime are back on the road to promote Jukestone Paradise with extensive tour dates set for February, March, and April.  While continuing to win over new fans and critical acclaim at every market they play, the band will also return to their roots with a hometown CD release show at the Brooklyn Bowl on April 10^th.  In May, the quintet is scheduled to perform late night sets at JazzFest in New Orleans plus festival performances at High Sierra in California and others to be announced.
 
Tour Dates
3/11/15 ~ Phoenix, AZ  – Last Exit Live [Link]
3/12/15 ~ Durango, CO – Animas City Theatre [Link]
3/13/15 ~ Telluride, CO – Sheridan Opera House [Link]
3/14/15 ~ Boulder, CO – Fox Theatre [Link]
3/15/15 ~ Steamboat Springs, CO – Schmiggity’s [Link]
3/17/15 ~ Park City, UT – O.P. Rockwell [Link]
3/18/15 ~ Salt Lake City, UT – The State Room [Link]
3/19/15 ~ Jackson Hole, WY – Pink Garter Theater [Link]
3/20/15 ~ Bozeman, MT – Filling Station [Link]
3/21/15 ~ Missoula, MT – The Top Hat [Link]
3/24/15 ~ Ashland, OR – Ashland Armory [Link] 
3/25/15 ~ Chico, CA – Lost on Main [Link]
3/26/15 ~ Grass Valley, CA – The Center for the Arts [Link] 
3/27/15 ~ Oakland, CA – The New Parish [Link] 
3/28/15 ~ Petaluma, CA – McNear’s Mystic Theatre [Link] 
4/10/15 ~ Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Bowl [Link] 
4/11/15 ~ Ardmore, PA  – Ardmore Music Hall [Link]
4/12/15 ~ Washington, DC – The Hamilton [Link] 
4/15/15 ~ Raleigh, NC – Southland Ballroom [Link] 
4/16/15 ~ Charlotte, NC – Rabbit Hole
4/17/15 ~ Charleston, SC  – Music Farm [Link] 
4/18/15 ~ Atlanta, GA – Drunken Unicorn [Link]
4/19/15 ~ Black Mountain, NC  – Pisgah Brewing Company [Link] 
4/25/15 ~ New Orleans, LA – The Maison [Link] 
5/15/15 ~ Richmond, VA  – Canal Club
7/02/15 ~ Quincy, CA – High Sierra Music Festival

The 6^th annual California Roots Music and Arts Festival will take place at the historic Monterey County Fair & Event Center from May 22-24, 2015.  The top tier national festival has become the premier gathering for the progressive US Reggae and positive roots movement, bringing in over 40,000 fans to the bay area over the Memorial Day weekend. 
 
The 2014 edition was a landmark year for the California Roots brand by breaking record attendance and expanding the festival into the legendary “Bowl Stage” to accommodate the growth.  An economic impact report by research and consulting firm Beacon Economics calculated that the festival brings in an impressive $12.1 million to Monterey County’s economy.  National media outlets featured the event including The Wall Street Journal, Billboard, and Pollstar, while the San Francisco Chronicle and Large Up highlighted it in their summer festival picks.  View the festival recap here: http://youtu.be/wLkSMZHqyLo
 
Headlining 2015’s California Roots Music and Arts Festival will be SOJA, The Roots, Michael Franti and Spearhead, and Slightly Stoopid, amongst 34 others. The festival will also feature other notable artists from the reggae, hip-hop, and blues genres delivering a blend of good vibes and positive roots music. Among the lineup comprising 39 artists, the festival will include Jamaican reggae breakout Chronixx, Los Angeles hip hop group Dilated Peoples, reggae-rock band Dirty Heads, and multi-platinum hip hop group Cypress Hill.
 
The full lineup includes:
Friday, May 22^nd

• SOJA
• JOHN BUTLER TRIO
• STEEL PULSE
• NAHKO AND MEDICINE FOR THE PEOPLE
• TREVOR HALL
• DILATED PEOPLES
• GIANT PANDA GUERILLA DUB SQUAD
• BLUE KING BROWN
• THE SUPERVILLAINS
• DUSTIN THOMAS
• JON WAYNE AND THE PAIN
• LEILANI WOLFGRAMM
• SUN DRIED VIBES

Saturday, May 23^rd

• THE ROOTS
• MICHAEL FRANTI AND SPEARHEAD
• DIRTY HEADS
• COLLIE BUDDZ
• CHRONIXX
• JOHN BROWN'S BODY
• THE SKINTS
• MIKE LOVE
• ETHAN TUCKER BAND
• BEEBS AND HER MONEY MAKERS
• SOUL MAJESTIC
• ARISE ROOTS
• KBONG

Sunday, May 24^th

• SLIGHTLY STOOPID
• IRATION
• CYPRESS HILL
• TRIBAL SEEDS
• G-LOVE & SPECIAL SAUCE
• COMMON KINGS
• FISHBONE
• FORTUNATE YOUTH
• PACIFIC DUB
• CAS HALEY
• FEAR NUTTIN BAND
• E.N YOUNG
• ANIMO

 
“We are thrilled and humbled about the success of the California Roots brand, but we have just touched the surface on how we are going to grow and expand.  One of our goals is to continue to innovate and bring fresh takes on the music festival experience.  We take pride in presenting an eclectic mix of expected and unexpected artists to 2015’s festival,” says Festival CoProducer Dan Sheehan.  “The ability to bring back essential artists to our festival, but at the same time continue to add sensational and relevant artist to the ‘roots’ movement goes to show how far and wide our musical and artistic communities reach.  Being able to book top tier reggae, hip hop and blues artists all under the unifying term of ‘roots’ music proves that the California Roots movement has no boundaries.” 
 
For more than a decade, U.S. Reggae artists have been organically building a solid foundation from the Hawaiian Islands to the west and east coasts.  This new generation of Reggae artists continue to reach new heights of success through prolific music releases, relentless touring, and collaboration.  The budding American scene will make you sit up and take note with impressive album sales, sold out shows in top tier venues and savvy social media skills.  The California Roots Music and Arts Festival was the first major event to take these likeminded artists and showcase them in a festival setting.  The US scene is so impressive it has made Jamaican and Caribbean artists take note with more frequent collaborations in the studio and stages.  2014’s headliners included Steel Pulse, Damian Marley, and Ziggy Marley, proving that the ‘California Roots’ stretch far past the state’s border uniting kindred spirits worldwide.
 
FESTIVAL DETAILS
The 6^th Annual California Roots Music and Arts Festival
Dates: Friday, May 22, 2015 – Sunday May 24, 2015
Time: 10:00 am – 11 pm PDT
Venue: Monterey County Fair & Event Center
Address: 2004 Fairground Road, Monterey, CA 93940
Admission: Varies (Purchase Link: http://bit.ly/crf2015)  
Age restrictions: All Ages

As the cycles of life, weather patterns, and geopolitical shifts whirl about them, Dirtwire, the Bay-Area based electro acoustic duo of David Satori (Beats Antique) and Evan Fraser (Hamsa Lila, Stellamara), contain that energy in their latest release, RipTide, out May 12, 2015 on Beats Antique Records. With tracks highlighting the duo’s unique blend of dirt and wire, the album expertly combines acoustic, electric and electronic elements, which are carefully chosen and mixed together into their musical alchemy with pride. The album follows recent appearances at Coachella and Lucidity festivals, and is followed by a Summer tour along the West Coast, as well as an appearance at Sonic Bloom in Colorado.
 
Experimenting with modern recording techniques at Oakland, CA’s Beat’s Antique Studio, Dirtwire’s Fraser and Santori pushed to create a new sound showcasing an eclectic variety of instruments from around the world. RipTide sees them working with new equipment like Abelton’s Push controller and incorporating new South American rhythms to the project.  The album is also the first time that Fraser sings all of the vocal tracks on a full release, with no guest vocalists at all.
 
With busy touring and recording schedules on both ends, the two seem to find a way to collaborate in unique and effective methods.  “There is a multitude of ways in which we collaborate,” says Satori. “Sometimes we come up with a beat and put chords and melody over it. Other times we sample ourselves, cut it up, start stacking instruments on top. Sometimes we write songs together in the car with a guitar and sometimes it’s collaborating through Dropbox.”  Both talented multi-instrumentalists, Fraser and Santori weave together their own individual loops and sketches to create tracks that are further developed in the studio. 
 
The collaborative result is an album that transcends genres, keeping pace with today’s ever-changing society. Like a riptide that is nearly impossible to fight, the 21^st century has been a wild ride of constantly changing weather patterns, relationships and never ending status updates. The album is about navigating this current to keep up with a life in constant transition. 
 
Each track on the album tells a different story.  Three highlights include “Riptide,” “Big Change,” and “Rollin.”  The title track, “RipTide,” is a mashup of styles influenced by African blues and electro folk. Featuring the violin and vocals through a toy megaphone, “RipTide” takes you on a journey from a melancholy cry to a triumphant victory.  “Big Change” is a powerful song written by Fraser about our changing climate and the need for more balanced sustainable economic systems. With poignant lyrics and haunting instrumentation, “Big Change” is a stand out track sure to leave an impact on listeners.  “Rollin” is a track that evokes images of a traveler wandering down old, rusty train tracks in the back woods of Americans’ lost memories. This song has influences ranging from the deserts of Mali in North Africa to the back porches of the Deep Southern America.
 
Other notable tracks include “Tepotzteco,” a futuristic cumbia produced with an ngoni and electronics, “Did You,” a future RnB downtempo tune, and “Last Pulsar,” which is a haunting melodica gypsy dub track with thumb piano and moombathon grooves drawing influence from King Tubby and Augustus Pablo.
 
Thriving in a live audience setting, Dirtwire’s worldly influences do not stop in the studio.  Featuring Fraser and Santori on instruments from around the world, the duo’s live show incorporates more improvisation than their album, bringing a laid-back natural feel. With performances that seamlessly merge the grit of the music with the movement of the audience, Dirtwire asks only one thing of its fan base: “Get down in the dirt with us!”
RipTide- Tracklisting

1. RipTide
2. Rollin’
3. Tepotzteco
4. Did You
5. Polar Vortex
6. The Last Pulsar
7. Big Change
8. Starlight

Revolutionary music may seem hard to come by in these days and times. Long gone is the era of artists like Bob Marley, The Clash, Stevie Wonder and Patti Smith getting airplay and bringing their messages to the masses. But that doesn’t mean that the revolution isn’t still brewing in the hearts and minds of many people around the globe.
 
Meet Mike Love. One of reggae music’s rising stars. Born and raised in Oahu, Hawaii to a musical family that spans generations, Mike Love brings a multitude of influences to the table, all tied together by the common goal of making the world a better place. Which is no mean feat. Now Mike Love is bringing his unique vibe to fans across the Unites States with extensive dates throughout May and June.
 
On his debut album, “The Change I’m Seeking”, Love harkens the legends of roots reggae in both his lyrics and his sound, but never relies on any one genre to hold him down. Coming from a wealth of influences – he started out playing classical piano as a teenager and later would perform in high school bands that were more akin to the grunge sounds of Soundgarden and Pearl Jam – Mike Love fuses the simple rhythms of classic reggae with the complex changes of the classical and rock music he was first trained on to come up with a style wholly unique to him.  Mike is currently wrapping up his highly anticipated second album, titled “Love Will Find A Way”, due out September 2015.
 
But it’s his message, his passion, the wisdom behind his words that truly resonate with his fans. “It’s always been about the depth,” Mike Love explains, “I’ve never been into music that was shallow. I’m still learning. I’m still learning about where I’m going and where I want to be. All the music is a learning tool to me too. I just make myself open to it. All the messages that come through the music, it’s not just coming through me and my wisdom, because I don’t think I’m that wise of a person. I don’t think I’m some wise elder or anything like that. I just make myself open to the music and it just comes through. To me it’s just as much of a teaching for me as it is for anyone who is listening to it and is open to it.”
 
His songs take you on a journey, one of healing and inspiration. One designed to help you on your path to knowledge, wisdom and understanding. On “Permanent Holiday” he takes you on a lyrical quest for freedom, both his and yours. He laments the ills of the world but also discusses solutions and ideas to change them.
 
Mike Love has shared the stage with artists like Stephen Marley, Don Carlos, Trevor Hall, Nahko & Medicine For The People, John Butler Trio, Groundation, Steel Pulse, Dave Matthews and Jack Johnson.
 

Mike Love now embarks on his Spring 2015 tour with stops across the United States throughout May and June. Mike will share the stage intermittently with Xavier Rudd and Trevor Hall. Xavier Rudd and Trevor Hall both compliment and highlight Mike’s unique vibe, with Xavier bringing his multi-instrumental set to the stage and Trevor sharing in the same love for the reggae sound.
 
Revolutionary, Conscious, Music.
 
Tour Dates
5/4/15 ~ Port Chester, NY – Garcias [Link]
5/5/15 ~ Montreal, Canada – Corona Theater* [Link]
5/6/15 ~ Dayton, OH – THERAPY Cafe
5/7/15 ~ Cleveland, OH – Beachland Ballroom* [Link]
5/8/15 ~ Richmond, VA – The National* [Link]
5/9/15 ~ Charlotte, NC – The Rabbit Hole
5/10/15 ~ Black Mountain, NC – LEAF Festival [Link]
5/11/15 ~ Kills Devil Hills, NC – Outerbanks Brewing Station [Link]
5/12/15 ~ Wilmington, NC – Brooklyn Arts Center* [Link]
5/13/15 ~ Charleston, SC – Music Farm* [Link]
5/20/15 ~ Fullerton, CA – Slide Bar [Link]
5/21/15 ~ Solana Beach, CA- Belly Up Tavern w/ John Brown’s Body [Link]
5/22/15 ~ Los Angeles, CA – The Mint [Link]
5/23/15 ~ Monterey, CA – California Roots [Link]
5/24/15 ~ San Francisco, CA – Harlow’s [Link]
5/25/15 ~ Sebastopol, CA – The HOPMONK
5/26/15 ~ Seattle, WA – Nectar Lounge [Link]
5/29/15 ~ Honolulu, HI – Doris Duke Theater [Link]
6/2/15 ~ Bullhead City, AZ – Chautauqua Auditorium*
6/3/15 ~ Grand Junction, CO – SABROSA
6/4/15 ~ Bellvue, CO – Mishawaka Amphitheatre [Link]
6/5/15 ~ Aspen, CO – Belly Up* [Link]
6/6/14 ~ Denver, CO – Cervantes
6/16/15 ~ Wilmington, DE – World Café Live**
6/17/15 ~ Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg** [Link]
6/18/15 ~ Portland, ME – Port City Music Hall**
6/19/15 ~ Providence, RI – The Spot
6/20/15 ~ Clarks Grove, MN – Harmony Park [Link]
6/21/15 ~ Seaside Heights, NJ – Aztec Ocean Resort
6/22/15 ~ Virginia Beach, VA – Shaka’s Live [Link]
6/23/15 ~ Baltimore, MD – 8 x 10
6/25/15 ~ Alexandria, VA – Birchmere** [Link]
6/27/15 ~ Chicago, IL – Lincoln Hall**
6/28/15 ~ Minneapolis, MN – Cabooze [Link]
6/30/15 ~ Cleveland, OH – MUSIC BOX [Link]
 
*With Xavier Rudd
**With Trevor Hall

For more than a decade, U.S. reggae artists have been building a foundation from the Hawaiian islands to the east coast.  This new generation of reggae artists continues to reach new heights of success with album and ticket sales, as well as winning over fans worldwide.  While most modern American reggae bands are rooted in the rock reggae style, there are a few U.S. artists championing the lineage of classic roots reggae traditions, and Los Angeles-based vintage reggae revivalists The Expanders are leading that charge, building their sound around classic 70’s and early 80’s style reggae, with three-part vocal harmonies, conscious songwriting, and an indie-DIY spirit.

The five-piece band comprised of John Asher (Drums, Vocals), John Butcher (Guitar, Vocals),Roy Fishell (Organs), Chiquis Lozoya (Bass, Vocals), and Devin Morrison (Guitar, Vocals) have been making reggae fans and critics take note with their refreshing sound that references the “golden era” of reggae. Morrison and Butcher grew up listening to the record collection of famed reggae archivist Roger Steffens, and credit much of their love and knowledge to the accessibility and education of those experiences.  Becoming friends with Steffens’ son, they developed an obsession with exploring the deepest reaches of the genre.

The Expanders’ new album Hustling Culture will be released June 16, 2015, on indie tastemaker label Easy Star Records.  Hustling Culture is the band’s third studio album, but for the band members feels like their first proper album as a cohesive unit.  Asher explains, “Our first album was a collection of music from good friends making a record together.  Our second album was a great covers album, but Hustling Culture is the band coming into its own with our songwriting and musicianship.”  Morrison adds, “For this album we spent more time prepping and rehearsing, giving us more confidence in the recording studio.  The result made the process more fun and enjoyable as we approached the song-writing in a more organized way and explored a wider range of topics than on the first album.  Our combined efforts really shine through and all the musicians really stepped up and gave an inspired effort on the whole record.” In addition to the core members, their extended family includes keyboardist Roger Rivas of The Aggrolites and Rivas Recordings. Rivas has been an integral part of The Expanders’ recordings and helped maintain and produce the authentic sounds, which shine through on all the band’s releases.

Hustling Culture was recorded entirely on analogue tape at Killion Sound in North Hollywood, CA, from 2012-2014.  The studio is a favorite recording place for the band because it’s run by Sergio Rios (Orgone), a friend who understands their unique aesthetic and has the gear to capture it, giving the album a warm and colorful palette.

The album title, Hustling Culture, comes from the album’s opening line: “One dollar gone but the next soon come, we never stop from hustling culture.”  Morrison explains, “Everyone has a hustle, and ours is roots & culture music.  It’s a way of reminding ourselves that outside of just entertaining and financial gain, there is a bigger picture and larger purpose for writing about the topics and playing the style of roots reggae that we do.”  The Expanders’ music is a reminder that reggae music wasn’t born in a tropical beach paradise, but in the impoverished and underprivileged areas of Jamaica, resulting in a passionate expression for human rights, social justice and freedom from oppression.

There is a subtle, yet powerful conscious thread woven throughout Hustling Culture.  “Uptown Set,” for example, is about the hidden effects of our country’s party lifestyle, which brings suffering and misery to innocent poor people caught along the routes where party drugs come across the border. “Thanks For Life” is a dedication to women, the struggle they face every day, and the debt of life that we all owe to them.  “Top Shelf” is a tribute to the ganja farmers and the reflection of the changing cultural views on marijuana.

The band is part of a burgeoning Los Angeles reggae scene that sprang in large part from The Blue Beat Lounge (the longest running weekly ska night that happened at the Knitting Factory) and LA’s longtime premier weekly reggae night Dub Club held at the Echoplex.  A song that was inspired by a key member of that scene is “Reggae Pops,” an infectious instrumental tune laid over a “steppers riddim” featuring John Butcher on lead guitar and Dan Hastie from Orgone on clavinet.  The title was chosen as a tribute to the late-great Reggae Pops (born Nemencio Jose Andujar) who was a pillar of the Southern California reggae community for decades.  Morrison states, “It’s impossible to accurately describe what he meant to reggae music in Los Angeles, but those who remember him from shows will never forget him.  He was a dancer, a fan, and a presence that was always felt.  He was the man!”

The Expanders will be on tour leading up to the release and following throughout the summer.  Morrison concludes, “Our goal is to bring that vintage reggae feel and sound that we love to places where people might not get to hear it on a regular basis.”

The Expanders U.S Tour Dates

June 12 @ La Cita Bar – Los Angeles, CA [Hustling Culture Listening Party]

June 17 @ Winston’s Beach Club – San Diego, CA

June 19 @ Sierra Valley Lodge – Calpine, CA

June 20 @ HiFi Music Hall w/ Melvin Seals & JGB – Eugene, OR

June 21 @ Nectar Lounge – Seattle, WA

June 24 @ Brick & Mortar – San Francisco, CA

June 26 @ Saint Rocke – Hermosa Beach, CA

June 28 @ Arcata Theatre – Arcata, CA+

June 30 @ Knitting Factory – Boise, ID+

July 01 @ Knitting Factory – Spokane, WA+

July 02 @ Wonder Ballroom – Portland, OR+

July 11 @ Chalice Festival – San Bernardino, CA

July 25 @ Reggae on the Mountain – Topanga, CA

Aug 21 @ Hard Rock Hotel – Las Vegas, NV

Aug 24 @ Club XS – Tucson, AZ

Aug 26 @ Scoot Inn – Austin, TX

Aug 28 @ Mavericks (The Landing) – Jacksonville Beach, FL

Aug 29 @ J Street Block Party – Lake Worth, FL

Aug 30 @ Jannus Live – St. Petersburg, FL

Sep  02 @ Masquerade Heaven – Atlanta, GA

Sep 03 @ Boathouse – Myrtle Beach, SC

Sep 04 @ The Neighborhood Theatre – Charlotte, NC

Sep 05 @ NorVa Theatre – Norfolk, VA

Sep 06 @ Brooklyn Bowl – Brooklyn, NY

Sep 09 @ 20th Century Theatre – Cincinnati, OH

Sep 10 @ House of Blues – Chicago, IL

Sep 12 @ Wooly’s – Des Moines, IA

Sep 13 @ Granada Theater – Lawrence, KS

Sep 15 @ Aggie Theatre – Fort Collins, CO

Sep 16 @ Belly Up – Aspen, CO

Sep 18 @ The Marquee – Tempe, AZ

* With Collie Buddz

+With The Green

^With Tribal Seeds

Since 2009, Dubbest has been forging its own path through the heavily forested reggae landscape, expertly infusing roots traditionalism with a refreshing improvisational savvy that calls to mind not only the studio experimentation of pioneering dub producers Osbourne “King Tubby” Ruddock and Lee “Scratch” Perry but also the real-time exploration of jam bands like the Grateful Dead and Phish. As friends in high school, guitarist Andrew MacKenzie, singer/melodica player Ryan Thaxter , bassist Sean Craffey, guitarist Cory Mahoney, and drummer Kyle Hancock shared a love of pop-punk and ska, bonding over bands like Black Flag, until they caught wind of Augustus Pablo’s 1974 dub classic Ital Dub. This was the gamechanger that set the stage for their current musical approach: using introspective, spacious bass and drum grooves to anchor a thickly-textured interplay of instruments, vocals, and timbres. With their third album, Light Flashes, Dubbest is poised for national recognition.

Polished to perfection over a three-year period, Light Flashes invokes the spark of inspiration the band felt working with veteran producer Craig “Dubfader” Welsch of 10 Ft. Ganja Plant over at Rear Window Studios in Brookline, MA.  As Andrew MacKenzie notes, “It is a powerful name to us, and it tends to catch one’s attention, like an actual flashing light. It’s a great fit for this album. The name and the artwork together help bring out the album’s edge.” They credit Welsch with taking their music to a higher level of musicianship and authenticity, noting how he draws out the best from each band member and employs a large stock of vintage instruments, such as a Hammond B3 organ and 1950s Fender Stratocasters, to convincingly evoke the 1970s glory days of roots reggae and dub. Kevin Metcalfe’s mastering work cemented this old-school sound: he has provided the finishing touch on albums by U.K.’s pop, rock, and reggae luminaries since the 1960s. On the musician front, the band was aided by stalwarts of the Boston  scene, including Elliot Martin of John Brown’s Body on backing vocals and 10 Ft. Ganja Plant’s Mark Berney, Jared Sims, and Brian Thomas on horns and Steve D on synthesizer.

The album maintains a fresh and fascinating feel with its contrasting blend of catchy uptempo crowdpleasers and dub instrumentals that manage to stay sunny. Thanks to the professionalism of its recording and arrangements, it stands out as a worthy successor to the greats of yesteryear who guide the band’s aesthetic: Toots and The Maytals, Augustus Pablo, and Gregory Isaacs, to name a few. Crowd favorite “One Thing” closes their shows, but starts the album on the right foot, establishing its dub vibration. The next two tracks, “Spend The Day” and “Weeping Heart,” create a radio-friendly one-two punch through energetic grooves, soulful melodies, and lyrics meant for singing into a lady love’s ear. Another love song, “End Of The Road,” is probably the album’s oldest track and one of many to feature a three-part horn section imported from ska, here as an expression of heightened emotion. On the track, “Give In,” the horns join the bass line to deliver raw power meant to be cranked at high volume.  Keyboards take center stage on the space jam “Leaving,” the instrumental “Escape Route,” and the live-show staple “Cross Pollination.” Light Flashes closes with “Leave In Dub,” a track that proves why Welsch’s nickname is “Dubfader”; it also provides the perfect coda to the final song, “By Design,” driven by Elliott Martin’s stellar harmony vocals.

Dubbest has just launched an album release tour that will introduce them to the West Coast territory that put North American reggae on the map, home to heavy-hitters like Groundation, Slightly Stoopid, and Rebelution. Live shows give the band a chance to stretch their legs and revel in spontaneity. They like to expand the dub sections of songs to showcase each performer and surprise the crowd with obscure roots reggae tracks. As MacKenzie puts it, “It’s always an exciting show because you never know what we’ll play.” The combination of this in-the-moment energy with Light Flashes’s studio wizardry and songwriting prowess causes a combustion that propels the band’s musical journey toward timelessness.

New Kingston, the NYC-based, chart-topping reggae band, will embark on an extensive fall tour in support of their new single and music video “Protect Me,” off their #1 Billboard album Kingston City (released earlier this year on Easy Star Records).  “Protect Me,” which features guest vocals from the legendary reggae group The Wailing Souls, is available to stream here: (https://soundcloud.com/easy-star-records/08-protect-me-feat-the-wailing/s-xb6Hj).  The debut of the accompanying music video will be unleashed in September shortly before the band launches a 30+ city national tour.  Fans can keep up with all the tour happenings via social media with the hashtags #TPMT and #NEWKINGSTON.  Tickets go on sale for most shows at 10am EST on Friday, August 7, 2015 at http://newkingstonmusic.com
 
New Kingston is a true family affair, featuring three brothers (Stephen, Courtney Jr., and Tahir), who all sing and play instruments, joined by their father, Courtney Sr., who plays bass. With their Jamaican roots, reggae is in the band’s blood, but having grown up in the musical melting pot of New York City, the three brothers bring in plenty of other influences as well.  The latest record includes 12 songs and guest appearances by members of Tribal Seeds, Hawaiian singer-songwriter Kimie Miner, Sister Carol, The Wailing Souls, and the late, great reggae legend Sugar Minott. 
 

The song “Protect Me” revolves around the positive message of staying true to your core values especially in the face of the many distractions the universe throws your way.  Stephen elaborates, “The song is about protecting yourself from the different entities that take you away from your path and staying strong.  It’s asking for protection from a higher force.  Tahir’s verse states ‘They try and clip our branches, but can’t kill our roots,’ and this is exactly the statement we want our single and tour to promote.”  Don’t miss the opportunity to catch what FDRMX calls, “a refreshing brand of reggae that is as authentically Jamaican as it is refreshingly unique among other U.S. reggae outfits.”

--- TOUR DATES ---
SEP 24 Providence, RI - Fete
SEP 25 Virginia Beach, VA - Shaka's Live
OCT 2 Vienna, VA - Jammin' Java
OCT 3 Myrtle Beach, SC - Carolina Roots Sessions
OCT 4 Atlanta, GA - Smith's Old Bar
OCT 7 Sanford, FL - West End Trading Co.
OCT 9 St. Petersburg, FL - Jannus Live
OCT 10 Boca Raton, FL - Funky Biscuit
OCT 11 Jupiter, FL - Guanabanas
OCT 12 New Orleans, LA - Blue Nile
OCT 13 San Antonio, TX - Jack's Patio Bar
OCT 15 Houston, TX - Scout Bar
OCT 16 Albuquerque, NM - Launchpad
OCT 17 Mesa, AZ - Club Red
OCT 18 Las Vegas, NV - Hard Rock
OCT 22 San Diego, CA - Tin Roof
OCT 23 Los Angelos, CA - The Mint
OCT 24 Santa Cruz, CA - The Catalyst
OCT 26 Sacramento, CA - Harlows
OCT 28 Eugene, OR - WOW Hall
OCT 29 Portland, OR - Goodfoot Lounge
OCT 30 Seattle, WA - Sunset Tavern
NOV 2 Aspen, CO - Belly Up
NOV 4 Denver, CO - Cervantes' Other Side
NOV 5 Fort Collins, CO - Hodi's Half Note
NOV 6 Kansas City, MO - Riot Room
NOV 7 Minneapolis, MN - Cabooze
NOV 8 Chicago, IL - Schubas
NOV 13 Burlington, VT - Nectars
NOV 14 Boston, MA - Brighton Music Hall

The 7^th annual California Roots Music and Arts Festival will take place at the historic Monterey County Fair and Event Center from May 27-29, 2016.  The top tier national festival is the premier gathering for the progressive U.S. Reggae and roots music movement, bringing the scene together over Memorial Day weekend in beautiful Monterey, CA.
 
The 2015 edition of California Roots showcased their most diverse line-up to date including hip hop legends The Roots and Cypress Hill alongside the blues of G.Love and John Butler Trio, while still rooted with reggae heavyweights SOJA, Steel Pulse, Collie Buddz, and more.  2015 also brought strong green initiatives by utilizing Klean Kanteens to eliminate single-use beverage containers, by partnering with TripZero, a service that works to correct the carbon footprint created by travel to the festival, and through partnering with The Offset Project [TOP].  National media attention included The Huffington Post, MSN, High Times, and Pollstar, while locally The Monterey County Weekly stated, “The world's largest reggae-rock festival is growing so big that its arms are stretching out towards Coachella and Bonnaroo territory.”
 
2016’s California Roots Music and Arts Festival announces today another impressive line-up with its first round of artists.  Limited early bird 3-day tickets will go on sale on Wednesday, October 14, 2015 at 10am PST (Purchase Link: https://californiaroots16.eventbrite.com).  
 
Round One Artist Line-Up Announcement:

• Rebelution
• Tribal Seeds
• The Expendables
• The Green
• Katchafire
• Protoje

• Gondwana
• Fortunate Youth
• The Skints
• Nattali Rize

• Hirie
• Thrive
• Eli Mac

We are pleased to announce our first round of the 2016 line-up.  The ‘roots’ music scene continues to grow exponentially and we wanted to feature some core artists that helped build our festival’s reputation including Rebelution, Tribal Seeds, and The Green while still showcasing up and coming artists paving the way like Protoje, The Skints, Thrive, and Eli Mac,” says festival Co-Producer Dan Sheehan.  He adds, “We take pride in supporting the artists that come up alongside our festival and love helping breaking bands to a wider audience.  As our stateside scene grows, we also want to highlight international acts.  Debuting an artist like Gondwana from Santiago, Chile, who has an amazing worldwide fanbase, reaffirms that the ‘California Roots’ vibe stretches far past the state’s border uniting kindred spirits worldwide.”
 
FESTIVAL DETAILS
The 7^th Annual California Roots Music and Arts Festival
Dates: Friday, May 27, 2016 – Sunday May 29, 2016
Time: 10:00 am – 11:00 pm PDT
Venue: Monterey County Fair and Event Center
Address: 2004 Fairground Road, Monterey, CA 93940
Admission: Varies (Purchase Link: https://californiaroots16.eventbrite.com)    
Age restrictions: All Ages
Round Two Artist Announcement: Friday, November 13, 2015
Round Three Artist Announcement: Thursday, January 7, 2016

The 7^th annual California Roots Music and Arts Festival will take place at the historic Monterey County Fair and Event Center from May 27-29, 2016.  The top tier national festival is the premier gathering for the progressive U.S. Reggae and roots music movement, bringing the scene together over Memorial Day weekend in beautiful Monterey, CA.

2016’s California Roots Music and Arts Festival announces another round of progressive roots artists join previously announced acts Rebelution, Tribal Seeds, Protoje, Katchafire, The Green, and more. Cali reggae rockers Slightly Stoopid return after a triumphant closing night set at last year’s festival, and introspective hip-hop duo Atmosphere also join. Grammy award winning roots reggae artist Stephen “Ragga” Marley, internationally-known Jamaican reggae star Tarrus Riley and Australia’s Sticky Fingers all make their debut at the Monterey, CA festival this year.
The remainder of the line-up announcement, including returning fan favorite Stick Figure, is listed below.

General Admission and VIP tickets will be available for sale on Friday, November 13^th. (Purchase Link: http://californiaroots16.eventbrite.com/?aff=buynow).  The third and final round of artists will be revealed on Thursday, January 7^th, 2016.

Round Two Artist Line-Up Announcement:
 
Slightly Stoopid
Atmosphere
Stephen “Ragga” Marley
Stick Figure
Tarrus Riley
Ooklah The Moc
Sticky Fingers
The Expanders
Tomorrows Bad Seeds
Josh Heinrichs
Peni Dean
Seedless
Tunnel Vision
 
“We are extremely proud of the California Roots brand, and core returning artists like Slightly Stoopid that helped us grow our festival. We also know that our fans appreciate our innovative and diversified approach to our artist selections, as we received a great response from the hip-hop artists on the bill last year, like Cypress Hill and Dilated Peoples. Atmosphere is a phenomenal festival act that we are confident our attendees will love,” says Festival CoProducer Dan Sheehan. “We are honored to have Stephen “Ragga” Marley this year, who is a vital part of the great reggae tradition paved by his father. In addition, we are announcing 10 more artists on the line-up, ranging from legendary status to up and comers to fan favorites, with one more round of announcements still to come.”
 
FESTIVAL DETAILS
The 7^th Annual California Roots Music and Arts Festival
Dates: Friday, May 27, 2016 – Sunday May 29, 2016
Time: 10:00 am – 11:00 pm PDT
Venue: Monterey County Fair and Event Center
Address: 2004 Fairground Road, Monterey, CA 93940
Admission: Varies (Purchase Link: https://californiaroots16.eventbrite.com)    
Age restrictions: All Ages
Round Three Artist Announcement: Thursday, January 7, 2016

A new wave of reggae artists has emerged over the past decade, most notably outside the genre’s birthplace of Jamaica, and Gentleman’s Dub Club are leading the charge out of the UK. Their highly anticipated second full-length album The Big Smoke comes out November 13, 2015 on tastemaker label Easy Star Records with pre-orders on iTunes here and a physical pre-order in both the UK (http://bit.ly/GDC-TMStore) and the US (http://bit.ly/EasyStarGDC). The Gents (as they are affectionately known) have become a bass music powerhouse in England since debuting in 2006, pushing a unique sound that is both diverse and accessible – spanning dub instrumental workouts, uptempo deep drum and bass grooves, and classic golden age reggae vibes. They join their new Easy Star labelmates The Skints and Backbeat Soundsystem at the forefront of the UK reggae scene, and with The Big Smoke, they show they are ready to win fans all over the world as well.

The band’s first studio album FOURtyFOUR was released in 2013 and has securely remained in the iTunes UK reggae charts ever since. Both EPs that preceded it, Members Only and Open Your Eyes (which featured their hit song “High Grade”), were great introductions to a band that Clash Music calls “…the hottest band on the reggae/dub scene right now.” Since then, the nine-piece band, originally formed while at University in Leeds, moved to London where this shift in location and experiences within the new city helped shape their new album, The Big Smoke. Using London as a backdrop, The Big Smoke explores everything from the personal to the philosophical and is peppered with the trademark GDC sense of fun and vitality. A return to a more raw roots sound is evident, along with a markedly upfront writing style, underpinned by the band’s familiar monstrous horn riffs and cavernous bass lines.

The album was recorded in late 2014 in two studios including Prince Fatty’s (Lily Allen, Dub Syndicate, The Skints, Hollie Cook) Brighton studio and Evergeen Studio in Hackney Wick. “Mike Pelanconi, a.k.a. Prince Fatty, is a good friend of ours, and more importantly has the best sound around,” said bass player and producer Toby Davies. GDC had a great time with Prince Fatty, utilizing instruments and gear dating back to the 60’s and 70’s to create the authentic roots reggae and dub sound they embodied with The Big Smoke. GDC have developed a reputation for their high-energy live shows, due in part to Harry Evergreen, their manager and sound engineer. Evergreen’s studio allowed the band to combine their vintage instruments and gear with modern techniques to finish off The Big Smoke recording sessions. In order to mix the tracks GDC turned to Al Breadwinner at The Bakery studio just outside Manchester. Never far from their roots and always striving for the old school approach to reggae, Breadwinner’s sound gives the album a “real identity” according to Davies.

The Big Smoke takes listeners on a well-paced and diverse musical journey, with guest appearances by major UK reggae talent and “Bedroom Eyes” writer Natty (on “One Night Only”) and tenor sax star Josh Arcoleo (best known for his work with the legendary Pee Wee Ellis as well as Joss Stone, Katy B, and many others).   The album kicks off with the romper stomper opener “Music Is The Girl I Love,” a track already championed by David “RamJam” Rodigan, who stated, “This new song from GDC is outstanding and I am hooked big time! ” Up-tempo tunes (the catchy single “Bad Girl,” “Pressure”) mix with dubbier tracks (“Earthquake,” “Extraordinary”) to the sparse dub echoes (“Afraid of the Dark”) kin to Basic Channel and instrumentals (like “Enter The Chamber,” which fans will recognize as often being the band’s live show opener).

Live, the band delivers such a notable show that they have appeared on bills with The Wailers,Enter Shikari, Clean Bandit, Sam Smith and DJ Fresh just to name a few. Over the years the Band has performed at major festivals worldwide including Glastonbury Festival (UK), Fusion Festival (Germany), Ostroda Reggae Festival (Poland), Outlook Festival (Croatia), Sula Fest(India) and have headlined legendary venues such as London’s ‘Roundhouse’ and Croatia’s ‘Pula Amphitheatre’. Gentleman’s Dub Club have also been featured by numerous radio outlets and DJs in the UK, including David Rodigan of BBC 1Xtra, Don Letts of BBC 6 Music, Huw Stephensof BBC Radio 1, XFM, Capital Radio and Rinse FM.

The Big Smoke will be available digitally and on CD and vinyl. Pre-orders can be found here (iTunes: http://smarturl.it/TheBigSmoke-iTunes, physical UK http://bit.ly/GDC-TMStore and physical US http://bit.ly/EasyStarGDC). The music video for “Bad Girl” will premiere in October, during the band’s fall tour. In conclusion Davies enthusiastically states, “We are hyped to get more material out there and to work with Easy Star Records. It’s been an incredible process that we’ve all enjoyed and we hope that comes across in the music. We also want to thank our fans, who are the reason we keep doing this and give us all the motivation and energy to push things forward.”

Gentleman’s Dub Club are:

Luke Allwood (Keyboards)

Toby Davies (Keyboards, Bass, Vocals)

Harry Devenish (Sound)

Tommy Evans (Drums)

Kieren Gallagher (Saxophone)

Niall Lavelle (Percussion)

Matt Roberts (Trumpet)

Johnny Scratchley (Vocals)

Nick Tyson (Guitar)

TOUR DATES

2015 

13 NOV – M11 – MILTON KEYNES, UK

20 NOV – MR KYPS – POOLE, UK

21 NOV – MADNESS HOUSE OF FUN – BUTLINS, UK

 —

2016

12 FEB – MOTION – BRISTOL, UK

13 FEB – PRINCESS PAVILION, FALMOUTH, UK

16 MAR – HORIZON FESTIVAL – BANSKO, BGR

The 7^th annual California Roots Music and Arts Festival that takes place at the historic Monterey County Fair and Event Center from May 27-29, 2016, announced its third and final round of artists completing their full lineup.

Artists announced today include the return of Damian “Jr Gong” Marley, Michael Franti and Spearhead, Pepper, Barrington Levy, J Boog, Mike Love, The Wheeland Brothers, and Katastro.  Making their debut at the festival are Jamaican rising stars Raging Fyah, U.K.’s Will and The People, Maui’s soulful Jordan T., Bay Area’s South Bay Dub All Stars, and Santa Barbara up and comers The Ole’s.  2016 will also see the addition of the scenes hottest DJs, who will perform between sets.  The DJs include Amp Live, Expanders Sound System, Dub Architect, and Westafa.

General and VIP tickets are currently on sale at https://californiaroots16.eventbrite.com, and will go up in price on January 21, 2016.
 
Round Three Artist Line-Up Announcement:
Damian “Jr Gong” Marley
Michael Franti and Spearhead
Pepper
Barrington Levy
J Boog
Mike Love
Raging Fyah
The Wheeland Brothers
Will and The People
Katastro
Jordan T
South Bay Dub All Stars
The Oles
 
DJ’s:
Amp Live
Expanders Sound System
Dub Architect
Westafa
 
In addition to the third round announcement, the festival will showcase: Slightly Stoopid, Rebelution, Atmosphere, Stephen “Ragga” Marley, Tribal Seeds, The Expendables, The Green, Stick Figure, Protoje, Katchafire, Tarrus Riley, Gondwana, Fortunate Youth, The Skints, Nattali Rize, Tomorrows Bad Seeds, Ooklah The Moc, Josh Heinrichs, Hirie, Sticky Fingers, The Expanders, Peni Dean, Thrive, Eli-Mac, Seedless, and Tunnel Vision.
 
“2016 is definitely our strongest California Roots lineup to date,” says Festival Co-Producer Dan Sheehan. “As the scene and music continue to evolve and diversify, we are proud to be able to showcase a spectrum of talent with the biggest names in roots music, alongside breaking artists year after year.”  He adds “Our fans and community have come to expect top notch music alongside a unique experience that supports green initiatives, while embracing beautiful art, delicious food and spirits, and positive vibes.  This year is no exception and promises to raise the bar in all the details that makes our festival successful.”

The 7^th annual California Roots Music and Arts Festival at the historic Monterey County Fair and Event Center from May 27-29, 2016 has released their full weekend schedule.
 
The 2016 lineup showcases the biggest names in progressive roots music including: Slightly Stoopid, Atmosphere, Damian “Jr Gong” Marley, Stephen “Ragga” Marley, Rebelution, Michael Franti and Spearhead and many more. This year’s festival will expand on eco-friendly and “greening” efforts that have steadily become more effective and advanced each year, and integrates the new generation of Caribbean artists like Raging Fyah alongside Jamaican legends like Barrington Levy, as well as select DJs that will provide additional vibes in between sets.
 
Friday (May 27th, 2016): Slightly Stoopid, Atmosphere, The Expendables, J Boog, Barrington Levy, Katchafire, Fortunate Youth, Ooklah The Moc, Sticky Fingers, Thrive, Seedless, Peni Dean, Eli-Mac
DJ’s: Amplive and Westafa
 
Saturday (May 28th, 2016): Damian “Jr Gong” Marley, Stephen Marley, Pepper, The Green, Tarrus Riley, Mike Love, The Skints, The Expanders, Nattali Rize, Will and the People, Katastro, Jordan T, The Olés
DJ’s: Expanders, Sound System, and Dub Architect
 
Sunday (May 29th, 2016) Rebelution, Michael Franti and Spearhead, Tribal Seeds, Stick Figure, Protoje, Hirie, Raging Fyah, Gondwana, Tomorrow’s Bad Seeds, Josh Heinrichs, Wheeland Brothers, Southbay Allstars, Tunnel Vision
DJ: Amp Live
 
General and VIP tickets are currently on sale at https://californiaroots16.eventbrite.com,
 
FESTIVAL DETAILS
The 7^th Annual California Roots Music and Arts Festival
Dates: Friday, May 27, 2016 – Sunday May 29, 2016
Time: 10:00 am – 11:00 pm PDT
Venue: Monterey County Fair and Event Center
Address: 2004 Fairground Road, Monterey, CA 93940
Admission: Varies (Purchase Link: https://californiaroots16.eventbrite.com)   
Age restrictions: All Ages

The fourth annual Levitate Music and Arts Festival proudly announces its 2016 lineup featuring “The Wheels of Soul Tour” with Tedeschi Trucks Band, Los Lobos, and North Mississippi Allstars, alongside Rebelution, Lettuce, Stick Figure, Moon Taxi, Twiddle, Nahko and Medicine for the People, The Movement, and Ron Gallo. The event takes place at the historic Marshfield Fairgrounds [140 Main Street, Marshfield, MA] on Saturday, July 9, 2016.  New this year is the option to camp at the beautiful Wompatuck State Park on Saturday night in a private area for Levitate fans.  General admission tickets are currently on sale at http://www.levitatemusicfestival.com
 
The Levitate Music and Arts Festival's (LMF) foundation is Levitate, a community oriented surf/skate shop and apparel line based out of Marshfield, MA.  Deeply rooted in surf, skate, art and music, Levitate threw the first LMF in 2013 as a ten year anniversary party, bringing together the community to celebrate music and the arts.  LMF has now grown into one of New England's premier boutique festivals.  This annual festival has come a long way in just three short years.  Festival co-founder and Levitate owner Daniel Hassett enthusiastically states, “The event’s success is due to a hugely supportive community, which Levitate has been embedded in for more than a decade through our youth programs, beach cleanups, surf and skateboard contests and fundraising initiatives.”  He adds, "We take a lot of pride in bringing people together in a unique outdoors setting, in the grass, for a full day.  It brings out the best in our community and creates a laid back, old fashioned vibe.  It's not only the excellent music, art, and food, but also the people in attendance at the festival who bring new friends each year and spread the word, that has allowed Levitate to grow in an organic way.”
 
2016’s lineup has a really special connection to South Shore Massachusetts with the headliner Tedeschi Trucks Band.  Susan Tedeschi of the blues-rock powergroup grew up in Norwell, MA, the town adjacent to Marshfield, and used to perform solo at the Marshfield Fairgrounds, where LMF is held.  Hassett explains, “The Tedeschi Trucks Band is our most requested band for our festival with such strong ties to this area, and we’ve been trying to book them since year one.”  He adds, “We are over the moon that we are able to bring them and their ‘Wheels of Soul Tour’ to Levitate and are honored that our festival is the only stop in the greater Boston area.”  Tedeschi Trucks Band recently released their third studio album Let Me Get By that is being praised by national critics including The New Yorker, The Wall Street Journal, Relix, and countless others.  Another South Shore musician, which is the only artist to play every year, is reggae band Stick Figure.  Their lead singer and frontman Scott Woodruff is originally from Duxbury, MA.  Stick Figure is touring to promote their Billboard chart topping reggae album Set In Stone.
 
In addition to music, Levitate takes pride in the arts and culinary elements of their festival.  During the event, the fairground is filled with large scale art installations and live art with 50 handpicked artists from the Northeast.  Jessica Hassett, festival co-founder and art director says, “Art plays just as much of a role as music does at Levitate.  We know that it enhances the overall experience of the event and showcases another side to our community.”  Sarah Gammon, who hand picks all the food and art vendors adds, “As an artist myself, it has been an honor to curate the vendors for the Levitate Music and Arts Festival. Our artists are hand-selected from all over New England and are chosen based on their unique, handmade work.  Food trucks are selected for their healthy and incredibly appetizing menu.”
 
Giving back to the community has always been a mission for the festival with non profit organizations playing a big role.  Each year the festival chooses five non profits alongside a long term non profit partner, which is the Boys and Girls Club.  For every ticket sold for Levitate, the festival donates $1 to the Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield.  Over the past few years, Levitate helped raise over $500,000, which was used to rebuild the town’s skateboard park.  The five non profit partners this year are the Love, Hope, Strength Foundation, Steven Zac Woods Scholarship Fund, North River Arts Society, and the Kyle Lemire Scholarship Foundation.
 
“The down to earth grassroots vibe and strong community combined with quality musical lineups and amazing drink/culinary offerings is what drew me into partnering with Levitate,” says Ineffable Music Group owner and LMF co-owner Thomas Cussins.  He concludes, “With so many music festivals popping up, it’s rare to see such a quality festival stay so unique and exponentially grow at the same time.”
 
Full Artist Line-Up:

• “The Wheels of Soul Tour”: Tedeschi Trucks Band w/ Los Lobos and North Mississippi Allstars
• Rebelution
• Lettuce
• Stick Figure
• Moon Taxi
• Nahko and Medicine for the People
• Twiddle
• The Movement
• Ron Gallo

Building upon the success of their Billboard chart-topping reggae album, Hustling Culture, The Expanders are hitting the road once again. Kicking off the Top Shelf Spring Tour in their home state of California, the band will stop in notable cities such as Denver, Austin, and Las Vegas before finishing out at the California Roots Festival.
 
While Hustling Culture (released June 16th, 2015 on Easy Star Records) is the band’s third studio album, it is the first album to gain such acclaim, garnering media attention from The LA Weekly, LA Examiner, Wax Poetics and other notable publications. “From the top to the very last drop, the tight musicianship—and ebullient performances make Hustling Culture an album that’s easy to keep on repeat,” said the LA Examiner.
 
The Los Angeles-based quintet, comprised of John Asher (Drums, Vocals), John Butcher (Guitar, Vocals), Roy Fishell (Organ), Chiquis Lozoya (Bass, Vocals), and Devin Morrison (Guitar, Vocals), revive the “golden era” of reggae. They combine vintage 70’s and early 80’s style reggae, three-part vocal harmonies, conscious songwriting, and an indie-DIY spirit to champion classic sounds sometimes lost in times of rock reggae.
 
“There are a handful of contemporary bands that take the [‘70s classic reggae] sound very seriously, thriving to respectfully and properly pay tribute to the mood and feel of vintage reggae. The Expanders… are among those leading that charge,” mused Wax Poetics.
 
The Expanders’ music is a reminder that reggae music wasn’t born in a tropical paradise but in the underprivileged areas of Jamaica. Each song carries a unique expression for human rights, social justice and freedom from oppression, expressions The Expanders hope to share with every fan on their Top Shelf Spring Tour.
 
“Our goal is to bring that vintage reggae feel and sound that we love to places where people might not get to hear it on a regular basis,” said Morrison.

The Expanders Tour Dates

March 02 @ Velvet Jones (with Iya Terra) – Santa Barbara, CA
March 03 @ Crazy Horse – Nevada City, CA
March 05 @ Winter Rock Reggae – Salt Lake City, UT
March 07 @ Cervantes Otherside – Denver, CO
March 09 @ Gas Monkey – Dallas, TX
March 10 @ Walter’s Downtown – Houston, TX
March 11 @ House of Rock – Corpus Christi, TX
March 12 @ ATX Wildfire @ Flamingo Cantina – Austin, TX
March 13 @ Jack’s Bar – San Antonio, TX
March 18 @ Last Exit Live (w/ E.N. Young)  – Phoenix, AZ
March 19 @ Backstage Bar & Billiards – Las Vegas, NV
May 07 @ Reggae on the Block 3 – Orlando, FL
May 28 @ California Roots Festival – Monterey, CA

Two of Africa’s most beloved artists, Vusi Mahlasela and Habib Koité, will tour the U.S. from March 19^th thru April 17^th in the first installment in three years of the critically acclaimed tour series: Acoustic Africa. The tour—four editions strong—is a journey that focuses on the richness of the African traditions of voice and song. It offers fans a rare chance to experience their favorite African artists in intimate settings.
 
Vusi Mahlasela, is simply known as ‘The Voice’ in his home-country, celebrated for his distinct, powerful voice and his poetic, optimistic lyrics. His songs of hope connect Apartheid-scarred South Africa with its promise for a better future. Raised in the Mamelodi Township, where he still resides, Vusi became a singer-songwriter and poet-activist at an early age teaching himself how to play guitar and later joining the Congress of South African Writers. After his popular debut on BMG Africa, When You Come Back, Vusi was asked to perform at Nelson Mandela’s inauguration in 1994. Vusi has shared the stage with Dave Matthews Band, Sting, Paul Simon, and Taj Mahal, among many others. Perhaps his biggest gig was in 2010 when he helped ring in the World Cup in South Africa, at Orlando Stadium in Soweto. Vusi has released seven studio albums to-date; his latest release is Sing to the People (ATO Records), a celebratory live recording looking back on twenty years since his first album.
 
A modern troubadour with extraordinary appeal, Habib Koité’s musicianship, wit and wisdom translate across cultures. He’s a solo singer, songwriter and guitarist based in Mali, and he has been hailed by Rolling Stone as the biggest pop star of the region. In 2001, Habib Koité and the supergroup he works with, Bamada, became one of the first African artists to appear on Late Night with David Letterman. Habib’s artistry and powerful personality has earned him fans such as Jackson Browne and Bonnie Raitt, both of whom ended up visiting Habib in Mali. To date he’s sold over 250,000 albums, and he continues to build his profile through a very active calendar of tour dates. Over the past decade, his artistry and magnetic personality have made him an international pop star on par with leading figures in contemporary world music.
 
Don’t miss this opportunity to catch two living legends live in this collaborative and intimate setting. CNN gushes: “The legendary singer [Vusi Mahlasela] has been celebrated globally for his powerful vocals and universal message of freedom and human kindness.” Of Habib Koite, The New York Times says “his reputation as a guitar player has become almost mythical.”

Tour Dates:
Saturday, March 19 @ Herbst Theater - San Francisco, CA
Sunday, March 20 @ The Green Music Center - Rohnert Park, CA
Tuesday, March 22 @ Cargo Concert Hall - Reno, NV
Thursday, March 24 @ Fox Tuscon Theater - Tucson, AZ
Friday, March 25 @ MIM Music Theater - Phoenix, AZ
Saturday, March 26 @ Luckman Fine Arts Complex - Los Angeles, CA
Monday, March 28 @ Kuumbwa Jazz Center - Santa Cruz, CA
Tuesday, March 29 @ John Van Duzer Theatre - Arcata, CA
Thursday, March 31 @ Aladdin Theater - Portland, OR
Friday, April 01 @ The Triple Door - Seattle, WA
Saturday, April 02 @ The Triple Door - Seattle, WA
Tuesday, April 05 @ Cedar Cultural Center - Minneapolis, MN
Wednesday April 06 @ Old Town School Of Folk Music - Chicago, IL
Friday, April 08 @ McCain Auditorium - Manhattan, KS
Sunday, April 10 @ Academy of Music - Northampton, MA
Wednesday, April 13 @ The Grace Rainey Rogers Auditorium - New York, NY
Thursday, April 14 @ Lisner Audtiorium (GW University) - Washington, DC
Friday, April 15 @ Weis Center (Bucknell) - Lewisburg, PA
Saturday April 16 @ Stewart Theater (NC State) - Raleigh, NC
Sunday, April 17 @ Somerville Theater - Somerville, MA

Mardi Gras Indian funk band Cha Wa will release their debut album, Funk 'n' Feathers, on April 1, 2016, after years of explosive, thunderous live performances all over the Crescent City. The new recording is a red-hot combination of two of New Orleans’ quintessential trademarks, Mardi Gras Indians and street level funk music. Funk 'n' Feathers combines deep funk, percussive polyrhythms, and a mix of singing and Mardi Gras Indian chanting that fuse into an intoxicating, hypnotic blend of culture that could only come out of the Crescent City. Cha Wa will celebrate the album with a hometown show on release day and performances at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in April. “Cha Wa” is a slang phrase used by every Mardi Gras Indian tribe, meaning “We’re comin’ for ya” - and this band is definitely comin’ for ya!
 
Funk 'n' Feathers is a direct descendant of the seminal Mardi Gras Indian-related funk recordings of the 1970s by the Wild Magnolias (backed by The Meters), the Wild Tchoupitoulas, The Neville Brothers, and Dr. John. But this time there is a contemporary twist - the production of Ben Ellman (who has also produced his own band, Galactic, as well as Trombone Shorty and others) and the mixing and mastering of San Francisco’s super-hip engineer Count (DJ Shadow, Radiohead, Lyrics Born, etc.). As a result, Cha Wa's version of Dr. John's “All On A Mardi Gras Day” is a wild recreation of the original. The song takes you straight to the street corners of Uptown New Orleans, instilling the energy of seeing the Indians dancing in their traditional feathered suits, but it also embraces a production style, which is cutting-edge. Another classic, “Jock-A-Mo” (the original version of the song which later became a hit, and has been covered by many artists, as ‘Iko Iko’) is also made over by infusing it with the band’s upbeat brand of funk and the fresh production approach. Davell Crawford, the grandson of the song’s writer, and Irving Banister Sr., the man who played guitar on the original version in 1953 - and the father of Cha Wa’s lead Indian Irving “Honey” Banister, provide deep New Orleans roots to the recording.
 
The two leaders of Cha Wa, singer/percussionist Honey Banister and drummer Joe Gelini, have been involved with the Mardi Gras Indians for years. Honey Banister, Big Chief of the Creole Wild West tribe, combines both the Mardi Gras Indian tradition and the history of New Orleans rhythm and blues. He was also a featured performer in the HBO series Treme. Gelini moved to New Orleans after graduating from the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston. Joe saw the Mardi Gras Indians emerging on Mardi Gras day to march down Dryades Street and, he says, “I was hooked.  It's a spiritual thing.  It's more than the music.” Spy Boy J'Wan Boudreaux combines the lyrics and style of his grandfather, Big Chief Monk Boudreaux of the Golden Eagles, one of the most respected Mardi Gras Indians and one of the greatest Indian singers ever, with a 21st century take on this music.  Other contributors to the album include John Fohl on guitar (Dr. John), Stephen Malinowski on organ (Ana Popovich), Yoshitaka “Z2” Tsuji on piano (Kermit Ruffins), and Haruka Kikuchi on trombone. Another well-known Mardi Gras Indian, Norwood “Geechie” Johnson of the Wild Magnolias, added bass drum and backing vocals. Special guests include producer Ben Ellman on alto saxophone and Colin Lake on lap steel guitar.
 
Cha Wa brilliantly finds the right balance between Mardi Gras Indian tradition and an edgier dose of  the street funk which also originated in New Orleans. The band has gained critical praise not only from their hometown publications Offbeat, The Times-Picayune, Advocate, Where Y’At, and Gambit Weekly, but also through national tastemakers including Rolling Stone, NPR Music, and Dan Rather Reports.  The music is spontaneous and spiritual at the same, and no two shows are ever the same. “I think we've reached that point where we can feel the direction of the music intuitively and we just go with it,” says Gelini. “It’s like having that heavy Indian sound with modern recording and modern production and using it all together. It's classic and contemporary at the same time.”  On Funk 'n' Feathers, Cha Wa has made a modern album featuring great energy and enthusiasm, but one which also draws from the deep well of New Orleans culture. The result? Cha Wa is coming for ya!
 
UPCOMING SHOWS:
02/04- Blue Note Tokyo - Tokyo, Japan
02/05- Blue Note Tokyo - Tokyo, Japan
02/08- Riverwalk - New Orleans, LA [Lundi Gras Celebration]
02/08- Tipitina's Mardi Gras Stands - New Orleans, LA
02/09- 30x90 - New Orleans, LA
02/27- Universal Studios Orlando - Orlando, FL
03/05- Howlin' Wolf - New Orleans, LA
03/31- Lafayette's - Memphis, TN
04/01- Blue Nile [Album Release Show] - New Orleans, LA
04/07- French Quarter Fest - New Orleans, LA
04/10- d.b.a - New Orleans, LA
04/21- Ogden Museum of Southern Art - New Orleans, LA
04/23- New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival - New Orleans, LA
04/30- French Broad River Festival - Asheville, NC
06/04- Michael Arnone’s Crawfish Festival - Augusta, NJ

On Friday March 11th reggae sensation Mighty Mystic will release his highly anticipated third album titled "The Art of Balance". This project will be released through California based Roots Musician Records which is the brainchild of E.N Young (member of Tribal Seeds). This will mark the first time these two reggae entities will be working together thus far.

Insight:
Mighty Mystic whose real name is Kevin Holness was born in Jamaica but grew up thousands of miles away in Boston MA.  He is also the younger brother of former Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness.  Mighty Mystic gained early success with the 2006 hit "Riding on the Clouds" which subsequently spawned his first album "Wake up the World" in 2010. He has worked with some of the industry’s biggest and most respected artist like Lutan Fyah and reggae icon Shaggy to name a few.  His last album "Concrete World" debuted at number 6 on the Billboard reggae charts and boasted several successful single releases such as "Cali Green", "Concrete World", "True Love" and "War (Rumors of War)".  His efforts in the genre have gained him the title as one of the leaders in the modern reggae revival.

The Album:
Mighty Mystic's "The Art of Balance" album is sure to be a bright light for the reggae genre as it is in the vein of what we all love about reggae music but with a little "Mighty" sprinkled throughout.  From the musical composition to the hand painted album artwork this album is truly a one of a kind.  Mystic says "I went into this album the same way I live my life which is as close to being balanced as possible.  Balance in fun, seriousness, laughing or crying, health and well being and knowing when it’s ok to eat a little Junk food. While that might sound corny it's true, I like to keep my life balanced so why not the music". 

Stand Outs:
This 15 track album is a rarity in that every song is simply special. But to narrow things down a bit we've selected the following...

Solid as a Rock: This acoustic piece of art is awe inspiring.
 
Something Bout Mary: looking for catchy with "High" energy? Then look no further.
 
How Many Miles: Wonderful balance between reggae and classic rock that has been missing from the genre.
 
Rebels: When the mission requires motivation this is the song that should be on repeat.
 
How I Rock: Just me and my 1969 Chevy painting the town red blasting this heavy tune.
 
Boys in Blue: Shedding light on a serious issue that is plaguing the streets of America and beyond.
 
Easy: When you’re ready to chill this song is the ultimate soundtrack.
___________

Be on the lookout for Mighty Mystic's "The Art Of Balance" coming Friday March 11th worldwide. This album has the depth, feel, body and soul to be a bonafide classic in the reggae genre.
___________
 
Tour Dates
02/12 Knitting Factory – Brooklyn, NY
02/19 Infinity Hall – Norfolk, CT
03/12 Rookies Sports Bar – Oceanside, CA
03/13 U-31 – San Diego, CA
03/15 SOL Venue – Carson, CA
03/16 Winston’s Beach Bar – San Diego, CA
03/17 The Catalyst – Santa Cruz, CA
03/19 BNV Studios – Hollywood, CA

Modern reggae’s elite quartet New Kingston are supporting Pepper and Hours Eastly on the Hawaiian Punch Tour this February.

New Kingston wrapped up a fiery 2015 with a video release for “Honorable” on Yahoo Music last December. The euphoric video, is a glimpse of the group’s Billboard chart-topping album, Kingston City (Easy Star Records).

“‘Honorable’ is a statement, a righteous refusal of stereotypes. The feel of the video is a mission—an enlightening mission, focusing on the lyrics and the unity displayed in the video,” says New Kingston drummer/vocalist Courtney Panton Jr.

Rootfire enthuses: “New Kingston’s fresh new single turns everything you know about the band upside down. That’s what New Kingston’s song ‘Honorable’ does for progressive reggae in the U.S. We’ve got this amazing moment happening and we need a new voice asking a new kind of question. With ‘Honorable,’ three Jamaican-American brothers from Brooklyn, schooled from a young age by their father, deliver a patient and poignant song for the struggle. The question they’re asking is, ‘Where’s the future of black reggae in the U.S.?’ And the answer is right here.”

New Kingston’s Kingston City debuted at #1 on the Billboard Reggae chart. Kingston City (released January 27, 2015) is the band’s third studio album and their first release to claim the #1 spot on the Billboard Reggae chart.  The album is also their first release on the leading US reggae label Easy Star Records. The family group, which features three brothers (Stephen, Courtney Jr., and Tahir) and their father, create what Top Shelf Reggae calls, “…a genuine body of work that displays an incredible vocal range, candid lyrics and impressive instrumentals. It gives the listener the sort of meaningful connection and escape that every piece of music should provide.” The new record includes 12 songs and guest appearances by members of Tribal Seeds, Hawaiian singer-songwriter Kimie Miner, Sister Carol, The Wailing Souls, and the late, great reggae legend Sugar Minott.

— HAWAIIAN PUNCH WINTER TOUR w/Pepper & Hours Eastly

2/14 Ventura, CA – The Majestic Ventura Theater
2/16 Chico, CA – Senator Theater
2/19 Seattle, WA – Showbox SoDo
2/20 Portland, OR – Roseland Theatre
2/21 Eugene, OR – McDonald Theater
2/24 Spokane, WA – Knitting Factory
2/25 Boise, ID – Knitting Factory
2/26 Boise, ID – Knitting Factory
2/27 Billings, MT – Babcook Theatre
2/28 Bozeman, MT – Emerson Cultural Center
3/2 Laramie, WY – Gryphon Theatre
3/3 Aspen, CO – Belly Up
3/4 Denver, CO – Fillmore Auditorium

Easy Star All-Stars have announced their 2016 spring tour: kicking things off with their annual 420 show at The Highline Ballroom in their hometown of NYC (on April 20, of course), the band then heads out to the Midwest and Rocky Mountain regions for two more weeks on the road.

After a successful 2014-15 Dub Side of the Moon Anniversary Tour, the band will continue performing full Dub Side of the Moon sets each night for this run, along with songs from their other critically-acclaimed tribute albums and original favorites. This tour brings the group to a number of cities they’ve never played before.  “We are excited to be performing in so many new places,” states vocalist Kirsty Rock.  “We’ve played all around the world, yet it’s special to be playing totally new markets in our own country.” Some of the cities they will be performing in for the first time include Omaha, NE; Billings, MT; Bozeman, MT; Jackson, WY; Laramie, WY; and Kansas City, MO.  She adds, “It will be invigorating to play in and around the mountain states, since we love experiencing the beauty of nature while on tour to contrast with how much time we spend at the shows and on the bus.”

Denver-based reggae band Tatanka will be opening up all but the first two shows on the tour.. Tatanka has been described as “heavy roots rumble of the Caribbean, while maintaining the pop sensibilities of the dance-oriented electronic sounds from the Britannica-American reggae scenes.” The 420 show in New York will find the band playing with the up-and-coming Jamaican superstar Jesse Royal, while the Omaha show will feature a special pairing with the legendary English Beat closing the night.

The huge success of Dub Side of the Moon (2003) spawned a popular series of reggae tribute albums by the band, including Radiodread (2006), Easy Star’s Lonely Hearts Dub Band (2009), and Easy Star’s Thrillah (2012).  The Easy Star All-Stars have also released an original EP (Until That Day, 2008), an original album (First Light, 2011), and a remix of Dub Side called Dubber Side Of The Moon (2010). They have toured worldwide over the past 12 years, playing in over 30 countries on 6 continents.

Other highlights to expect on tour include Easy Star mashups and medleys of the different albums that have never been heard before live, as well as the addition of keyboardist Matt Goodwin, who has played with John Brown’s Body, Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad, The Movement and others.  He rounds out the touring members including Kirsty Rock (vocals), Ruff Scott (vocals), Shelton Garner Jr. (guitar/vocals), Ivan “Ive-09” Katz (drums), Ras Droppa (bass/vocals), Buford O’Sullivan (trombone/vocals), Jenny Hill (saxophone/flute), and Darren Morze (sound engineer).

Easy Star All-Stars – 2016 Spring Tour Dates

Apr 20 @ Highline Ballroom – New York, NY #

Apr 22 @ High Noon Saloon – Madison, WI

Apr 23 @ Reggie’s Rock Club – Chicago, IL *

Apr 24 @ The Waiting Room – Omaha, NE *$

Apr 26 @ Pub Station – Billings, MT *

Apr 27 @ Top Hat – Missoula, MT *

Apr 28 @ Eagles Ballroom – Bozeman, MT *

Apr 29 @ Pink Garter Theatre – Jackson, WY *

Apr 30 @ The State Room – Salt Lake City, UT *

May 01 @ Further Future 2016 at Moapa Indian Reservation  – Las Vegas, NV

May 03 @ Gryphon Theatre – Laramie, WY *

May 04 @ Gothic Theatre– Englewood, CO ^*

May 05 @ Knuckleheads – Kansas City, MO *

May 06 @ Duck Room @ Blueberry Hill – St. Louis, MO *

May 07 @ Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant – Minneapolis, MN *

* - with Tatanka

# - with Jesse Royal

$ - with English Beat

^ - with Policulture

The Movement has garnered critical acclaim and earned a dedicated fanbase for its infectious and distinct reggae throughout their decade long career. The trio’s last two studio albums have debuted in the top two spots of the Billboard reggae chart. After a gift of gratitude to its fans in the form of a free acoustic album (Beneath The Palms), The Movement has returned with the gorgeously reflective album, Golden, to be released April 8 as the first release on the not-for-profit “artist first” record label Rootfire Cooperative.

“The real inspiration came from cultivating a different state of mind,” reveals the Columbia, South Carolina-based group’s guitarist/vocalist Joshua Swain. “It's all about that clean mind-state and making a conscious choice to embrace life on your own terms. We all have our own personal dilemmas and many of the songs on Golden speak about the process of accepting and overcoming or living with them.”

The balmy 12-song album explores the interconnectedness between human DNA and the galaxy. “I really started to like the idea behind the Fibonacci Code, the Golden Ratio, Golden Mean, Golden Spiral,” reveals Swain. “I liked the idea of searching for order and commonality in the chaos. Add to that the idea of requiring a "heart of gold" to inject beauty and goodness into the order and using the word golden as a synonym for perfect... It just made sense to me.”

The album’s first single—the buoyantly soulful “Dancehall”—drops February 23. Other highlights from Golden include the sun-kissed emotive roots reggae of “Blinded,” the rousing title track, and stately acoustic “Wild Time” which gorgeously floats away with soaring horns and harmony vocals. “Wild Time” represents one of many personal and reflective moments on the album. “That track is almost an apology letter to my loved ones,” Swain reveals. “The song looks back at the special people in my life and the insanity and amazing adventures we experienced with fondness and a desire for more.” “Habit 2016” is not an updated take on The Movement’s popular feel good track, but a complete reworking both musically and lyrically featuring Collie Buddz and Bobby Hustle. The title track “Golden” is a drum & bass infused song that takes inspiration from a Robert Frost poem with themes of hearts, souls, emotions, and energy.

The album was produced and engineered by Danny Kalb (Beck, Ben Harper, Karen O) and, in addition to Buddz and Hustle, it features guest vocalists Elliot Martin (John Brown’s Body), Leilani Wolfgramm, Mr. Williamz, and multi-instrumentalist Matt Goodwin on keys, horns, and percussion. A close listen to the album reveals intriguing sonic elements of nature. “A lot of the sounds you hear throughout the record are sounds we recorded outside of the studio in the forest. You can even hear the clink from the bells the goats wore on their collars,” says Swain.

Golden is the inaugural release through Rootfire Cooperative which is a not-for-profit label with a refreshing artist friendly platform. The label is a cooperative whose mission is to positively contribute and participate in the progressive roots, reggae, and dub community by providing resources to artists for production, marketing, and manufacturing of recorded music through interest free micro loans. Rootfire founder Seth Herman passionately states, “I hope the Rootfire Cooperative can provide micro-financing with the effect of boosting the artists business; and make a positive effect on an entire genre of music.”

The album also boasts breathtakingly thematic artwork that the band has recently revealed through an innovative, fan-driven campaign leveraging The Movement’s devoted social media audience. The album art displays golden spirals, etched over a vertical view of an ocean horizon. The spirals are a visual interpretation of the golden ratio, whose proportions are found in nature and works of art. Swain explains that “the lines come together, forming a ‘golden heart.’ Having a pure heart and good intentions are the key to finding your place in the largeness.” He expands, “in the artwork, the world is tilted on its side, telling the viewer to try and see things from a new perspective.” The band uniquely revealed the cover through two huge posters of the finished artwork, which were printed and cut by hand into 1,780 2×2” squares and then individually numbered 1 through 890. The pieces were then distributed to fans across the U.S. who signed up to receive an elusive “free sticker” on the band’s website. Fans then shared a picture of their piece of the artwork on social media using the hashtag #GoldenMvmt and mentioning @TheMovementVibe (https://youtu.be/ZwxIDCkUq4c).

Formed in 2004 by a trio of Sublime and Pixies fans, Joshua Swain, Jordan Miller, and John Ruff, aka DJ Riggles, launched The Movement with their debut album, On Your Feet. In 2008, the group met Chris DiBeneditto, a Philadelphia-based producer who had worked with like-minded acts such as Slightly Stoopid and G. Love & Special Sauce. Relocating to Philadelphia, they recorded Set Sail at DiBeneditto’s Philadelphonic Studios. The Movement expanded with the addition of Jason "Smiles" Schmidt on bass and Gary Jackson on drums. In 2012, Miller left the group, and the trio, now fronted by Swain, released their fourth album Side By Side, debuting at #2 on the Billboard Reggae Chart.

Reflecting on their latest release, Swain confides: “Golden is a representation of The Movement at the top of their game. We are so proud of this release and can't wait to share it with the world. This is a record of many firsts. It was the first time we really did it the right way. We had the best producer and engineer, the best studio and creative environment, and we were sober and 100% focused. Being so clear-headed allowed us to put out the best ideas. I feel like it is our strongest record to date.”

Golden Hearts Tour
March 19 @ St. Pat’s in Five Points – Columbia, SC
March 23 @ Jack Rabbits – Jacksonville, FL
March 24 @ Propaganda – Lake Worth, FL
March 25 @ Jannus Live – St. Petersburg, FL 
March 26 @ Hooked On Music Festival – Fort Pierce, FL 
April 09 @ California Roots: The Carolina Sessions – Myrtle Beach, SC
April 13 @ Riot Room – Kansas City, MO
April 14 @ The Waiting Room – Omaha, NE
April 15 @ Cervantes Other Side – Denver, CO
April 16 @ Aggie Theatre – Fort Collins, CO
April 18 @ Urban Lounge – Salt Lake City, UT
April 20 @ The Reef – Boise, ID
April 21 @ The Goodfoot – Portland, OR
April 22 @ Wild Buffalo – Bellingham, WA
April 23 @ WOW Hall – Eugene, OR
April 24 @ Nectar Lounge – Seattle, WA
April 27 @ Humbrews – Arcata, CA
April 28 @ The Boardwalk – Sacramento, CA
April 29 @ Slims – San Francisco, CA
April 30 @ The Catalyst – Santa Cruz, CA
May 03 @ Winston’s – San Diego, CA
May 04 @ Saint Rocke – Hermosa Beach, CA
May 05 @ Velvet Jones – Santa Barbara, CA
May 07 @ Reggae On The Block – Orlando, FL
July 09 @ Levitate Music Festival – Marshfield, MA

Fans of the Madison, Wisconsin-based collective Natty Nation have been anticipating a new album since the group whet their appetite in 2010 with the emotive and anthemic single, “Suffice.” The song was the first new track since the group’s highly acclaimed 2008 album, Reincarnation. On March 11^th, Natty Nation will release Divine Spark (iNatty Records). The album represents epiphanic spiritual and artistic journeys. It was mixed entirely by legendary Bob Marley recording engineer Errol Brown, and features a seething guest verse from acclaimed South Side, Chicago-via-Madison rapper F. Stokes.

“This release is inspired by the physical and invisible forces of the divine within all mankind. The divine spark is the higher self within everyone,” explains frontman JAH Boogie. “I’ve learned that through raising your vibration, and opening your chakras, you are able to tap into your divine spark. Our music is for the mental, spiritual and physical expansion of the human family. We are spiritual individuals who express our spirituality through the frequencies and tones of the music that we play.”

Since its inception in 1995, Natty Nation has issued five award-winning and chart-topping studio albums along with a string of epiphanic live albums. The group describes themselves as hard roots rock reggae & dub because of their embrace of soul, rock, and funk. In addition to their honest and authentic roots reggae foundation, Natty Nation is influenced by such diverse geniuses as Michael Jackson, Jimi Hendrix, Living Colour, Earth Wind and Fire, Fishbone, and Bad Brains. Natty Nation has a fluid membership of esteemed and visionary musicians. Currently, Natty Nation is led by JAH Boogie – bass & lead vocals (also percussion & drums in the studio), and musical director Aaron Konkol – keyboards, vocals, & melodica. The collective also features mainstays Richard Hildner – guitar, and Olen Franklin – drums, as well as frequent players Francisco Martinez – percussion and vocals, Mike Daum – guitar, Harjinder Singh – guitar and vocals, Eric Kummer – drums, and Louka Patenaude – guitar.

Central to the group’s popularity are its epic live shows, which—because of the collective’s telepathic band interplay, and colorful palette of musical influences—make for a fresh freewheeling reggae focused experience. Select live career highlights include performing at SXSW, Summerfest, Freakfest, and as well as throughout the Middle East, Africa, Japan, and the quickly disappearing Marshall Islands.

Initial tracking for the album began in 2010 at the band’s home studio. Through the next six years the band worked in spurts on the album, taking time away to get fresh ears and also to be sure the collection of songs would be one of the group’s finest. “This is the first time Aaron and I wrote all of the songs together for an album since he entered the band in 2002,” JAH Boogie reveals. “This is definitely a step up in songwriting, production, and overall vibe.”

Highlights on Divine Spark include the title track, “Meditation,” “Civil Rights,” and “Prophecy.” The album’s spiritual core is the simmering and soulful title track. “This song deals with the spiritual essence of each human being,” JAH Boogie explains. “The song also expresses that when you open your heart chakra it helps to open up the many other chakras within the spiritual body. When these energy centers or chakras are open then many other dimensions are open as well.” “Meditation” aptly conjures its name with sweetly languid grooves. Soul rebel militancy bubbles over with the self-explanatory “Civil Rights” courtesy of F. Stokes’s fiery rhymes. And the rousing “Prophecy” is sure to inspire self-reflection. “This song deals with going within yourself to find out who you really are or what you really are. We all have spiritual guides or angels who reveal certain things to us,” explains JAH Boogie.

Errol Brown (Bob Marley, Gregory Isaacs, Burning Spear, among others) mixed the album on his makeshift studio he built in the back of Rebelution’s tour bus. At the time of mixing Divine Spark, Errol was doing live sound for Rebelution. He came into the picture after Aaron Konkol attended a Rebelution show, and discovered he was the engineer behind the band’s pristine live sound. Errol worked humbly and consistently with Aaron to fully realize the elusive sound Natty Nation envisioned for Divine Spark.

Divine Spark marks the beginning of an era of fevered creativity and watershed output for Natty Nation. The band plans to spread the joy, uplift the people, and share these future classics on the road imminently.

The 7th Annual California Roots Music and Arts Festival is looking for skilled painters to share the stage with Stephen “Ragga” Marley, Damian “Jr Gong” Marley, Atmosphere, Rebelution, Slightly Stoopid, and more.

Each year the Monterey, CA festival strives to find the most impressive live performance painters to add on-stage visual stimulus. The artists are given the unique opportunity to illustrate the diverse and cooperative elements that are music and arts.  The masterpiece is then displayed in the Art Retreat area inside the festival grounds where they are available for purchase.

Applications will be accepted from March 1st to March 25th. More information on the application process can be found here: http://a.cstmapp.com/p/13062

The 2016 California Roots Arts and Music Festival will showcase Slightly Stoopid, Rebelution, Atmosphere, Stephen “Ragga” Marley, Tribal Seeds, The Expendables, The Green, Stick Figure, Protoje, Katchafire, Tarrus Riley, Gondwana, Fortunate Youth, The Skints, Nattali Rize, Tomorrows Bad Seeds, Ooklah The Moc, Josh Heinrichs, Hirie, Sticky Fingers, The Expanders, Peni Dean, Thrive, Eli-Mac, Seedless, Tunnel Vision, and many more.

FESTIVAL DETAILS

The 7th Annual California Roots Music and Arts Festival

Dates: Friday, May 27, 2016 – Sunday May 29, 2016

Time: 10:00 am – 11:00 pm PDT

Venue: Monterey County Fair and Event Center

Address: 2004 Fairground Road, Monterey, CA 93940

Admission: Varies (Purchase Link:https://californiaroots16.eventbrite.com )    

Age restrictions: All Ages

Raging Fyah, one of Jamaica's most promising roots reggae bands of this generation, begins their U.S. Spring tour on March 1 in Denver, Colorado. The five-piece Kingston collective will join Stick Figure in mid-March until the end of April for the cross-country Set In Stone Tour. Raging Fyah will head back to the U.S. on May 29 to perform at the annual California Roots Music and Arts Festival. See full tour schedule below.

The group is also gearing up to release their eagerly awaited studio album Everlasting, due in May 2016 on Dub Rockers, the newest imprint from the world's largest reggae distributor VP Records. Raging Fyah will tour in support of their first two albums Judgement Day (2011) and Destiny (2014) as well as showcase new music from Everlasting.

Since their debut, Raging Fyah's infectious vibes and soul-filled sound continue to make waves in the latest reggae renaissance.  The buzzworthy band was selected as an Artist to Watch in 2016 by LargeUp and Marley Natural, and their upcoming release has been selected by The Pier as one of 2016's Most Anticipated Albums. They have also been covered in Billboard and Vogue.

Raging Fyah consists of Kumar Bent (lead singer), Courtland White (guitarist) Anthony Watson (drummer), Demar Gayle (keyboardist) and Delroy Hamilton (bassist). Some of the members met at Edna Manley College of Visual & Performing Arts in Kingston, but the band itself didn't form until 2006. Inspired by the likes of The Wailers, Third World, Steel Pulse and Aswad, Raging Fyah tackles similar topics of socio-economics and politics with an underlying message of hope and inspiration. These lyrics, fueled by passion and purpose, flow over their lush lively instrumentation, creating a vintage appeal coupled with a fresh contemporary flare.

The group has already made a name for themselves in their native country, playing the biggest shows (Reggae Sumfest, Rebel Salute and Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival) and has a devoted following internationally, from tearing up stages in South America to headlining major European reggae festivals (Summerjam, Rototom, Sunsplash and Garance).  They are now steadily capturing the hearts of North American listeners. Raging Fyah completed a mini-tour in California last year and played at the annual Sierra Nevada Reggae Festival in 2014. On the U.S. Spring 2016 tour, the group hopes to expand their growing fan base and reach untapped markets.

U.S. Tour Dates:

^ w/Stick Figure

Mar 1 in Denver, CO @ Masterpiece Ballroom *BUY TICKET

Mar 2 in Crested Butte, Colorado @ Center for the Arts *BUY TICKET - $20

Mar 3 in Salida, CO @ Steamplant Event Center *BUY TICKET

Mar 5 in Tempe, AZ @ Kiwanis Club *BUY TICKET

Mar 10 in San Diego, CA @ Observatory North Park *BUY TICKET - $20 ^

Mar 11 in Ventura, CA @ Discovery Ventura *BUY TICKET - $17 ^

Mar 12 in San Francisco, CA @The Fillmore *BUY TICKET - $20 ^

Mar 13 in Reno, CA @ Cargo Reno *BUY TICKET - $15 ^

Mar 16 in Omaha, NE @ The Waiting Room *BUY TICKET - $14 ^

Mar 17 in Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock Social Club *BUY TICKET - $15 ^

Mar 18 in Des Moines, IA @ Wooly's *BUY TICKET - $14 ^

Mar 19 in Chicago, IL @ Concord Music Hall *BUY TICKET - $15^

Mar 20 in Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Ballroom & Tavern *BUY TICKET ^

Mar 23 in Philadelphia, PA @ World Cafe Live *BUY TICKET - $17^

Mar 24 in New York, NY @ Highline Ballroom *BUY TICKET - $15^

Mar 25 in Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club *BUY TICKET - $16^

Mar 26 in Washington, D.C, DC @ U-Street Music Hall *BUY TICKET - $15^

Mar 28 in Richmond, VA @ The Camel ^

Mar 30 in Virginia Beach, VA @ Shakas Live *BUY TICKET - $15^

Mar 31 in Raleigh, NC @ Lincoln Theater *BUY TICKET - $14 ^

Apr 1 in Wilmington, NC @ Ziggy's By The Sea *BUY TICKET - $14 ^

Apr 2 in Charleston, SC @ Music Farm *BUY TICKET - $14 ^

Apr 3 in Atlanta, GA @ Terminal West *BUY TICKET - $14 ^

Apr 5 in Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ Culture Room *BUY TICKET - $17 ^

Apr 7 in Orlando, FL @ The Beacham *BUY TICKET - $15 ^

Apr 8 in Jacksonville, FL @ Mavericks At The Landing *BUY TICKET - $15 ^

Apr 9 in Myrtle Beach, SC @ Caliroots: The Carolina Sessions *BUY TICKET ^

Apr 10 in Tallahassee, FL @ Sidebar Theater *BUY TICKET - $15 ^

Apr 13 in Houston, TX @ The Studio at Warehouse Live *BUY TICKET ^

Apr 14 in Corpus Christi, TX @ House Of Rock *BUY TICKET - $15 ^

Apr 15 in Austin, TX @ Austin Reggae Festival *BUY TICKET - $16 ^

Apr 16 in Dallas, TX @ Gas Monkey *BUY TICKET - $16 ^

Apr 17 in San Antonio, TX @ Sam's Burger Joint *BUY TICKET - $14 ^

May 29 in Monterrey, CA @ CaliRoots Festival *BUY TICKET - $190+ ^

The 7th Annual California Roots Music and Arts Festival has announced their official Pre-Party and Late Night Sessions shows featuring Unified Highway, E.N Young, Inna Vision and more May 26th through the 29th. All shows are 21+ at Planet Gemini, located across the street from the Monterey County Fairgrounds.
 
The California Roots Pre-Party on May 26th will feature Hawaiian artist Kimie Miner and Soul Majestic. Inna Vision and The Steppas will kick off the first Late Night Sessions show on May 27th. The super-duo Unified Highway, consisting of Rebelution vocalist/guitarist Eric Rachmany and renowned producer, DJ, and remixer Amp Live (formerly of Zion I), are lined up for a set on Saturday, May 28th. E.N. Young, vocalist for the San Diego- based Tribal Seeds, closes out the Cali Roots celebration with a performance on Sunday, May 29th.
 
The 2016 California Roots Arts and Music Festival will showcase Slightly Stoopid, Rebelution, Atmosphere, Stephen “Ragga” Marley, Damien “Jr Gong” Marley, and Michael Franti and Spearhead, and many more top tier roots artists.
 
Tickets for the Pre-Party and all Late Night Sessions are available at http://californiarootsfestival.com/tickets. Three-day general admission tickets and single day tickets are still available for California Roots Festival at the same link.

LATE NIGHT SESSIONS
 
May 26, 2016
California Roots Pre-Party
w/ Kimie Miner, Soul Majestic, Animo, Lujan, & DJ Sugar Bear
At Planet Gemini
$24 / 21+
 
May 27, 2016
California Roots Late Night Sessions
w/ Inna Vision & The Steppas
At Planet Gemini
$24 / 21+
 
May 28, 2016
California Roots Late Night Sessions
Unified Highway
At Planet Gemini
$30 / 21+
 
May 29, 2016
California Roots Late Night Sessions
E.N Young & Guest
At Planet Gemini
$24 / 21+
 
FESTIVAL DETAILS
The 7^th Annual California Roots Music and Arts Festival
Dates: Friday, May 27, 2016 – Sunday May 29, 2016
Time: 10:00 am – 11:00 pm PDT
Venue: Monterey County Fair and Event Center
Address: 2004 Fairground Road, Monterey, CA 93940
Admission: Varies (Purchase Link: https://californiaroots16.eventbrite.com 
Age restrictions: All Ages

Easy Star All-Stars have announced their 2016 spring tour: kicking things off with their annual 420 show at The Highline Ballroom in their hometown of NYC (on April 20, of course), the band then heads out to the Midwest and Rocky Mountain regions for two more weeks on the road.

After a successful 2014-15 Dub Side of the Moon Anniversary Tour, the band will continue performing full Dub Side of the Moon sets each night for this run, along with songs from their other critically-acclaimed tribute albums and original favorites. This tour brings the group to a number of cities they’ve never played before.  “We are excited to be performing in so many new places,” states vocalist Kirsty Rock.  “We’ve played all around the world, yet it’s special to be playing totally new markets in our own country.” Some of the cities they will be performing in for the first time include Omaha, NE; Billings, MT; Bozeman, MT; Jackson, WY; Laramie, WY; and Kansas City, MO.  She adds, “It will be invigorating to play in and around the mountain states, since we love experiencing the beauty of nature while on tour to contrast with how much time we spend at the shows and on the bus.”

Denver-based reggae band Tatanka will be opening up all but the first two shows on the tour.. Tatanka has been described as “heavy roots rumble of the Caribbean, while maintaining the pop sensibilities of the dance-oriented electronic sounds from the Britannica-American reggae scenes.” The 420 show in New York will find the band playing with the up-and-coming Jamaican superstar Jesse Royal, while the Omaha show will feature a special pairing with the legendary English Beat closing the night.

The huge success of Dub Side of the Moon (2003) spawned a popular series of reggae tribute albums by the band, including Radiodread (2006), Easy Star’s Lonely Hearts Dub Band (2009), and Easy Star’s Thrillah (2012).  The Easy Star All-Stars have also released an original EP (Until That Day, 2008), an original album (First Light, 2011), and a remix of Dub Side called Dubber Side Of The Moon (2010). They have toured worldwide over the past 12 years, playing in over 30 countries on 6 continents.

Other highlights to expect on tour include Easy Star mashups and medleys of the different albums that have never been heard before live, as well as the addition of keyboardist Matt Goodwin, who has played with John Brown’s Body, Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad, The Movement and others.  He rounds out the touring members including Kirsty Rock (vocals), Ruff Scott (vocals), Shelton Garner Jr. (guitar/vocals), Ivan “Ive-09” Katz (drums), Ras Droppa (bass/vocals), Buford O’Sullivan (trombone/vocals), Jenny Hill (saxophone/flute), and Darren Morze (sound engineer).

Easy Star All-Stars – 2016 Spring Tour Dates

Apr 20 @ Highline Ballroom – New York, NY #

Apr 22 @ High Noon Saloon – Madison, WI

Apr 23 @ Reggie’s Rock Club – Chicago, IL *

Apr 24 @ The Waiting Room – Omaha, NE *$

Apr 26 @ Pub Station – Billings, MT *

Apr 27 @ Top Hat – Missoula, MT *

Apr 28 @ Eagles Ballroom – Bozeman, MT *

Apr 29 @ Pink Garter Theatre – Jackson, WY *

Apr 30 @ The State Room – Salt Lake City, UT *

May 01 @ Further Future 2016 at Moapa Indian Reservation  – Las Vegas, NV

May 03 @ Gryphon Theatre – Laramie, WY *

May 04 @ Gothic Theatre– Englewood, CO ^*

May 05 @ Knuckleheads – Kansas City, MO *

May 06 @ Duck Room @ Blueberry Hill – St. Louis, MO *

May 07 @ Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant – Minneapolis, MN *

* - with Tatanka

# - with Jesse Royal

$ - with English Beat

^ - with Policulture

John Brown’s Body (JBB) is one of the pioneers of the American reggae scene known for explosive live shows and critically acclaimed recordings.  On its upcoming Spring tour, John Brown’s Body will debut songs from their upcoming full length release Fireflies (Easy Star Records), due out fall 2016, while also tapping into its deep archive of hits spanning the last 20 years, including songs from the Billboard Reggae and iTunes Reggae chart topper, Kings and Queens, as well as its dub counterpart Kings and Queens in Dub.
 
Celebrating 20 years as a band, JBB is in its strongest incarnation yet, performing its legendary Future Roots sound that has helped to define the entire American reggae scene.  The band was one of the first U.S. reggae bands to tour nationally, helping to convert the U.S. scene from regional to country-wide. Several notable bands in the current U.S. reggae community, from Rebelution to Passafire, SOJA to The Movement, have pointed to JBB as a key spur in their own development. Through conscious lyrics backed by strong drum and bass and reinforced by triumphant 3 part horns, John Brown’s Body is on tour this spring doing what they do best - spreading its positive future roots reggae to the masses.
 
JBB will be supported by many talented acts such as People’s Champs; Former JBB alum Alex Asher; Asheville-based steel drum phenom Jonathan Scales Fourchestra; and 10-piece afro-beat funksters Big Mean Sound Machine.
 
JBB’s current lineup consists of founding members Elliot Martin (lead vocals) & Tommy Benedetti (drums) alongside Jay Spaker (guitar), Jon Petronzio (keys), Dan Africano (bass), Sam Dechenne (trumpet), TJ Shaper (trombone) & Mike Vitale (saxophone).
 
Fireflies, due early this fall on Easy Star Records, features a sound heavily influenced by pioneering early dancehall bands such as the Roots Radics. It includes a number of songs the band has been performing live, such as “Pure Fire” and “Badman,” and features plenty of songwriting collaboration between Martin and Spaker.
 
--- TOUR DATES ---
April 06th – Buffalo, NY - Iron Works
April 07th – Columbus, OH - Woodlands Tavern
April 08th – Harrisburg, PA - Abbey Bar
April 20th – Syracuse, NY - Westcott Theater
April 21st – Washington, DC - Gypsy Sally’s
April 22nd – Baltimore, MD - The 8x10
April 23rd – Brooklyn, NY - Brooklyn Bowl
April 28th – Charlotte, NC - Visulite Theatre
April 29th – Raleigh, NC - The Pour House
April 30th – Asheville, NC - New Mountain Theatre
May 01st – Atlanta, GA - Terminal West
May 05th – Charleston, SC - Charleston Pour House
May 06th – Athens, GA - Live Wire Athens
May 07th – Orlando, FL - Reggae On The Block
May 26th-28th – Chillicothe, IL - Summer Camp Music Festival 2016
May 29th – Grand Rapids, MI – Founders Brewing Co.
June 18th – Boston, MA - JBB’s Rock On! Concert Cruise
July 30th – Haines, AK - Southeast Alaska State Fair

The fourth annual Levitate Music and Arts Festival proudly announces its 2016 lineup featuring “The Wheels of Soul Tour” with Tedeschi Trucks Band, Los Lobos, and North Mississippi Allstars, alongside Rebelution, Lettuce, Stick Figure, Moon Taxi,Twiddle, Nahko and Medicine for the People, The Movement, and Ron Gallo. The event takes place at the historic Marshfield Fairgrounds [140 Main Street, Marshfield, MA] on Saturday, July 9, 2016.  New this year is the option to camp at the beautiful Wompatuck State Park on Saturday night in a private area for Levitate fans.  General admission tickets are currently on sale at http://www.levitatemusicfestival.com.

The Levitate Music and Arts Festival’s (LMF) foundation is Levitate, a community oriented surf/skate shop and apparel line based out of Marshfield, MA.  Deeply rooted in surf, skate, art and music, Levitate threw the first LMF in 2013 as a ten year anniversary party, bringing together the community to celebrate music and the arts.  LMF has now grown into one of New England’s premier boutique festivals.  This annual festival has come a long way in just three short years.  Festival co-founder and Levitate owner Daniel Hassett enthusiastically states, “The event’s success is due to a hugely supportive community, which Levitate has been embedded in for more than a decade through our youth programs, beach cleanups, surf and skateboard contests and fundraising initiatives.”  He adds, “We take a lot of pride in bringing people together in a unique outdoors setting, in the grass, for a full day.  It brings out the best in our community and creates a laid back, old fashioned vibe.  It’s not only the excellent music, art, and food, but also the people in attendance at the festival who bring new friends each year and spread the word, that has allowed Levitate to grow in an organic way.”

2016’s lineup has a really special connection to South Shore Massachusetts with the headliner Tedeschi Trucks Band.  Susan Tedeschi of the blues-rock powergroup grew up in Norwell, MA, the town adjacent to Marshfield, and used to perform solo at the Marshfield Fairgrounds, where LMF is held.  Hassett explains, “The Tedeschi Trucks Band is our most requested band for our festival with such strong ties to this area, and we’ve been trying to book them since year one.”  He adds, “We are over the moon that we are able to bring them and their ‘Wheels of Soul Tour’ to Levitate and are honored that our festival is the only stop in the greater Boston area.”  Tedeschi Trucks Band recently released their third studio album Let Me Get By that is being praised by national critics including The New Yorker, The Wall Street Journal, Relix, and countless others.  Another South Shore musician, which is the only artist to play every year, is reggae band Stick Figure.  Their lead singer and frontman Scott Woodruff is originally from Duxbury, MA.  Stick Figure is touring to promote their Billboard chart topping reggae album Set In Stone.

In addition to music, Levitate takes pride in the arts and culinary elements of their festival.  During the event, the fairground is filled with large scale art installations and live art with 50 handpicked artists from the Northeast.  Jessica Hassett, festival co-founder and art director says, “Art plays just as much of a role as music does at Levitate.  We know that it enhances the overall experience of the event and showcases another side to our community.”  Sarah Gammon, who hand picks all the food and art vendors adds, “As an artist myself, it has been an honor to curate the vendors for the Levitate Music and Arts Festival. Our artists are hand-selected from all over New England and are chosen based on their unique, handmade work.  Food trucks are selected for their healthy and incredibly appetizing menu.”

Giving back to the community has always been a mission for the festival with non profit organizations playing a big role.  Each year the festival chooses five non profits alongside a long term non profit partner, which is the Boys and Girls Club.  For every ticket sold for Levitate, the festival donates $1 to the Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield.  Over the past few years, Levitate helped raise over $500,000, which was used to rebuild the town’s skateboard park.  The five non profit partners this year are the Love, Hope, Strength Foundation, Steven Zac Woods Scholarship Fund, North River Arts Society, and the Kyle Lemire Scholarship Foundation.

“The down to earth grassroots vibe and strong community combined with quality musical lineups and amazing drink/culinary offerings is what drew me into partnering with Levitate,” says Ineffable Music Group owner and LMF co-owner Thomas Cussins.  He concludes, “With so many music festivals popping up, it’s rare to see such a quality festival stay so unique and exponentially grow at the same time.”

 Full Artist Line-Up:

• “The Wheels of Soul Tour”: Tedeschi Trucks Band w/ Los Lobos and North Mississippi Allstars
• Rebelution
• Lettuce
• Stick Figure
• Moon Taxi
• Nahko and Medicine for the People
• Twiddle
• The Movement
• Ron Gallo

 
FESTIVAL DETAILS
The Fourth Annual Levitate Music and Arts Festival
Date: Saturday, July 9, 2016
Time: Doors 12:00 PM
Venue: Marshfield Fairgrounds
Address: 140 Main Street, Marshfield, MA 02050
Admission: Varies (Purchase Link: http://www.levitatemusicfestival.com/#!tickets/c10fk)
Age restrictions: All Ages

Sway Jah Vu is a 5 piece Florida-grown alternative reggae band that incorporates soul, jazz, and funk with commanding vocals and hard hitting beats. Their new EP, In the Company of Wolves, will be released on March 29, 2016.With every inspi-reggae song on the new release, Sway Jah Vu continues to urge audiences to practice simplicity, patience and positivity. Sway Jah Vu has performed with legendary reggae acts like The Wailers and Stephen Marley, as well as new wave U.S. reggae bands Passafire, Rebelution and Sublime with Rome.

In the Company of Wolves traverses many contemporary political and social concerns. Wars and proxy wars waged overseas, racism and hate, and human rights issues are the backdrop for the writing on the new EP. Travis Cockerham (guitar, vocals) also became a new dad, pushing these issues even further to the forefront of his mind as he imagined the kind of future his child will have.

The title of the EP emerged from a Cherokee story titled “The Tale of Two Wolves,” which is a deeply treasured story in Cockerham’s father’s family, who are of Native American heritage. Cockerham explains, “In the company of wolves is kind of a double edged sword. On one hand, it's a warning and on the other, it's a call to action.” He continues, “Not only do you have to be cautious of wolves in your presence but also, to a certain extent, you have to think and act like a wolf to thrive in the world that we live in.”

Lyrically, Nahko and Medicine for the People and Mike Love are close brethren to Sway Jah Vu. The artists preach a focus on the self and perception, coupled with forward-thinking mantras touching on acceptance, understanding, and altruism. Hendrix and Joe Bonamassa are influences for the band’s intricate instrumentation and foregrounded guitar work. Most of the experimentation with sound for the new EP came from different guitar recording techniques, like multiple amps, condenser and dynamic mics, and different mic placement.

In the Company of Wolves was recorded at Ethnic House Studios just south of Tallahassee, Florida, and was produced by Julian de la Cruz. Sway Jah Vu, consisting of Cockerham, Logan Pepper (bass), Terrell Sermon (drums, vocals), Paul Adams (keys), and Eric Kennedy (saxophone), formed a tight relationship during the recording of their previous EP, Stealing Secrets. That collection of songs were crafted specifically about addiction and the battles that come with it. "We wanted to give people hope who maybe felt like they had lost it," explains Cockerham.

The new EP represents the group’s maturity and growth as a band, and a willingness to tackle far-reaching, hefty topics in a 5 song release. Sway Jah Vu delivers a tried and true reggae message of activism and awareness to audiences, packaged in a fresh way: “Our country and our world is in a dangerous place. We need be aware of who we are and what's going on around us. People also need to stand up for what they believe in, and we're trying to help them do that.”

“Happy Ever After” is an anthemic ode to empowerment and individuality, and urges audiences to think about how to achieve this by adopting a healthy amount of self-examination. Cockerham expands, “The huge media outlets, education systems and the Internet have given us molds or templates to choose from when it comes to becoming a person or choosing a path. This track is advising against using those templates and making yourself into something unique and special.”

“People” advises an open-minded and “One Love” approach towards the human race, as members of the band feel is still a poignant message for this country. Cockerhams delivery of “Everybody’s out trying to do the same thing / if we don’t come together then it’s never gonna change” is forceful and affecting, and the driving guitar and the crescendo of the instrumentation mirrors the singer’s plea. “Hold on Me,” “Wolves,” and “Runaway” continue the strong musicality and message building that has enticed their fans.

While touring the Southeastern U.S., Sway Jah Vu is constantly evolving the way they impact their community by putting on free shows for fans, participating in benefit concerts and volunteering for organizations like The Water Project, Chillin’ for Kids, and V.O.C.A.L. Animal Rescue. "We want to push the limits for creating new and exciting music while staying true to our mission of creating a cultural sway,” says Cockerham. Sway Jah Vu will tour in support of the new release. Please check out http://www.swayjahvu.com/shows for more details.

The Movement’s new album Golden has debuted at #1 on the Billboard Reggae Chart. This is the trio’s sixth studio album and the first release on Rootfire Cooperative, a label services program that provides interest free loans for the production and marketing of recorded music. The Movement, comprised of Joshua Swain (guitar, lead vocals), Jason “Smiles” Schmidt (bass, moog, vocals), Gary Jackson (drums), has garnered critical acclaim and earned a dedicated fan base for their infectious reggae throughout a decade-long career. They kicked off their national “Golden Hearts Tour” on March 19 in their hometown of Columbia, South Carolina.

Powerhouse Country and Americana artist Crystal Yates will release her third album, The Other Side on May 20, 2016. Inspired by classic country singer songwriters like Merle Haggard and Motown artists like Etta James, Crystal Yates infectiously fuses soul, country, and rock into an emotional landscape on her new album. The Other Side is a compilation of songs that are true stories about overcoming struggles and offer the listener understanding and hope.

Crystal Yates and her multi-instrumentalist husband Will Yates started recording the album in January 2016 in Denton, TX at Redwood Studios owned by drummer and producer Mckenzie Smith. Crystal recalls, “We’ve been friends with McKenzie Smith for quite a while now, and really loved his work with St. Vincent, Sarah Jaffe, Gungor, and lots of others. As we were finishing these songs, his name kept popping into our heads, but we weren’t sure if he would want to take on a country/Americana project like what we were thinking. So one day we just asked him about it, and he was really enthusiastic about the idea. It was great because he is such a gifted drummer, but he really got into the producer mode behind each of this whole project and called in just the right players. From the first day of recording, we could tell this was going to be something magical.”

During the recording session for the title track, Crystal says, “I kept trying to describe the big boomy stomp sound I wanted to hear in the song somewhere..but I didn’t know exactly how to relay that into words. McKenzie went over hit a couple of his drums, but that wasn’t quite it. Then he and Will went over to one of his drum road cases and stared at it for a bit..like they were thinking the same thing but neither of them said a word…and then emptied it out and gave it a whack…and that was exactly the sound I was hoping for.” “The Other Side” is full sounding new country rock infused with spiritual themes, an anthem that resonates victory and triumph.

Most notable is “Leave Me Alone to Die,” an emotionally moving and heart breaking song. In this song Crystal’s powerhouse vocals sing an overpoweringly gripping song about when she was kidnapped as a young child. Remembering the words of her Grandmother, Crystal began to pray to Jesus aloud as her kidnapper was undressing in the woods nearby her childhood home. The kidnapper became agitated when hearing her pray he asked her if she wanted to go home and let her go. “Leave me Alone to Die” resonates her mindset from this scary event.

“Already Yours” is throwback sound to Motown, this rhythm and blues song oozes soul with Jon Christopher Davis on backup vocals. Crystal Yates vocals hold true to her influencers standing her own with the likes of Etta James, Whitney Houston and Aretha Franklin. During the recording process for this track, Will remembers, “There’s an old Baldwin upright piano at the studio that we had thought about using for the song Already Yours, but everyone agreed it just doesn’t hold its tune very well. But the more I banged on it the more I really loved the vibey feel it had. So when it came time to record for that song, I brought in a piano tuning kit I had, tuned up just the specific keys I would be using and gave it a shot. Everyone loved it, and that’s how we wound up recording that song..record one take…stop, retune….record another take..stop, retune, etc.”

Crystal Yates elegantly presents a wide range of influences on this album; none more predominate than “Hell On My Soul.” A twangy mix of traditional country with vocal harmonies by fellow co-writer Kylie Rae Harris. Longtime friend of Crystal Yates, Kylie Rae Harris met with Crystal in Nashville to help work on the track, Crystal says, “I had the general idea in my head for a while, and I had a co-writing session scheduled with Kylie Rae Harris in Nashville one day. I had several things I was going to bring to the table to see which one we wanted to chase down, but when she arrived that day it was obvious to see that she had been having a “hell of a day”..so I knew I needed to bring Hell On My Soul for her to write on.”

For Crystal Yates, The Other Side is not only musically close to her heart but also, the most collaborative release to date. Working with such names as, Mckenzie Smith on drums, he also was a co-producer and mixed the album, and Joey McLellan played electric guitar, both from the band Midlake. Hank Early from Turnpike Troubadours plays steel. Kylie Rae Harris co-wrote “Hell on My Soul” and sung backing vocals. Scott Lee plays bass. Lindsey Duffin played fiddle in Made to Last. Jon Christopher Davis sang backing vocals on Leave Me Alone to Die and Made to Last. Jordan Martin was the engineer, and Kim Rosen mastered the album.

Crystal Yates, who was crowned the national winner in the 2014 Texaco Country Showdown, the longest-running music competition, saw her last album I Believe produced by Charlie Peacock (The Civil Wars, Holly Williams) rocket up the iTunes charts debuting at #13 on its release day. Since then, she’s had a more than full schedule; touring across the US and opening for and performing with dozens of artists such as Martina McBride, Joe Ely, John Conlee, Suzy Bogguss, Sam Baker, Deana Carter, and many more, as well as performing at renown venues such as the Sundance Film Festival, SXSW, The Bluebird Cafe, and the Ryman Auditorium. Crystal Yates will embark on a national and UK tour in 2017.

Track Listing:
Leave Me Along To Die
Already Yours
Made to Last
Hell On My Soul
The Other Side

Ten years ago, Barbès Records released Hazmat Modine’s debut album, Bahamut, which quickly went on to become a cult classic. Pitchfork probably captured it best by describing it as “generalized roots music that takes from pretty much any roots it sees fit,” and went on to praise the album as “true world music, weird and wonderful to the last note.”

Now ten years later, Barbès is releasing Hazmat Modine’s third studio album: Extra-Deluxe-Supreme: an artistic statement that is the culmination of ten years of musical adventures around the world.

The new album confirms Hazmat Modine’s place as a band of outsiders oblivious to the rules that govern today’s music scene. The group itself is a heterogeneous collection of musicians with a fondness for odd instruments and an all-inclusive view of what constitutes American music. Extra-Deluxe-Supreme is their most classically American album to date. It draws from Gospel and R&B, from Country Blues and early jazz, and displays a strong attention to songcraft, inspired by a long line of American songwriters from Tin Pan Alley to Stax and Motown.

Hazmat’s sound is still defined by their signature tuba and harmonica, as well as their original horn section, guitars and accordion – with the addition of your usual assortment of marimba, doshpuluur, Igil, railroad spikes, claviola, rocks and cimbalom.

Hazmat’s eclecticism is probably what got them noticed in the first place. The band is known for having collaborated with famed Tuvan throat singers Huun Tuur Tu, Benin’s Gangbe Brass Band as well as Natalie Merchant. They count “American songwriting and African music” as their “biggest influences,” and first got noticed by German director Wim Wenders for the Calypso-like Bahamut, which Wenders included in his movie Pina.

Extra-Deluxe-Supreme does away with the more obvious genre hopping and exotic colors of its predecessors. After ten years of leftfield collaborations and extensive touring in places as varied as Siberia, Borneo, Brazil, Germany, Mexico, New Zealand and Turkey, Hazmat Modine seems to have absorbed it all and wholeheartedly embraces its own forged identity as an American band with its own idea of what American music means.

“Twenty years ago” explains bandleader Wade Schuman “I had to sort through all the complicated detritus of singing in an idiom that has its origins in Southern and rural music but I also embrace being a New Yorker. I like the idea of a New York music which by its nature is eclectic.”

One essential New York tradition remains that of the professional songwriters, starting with Tin Pan Alley and the likes of Irving Berlin (who inspired the song Plans) “Tin Pan Alley affected everything. It was really about the idea of a journeyman songwriter and the fact that we were creating our own music in the 20th century.” You could say that they created the template for all the songwriting teams that would emerge later in Memphis, Detroit, or the Brill Building.

In keeping with the idea of a songwriting team, most of the songs on the album were co-written by Wade Schuman and bandmate and guitarist Erik Della Penna. “Sometimes I’ll write the verse, and Erik will write the chorus. Or if I have a melody he will write the lyrics. We have absolutely no system,” says Schuman about their collaboration. “Neither of us has a preconception of how to do things”

Still, Hazmat Modine has not renounced its fondness for eclectic sources and transcultural feedback, as exemplified by their collaboration with Alash, another band from Tuva. “I brought in the Tuvans again because I thought that they intersect perfectly with a certain kind of American idiomatic language” says Schuman. “On the song Your Sister for instance, I’m going for a kind of rural American sound but the irony is that the Tuvans are playing their own version of the fiddle and banjo and flute – it’s exactly where the tonality of Asia and the Midwest meet.”

For the past ten years, Hazmat has kept a busy touring schedule in most of Europe – with forays into Asia and Latin America. The band has been the recipient of France’s prestigious French Charles Cros Award, a German Records Award and was nominated for a BBC award. Its US appearances, however, tend to be limited to their hometown.

It is true that Hazmat Modine may confuse American audiences. “In most bands everyone looks kind of similar to each other but I think Hazmat doesn’t fit anybody’s idea of a normal band. We are not one ecosystem” says Schuman. The band includes men and women of all ages, blacks and whites, rock and jazz musicians. The diversity is a reflection of Schuman’s wide range of interests. “I think that’s an important ingredient to what the band is. I pick people who wouldn’t naturally go together. People who have a very different background from me and from each other.”

And indeed, band members have all contributed different aspects of the American musical experience Reeds player Steve Elson toured with Johnny Otis and then went on to work with David Bowie for many years. Guitarist Michaela Gomez is a veteran of the rich Brooklyn trad jazz scene. Trumpet player Pam Fleming has toured with Burning Spear (and smoked weed with Fela in Lagos) Accordion player and singer Rachelle Garniez has worked with Jack White and written for musical theater. Erik Della Penna has toured and recorded with Natalie Merchant for over a decade, as well as worked with Joan Baez and Joan Osborne. Drummer Tim Keiper has spent years playing with Vieux Farka Toure, Cyro Baptista and the Dirty Projectors. He has visited Mali numerous times to study calabash and N’goni.

Hazmat’s only other original member, along with Schuman, is tuba player Joseph Daley. “Joseph was my guru in a way because he saw something in the kind of raw band leader that I was; he saw something that we could do.”

Joseph Daley is a native New Yorker, born in Harlem to a West Indian family and raised on the Lower East Side. As a teenager he started playing out with Latin musicians such as Monguito Santamaria and Jerry Gonzalez. He went on to work with some of the most influential artists of the past forty years including Sam Rivers, Charlie Haden’s Liberation Orchestra, Taj Mahal and Howard Johnson.

The heteroclite nature of the band remains one of its most defining characteristic – and perhaps its main driver.  The sense of creative freedom and disregard for constraining rules that permeates Hazmat Modine’s music is particularly evident on their latest album, which Schuman calls “the product of a maturation of a kind of musical journey” “’

“I think our band is like a really good NYC diner” concludes Schuman. “The food comes from every tradition you can think of, but in the end it’s really the ultimate American comfort food.”

Estonian fiddler and vocalist Maarja Nuut’s 12-track full-length album In the Hold of a Dream arrives June 3, 2016, leading listeners into an ambient, looping electronic retelling of the village musical traditions of pre-war Europe. Nuut’s spellbinding storytelling is an extension of a hushed, minimalistic technique that creates a 21st century intersection of fiddle, vocal etherealism, and a looping pedal re-rendering of the artist’s lucid dreams as they meet reconstructions of Estonian folk traditions.

In the Hold of a Dream proposes a melancholic, haunting evocation of Nuut’s dreamworld, offering the listener the ability to fluidly travel between the artist’s realities, whether rooted in resurfaced Estonian mysticism, experimental soundscapes, or classic storytelling bent to electronic, looping currents. Her latest offering directly builds off of motifs from her previous album Soolo (2013), which culled inspiration from her research into early 20th century field recordings, and their interplay with contemporary vocal harmonies.

Soolo garnered favorable comparisons to Czech avant-garde violinist Iva Bittová, as well as feedback from Duran Duran frontman Simon Le Bon, who commented that Nuut’s original compositions are “…what it sounds like when the snow sings.” As observed by fRoots’ Andrew Cronshaw upon hearing Nuut’s debut material, the artist’s compositions evoke “a feeling of being sung and played to in a quiet wooden house among the wide skies, marshes, silver-birch and dark pine forest of the Estonian countryside, and, as on a walk in a special place, each time round brings a new perception.”

On In the Hold of a Dream, “Sammud” (“Footsteps”) links a delicate waltz with Nuut’s signature fiddle plucks to explore the parallel joining of bodies’ natural movement to the rhythm of the track; “Kuradipolka” (“The Devil’s Polka”) imagines the soundtrack to a pack of devils dancing around a rock hidden in the forest late at night; “Hobusemäng” (“The Horse Game”) revisits a generations-old ritual singing game that casts a protective spell through the power of superstitious thinking.

The album also invited a number of collaborative efforts, with the drony track “Kiik tahab kindaid” (“The Swing Wants Mittens”) combining Nuut’s vocals with excerpts from Patrick McGinley’s field recording of cell phone tower cables in Southern Estonia. “Eeva & Maarja Iabajalg” invites fiddler Eeva Talsi into an improvised song that leans most closely to traditional-sounding aesthetics based on the region’s dance rhythms, while the spacious, imagined desert soundscape “Kargus” was directly influenced by Nuut’s collaborative project with Tuareg singer and guitarist Alhousseini Anivolla.

Written and recorded in 2015 in a woodlands-nestled studio in the center of Tallinn near Nuut’s home, In the Hold of a Dream is the result of disciplined studio practice. Nuut’s technique teeters between a hypnotic trance of click track live-looping while creating room for an almost psychedelic, improvised spontaneity within each track. All tracks were authored and recorded by Nuut, while audio engineer Kaur Kenk mastered the project, and also contributed to building out the technical setup and the live stage translation of the studio concept.

Hailing from Rakvere, Estonia, a small town near the Baltic coast, Nuut’s immersion in music has been consistent throughout her life, beginning with being raised by her mother, a choir conductor that introduced her to studying violin at the age of seven. At age twelve, Nuut left her small town to study at Tallinn Music High School, and eventually at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre. After a seven-month stay in New Delhi where Nuut honed her studies on northern Indian musical traditions, she returned home to focus exclusively on traditional Estonian music at the University of Tartu Viljandi Culture Academy, and eventually on her Masters degree in Stockholm.

Nuut has toured extensively throughout the United States, Canada, the UK, and Europe, having recently showcased as an official performer at WOMEX’s edition in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, at the prestigious Mundial Montreal conference, Eurosonic Noorderslag, APAP, Folk Alliance International, MENT Ljubljana, and Tallinn Music Week.

The Levitate Music and Arts Festival in Marshfield, MA will feature “The Wheels of Soul Tour” with Tedeschi Trucks Band, Los Lobos, and North Mississippi Allstars, alongside Rebelution, Lettuce, Stick Figure, Moon Taxi, Twiddle, Nahko and Medicine for the People, The Movement, and Ron Gallo. The biggest little festival in Massachusetts has seen explosive growth over the past 3 years, growing from an intimate barbeque with friends to a standout community gathering expecting 10,000 fans in its fourth year.

The event takes place at the historic Marshfield Fairgrounds [140 Main Street, Marshfield, MA] on Saturday, July 9, 2016.  VIP, Early Bird and Camping tickets at Wompatuck State Park are already sold out.  General admission tickets are currently available at http://www.levitatemusicfestival.com

The Levitate Music and Arts Festival’s (LMF) foundation is Levitate, a community oriented surf/skate shop and apparel line based out of Marshfield.  The husband and wife team of Daniel and Jessica Hassett own and operate the shop and threw the first LMF in 2013 as a ten year anniversary party. Daniel began working at the store as a high school student in 2003 under the previous owner Bob Pollard, who taught Daniel how to surf and skate. For more than a decade, Levitate has been involved in youth programs, beach cleanups, surf and skateboard contests and fundraising initiatives. The Hassetts have consciously honored Levitate’s mission to lift up and grow the surrounding communities with their event. LMF is proud to partner with organizations like The Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield, Love, Hope, Strength Foundation, North River Arts Society, and more. For every ticket sold to LMF, the festival donates $1 to the Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield, and over the past few years, Levitate helped raise over $500,000 which was used to rebuild the town’s skateboard park. The organizers are adding a comprehensive recycling program at the festival, and are planning for more environmentally sustainable measures for future events.

LMF has blossomed into one of New England’s premier boutique festivals. Daniel Hassett contributes their growth to the top tier musical talent, a homegrown vibe with local artists and vendors, and Levitate’s harmonious relationship with the community that Pollard began cultivating years ago with his local shop and philanthropic efforts. Hassett enthusiastically states, “We take a lot of pride in bringing people together in a beautiful outdoors setting, in the grass, for a full day.  It brings out the best in our community and creates a laid back, old fashioned vibe that can be lacking at a larger festival.” He adds, “What keeps us growing within our community in an organic way are the awesome, supportive fans who bring new friends each year and spread the word about our unique ‘big little’ festival.”

Full Artist Line-Up

• “The Wheels of Soul Tour”: Tedeschi Trucks Band w/ Los Lobos and North Mississippi Allstars
• Rebelution
• Lettuce
• Stick Figure
• Moon Taxi
• Nahko and Medicine for the People
• Twiddle
• The Movement
• Ron Gallo

Austin’s Hard Proof has confirmed the release of its new record, Public Hi-Fi Session 03, out on June 24 on Jim Eno’s Public Hi-Fi Records. The release will be available on 12-inch vinyl (180gram/45rpm), digital download, and to stream.

The award-winning 10-piece collective is the finest purveyor of African funk, world music, and jazz inspired by the sub-Saharan African continent in the state of Texas. Formed in 2008, Hard Proof features members of Black Joe Lewis, The Calm Blue Sea, Ocote Soul Sounds, Spanish Gold, The Echocentrics, and several other notable Austin acts.

Public Hi-Fi Sessions 03 is the fourth release from Jim Eno’s (Spoon) record label after three successful vinyl releases from Dupree, Dana Falconberry and Sondre Lerche. This release was recorded in two separate sessions at Eno’s Public Hi-Fi studio in Austin. What makes this release so unique is that the recording sessions were live and 100 percent analog from top to bottom. Stephen Bidwell, the drummer for Hard Proof states, “The first half of the tracks were recorded in December 2015, and Eno was teaching a class from Ohio University, so we had half a dozen ‘interns’ running around learning how to track a large group live to tape. This was sort of a no-pressure situation, but the tracks we got out of it were so solid that we knew we needed to release it. After some talking with Jim, we came back with three more songs in February 2016 and rounded out the record.” Jim Eno expresses: “I first saw Hard Proof at the Continental Club in 2012. It was an amazing show. The 10-piece band had a great feel and magnetic energy. I’d recently recorded the jazz band Dupree live to 1/2-inch tape, and it hit me that Hard Proof would be perfect for this type of project. To record live to tape, the band needs to be incredibly tight because no overdubs are possible, and no mixing occurs after tracking; the tracks are mixed as the band plays in real time. I was confident that Hard Proof could pull this off.”

The six songs on the record each pack their own punch but holistically showcase the band at a new level with its compositions and dynamic live-to-tape performances. The three main composers for the release are Derek Phelps (trumpet), Joe Sokolik (bass), and Joe Woullard (bari sax/flute). Phelps breaks down some of his inspiration and creative process around the songs he composed. He states: “For ‘The Break,’ I was on a break from playing the trumpet due to a busted lip, but that helped me break through my writer’s block, and this tune is one of the first to come out of that.” ‘Popemobile’ was built off a melodic figure created around the beginning of the band, which we played a handful of times, and then I sat on it for many years. When I knew this recording was coming up, I brought it back with a different perspective. It’s one of those simple songs that leaves a lot of room for the group’s interpretation. ‘Institution’ is about the idea of religion and the institutions it creates because I started questioning the religion I was brought up in. Being an instrumental tune, communicating something as complicated as religion is not really possible, but it can be an inspiration.”

Woullard explains his inspiration of compositional songs: “‘Painted Flowers’ is about a grocery store in Texas that sells flowers painted in bright, unnatural colors. Why would you want to paint a flower? Flowers are already beautiful as they are. Some of the prettiest ones are free, growing wild on the side of the road. ‘Revenge’ is a great tune where the ensemble locks into in an aggressive rhythm. Sparse melodies weave between percussive barks and stabs; harmony emerges as lines converge in urgent dialogue. Revenge is a cycle of tension.”

Sokolik rounds out the compositions with ‘Default,’ mentioning that, “The song is a result of an externally imposed deadline where I got to cranking out melodies and overlapping rhythm parts. After running it a few times with the band, we decided it needed to be a lot faster. Then Gerardo came up with the concept for the deceptive introduction, and we ran it in the studio until it worked.”

While Hard Proof’s releases are always well-received, there seems to be universal agreement that the band’s live shows are something not to be missed. KUTX tastemaker Laurie Gallardo put it best. “This local ensemble always puts on an electrifying live show,” she says, “an absolute blowout of nonstop percussion action and blasting brass, bringing the best of both worlds to the stage by mixing classic styles and plenty of their personal panache.” Stay tuned for Hard Proof’s upcoming shows and a new full-length album later in 2016.

On the heels of their first national U.S. tour with Stick Figure and Fortunate Youth, one of Jamaica’s most promising young acts Raging Fyah is gearing up for their debut album for Dub Rockers, entitled Everlasting. Following their previous self-released albums Judgement Day (2011) and Destiny (2014), Everlasting will be available for worldwide release on May 27, 2016. The five-piece Kingston collective - consisting of Kumar Bent (lead singer), Courtland White (guitarist) Anthony Watson (drummer), Demar Gayle (keyboardist) and Delroy "Pele” Hamilton (bassist) – carries the tradition of the island’s enduring roots rock reggae spirit with an expansive vision and fresh contemporary flare.

Recorded live at Kingston’s legendary Tuff Gong Studios, Everlasting is produced by Llamar “Riff Raff” Brown (whose credits include Stephen and Damian Marley, Richie Spice, T.O.K. and 2016 Grammy Award winners Morgan Heritage) and features select guest artists. Rising roots singjay Jesse Royal joins the band in criticizing greedy, uncaring leaders on “Humble.” Jamaican dancehall star Busy Signal is featured on two irresistible tracks including the pop-flavored “Would You Love Me” and the lilting “Live Your Life” also featuring the Compton, California raised reggae star J Boog.

Inspired by the likes of The Wailers, Third World, Steel Pulse and Aswad, Raging Fyah tackles similar topics of socio-economics and politics with an underlying message of hope and inspiration fueled by passion and purpose. From the hypnotic dub title track to the melodious crusade for “Justice” and lush harmonies and gentle soulfulness of the album’s first single “Ready For Love,” Raging Fyah’s varied experiences and broadening perspectives in recent years contribute to the sonic sophistication that characterizes Everlasting. The band writes all their songs together, many conveying personal meaning while simultaneously addressing wider issues. “Musically, we kept our roots but went way beyond them because there is not just one shape to fyah, it takes on different forms,” says Demar. “Wondering,” penned in Haiti (the world’s the first independent Black nation) asks how did we get here, while “Get Up” motivates the progress of Africans throughout the Diaspora despite historical atrocities of slavery. The purity of Kumar’s emotionally wrenching vocals shine on throughout the collection. His supple expressive tone persuasively delivers on Everlasting’s array of personas, including the playful suitor on the “Dash Wata”, the Jamaican roots revolutionary on “Raggamuffin” and the enlightened soldier in Jah Army on “Getting Dread.” Each mood is ideally complemented by the band’s finely honed, faultlessly taut grooves.

Most of Raging Fyah’s members met at Edna Manley College of Visual & Performing Arts in Kingston before officially forming in 2006. The group has already made a name for themselves in their native country, playing the biggest shows (Reggae Sumfest, Rebel Salute, Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival and their own Wickie Wackie Festival). From tearing up stages in South America to headlining major European reggae festivals (Summerjam, Rototom Sunsplash and Garance), they also have a devoted following internationally – even performing in such far-flung locales as Siberia, Russia and the South Pacific island of New Caledonia. Raging Fyah's infectious vibes and soul-filled sound continue to make waves in the latest reggae renaissance. The buzzworthy band was recently covered in VOGUE, raving how the "whole crowd was drawn to its feet in a visible wave, like fallen dominoes getting up again" after their Rebel Salute 2015 performance in Jamaica. They also made both OkayPlayer LargeUp's and Marley Natural's 2016 Artists To Watch list, and their upcoming release has been selected by The Pier as one of 2016's Most Anticipated Albums. After their recent cross-country U.S. tour supporting Stick Figure, they are steadily capturing the hearts of North American listeners and will head back to the U.S. on May 29 to perform at the annual California Roots Music and Arts Festival.

Kimié Miner, the Hawaiian based singer-songwriter who uniquely weaves between Reggae, Soul, R&B, Jazz, Hawaiian, and Pop, recently launched her new music video for the song “Trouble” from her 2015 critically-acclaimed album. You can view the video below.

The self-titled album sees Kimié coming into her own as an artist from her journey of world travels, her residency in California, and her reconnection to her native Hawaiian roots.  Although she put out a few releases, Kimié’s new album is a re-introduction to her and her music and is aptly titled Kimié Miner.  The theme for the album is land, which Kimié states, “It’s about our connection to the land and the seasons we experience both in our surroundings and within ourselves.”

Press accolades from the album state, “[Kimié] has developed an eclectic musical style all her own” (Artist Direct), “This record is simply one of those tasty treats you can't wait to play for your friends and turn them into believers (Midwest Record), and “The new album is by far one of the best I've heard from any female artist coming out of Hawaii” (Rudeboy Hawaii).

“Trouble” is one of four tracks Miner co-wrote with Billy Van in Indianapolis. Kimié states, “This song is about the internal struggle we all have within ourselves. We want to do well but we all fall off the wagon at some point. It’s about the realization that we’re not perfect and learning how to deal with that. The only person who can save you is you.”

Kimié Miner was recorded mostly in Hawaiʻi at Blue Planet Sound Recording Studio.  Bolstered by her recent move back home, Miner met a variety of writers and producers in her travels, through which she encountered fresh musical ideas and new versions of herself. This combination of mobility and groundedness informs her assertion that “I am not just a Hawaiian entertainer. I am a songwriter with a mission to let my roots give me wings. I want to be able to show young people that they can be proud of who they are and where they come from while still exploring the rest of the world.”
 
“Trouble” Video Credits:
Kimié Miner - Executive Producer
Joel Layogan - Producer, Director, Editor, Cinematographer
Oday Shakar - Creative Director, stylist
Kekoa Kapua - Associate Producer
Eric Kim - 1st AC
Austin Harris - Gimbal Op / Camera Operator
Cody Preston Troxell - 2nd AC
Matt Arner - Gaffer
Randy Crisco - Key Grip
Sarah Noru Alammuri - 1st AD
Ray Castillo - VFX Artist
Chantelle Su’a- Producer Assist, F+B 
Roman Teanio - BTS Photographer
Alexander Peuchot - Makeup/ Hair
Kailua Hurwitz - Hair, Assist
Mckenna Maduli - Assist
Shadi Faridi - Assist, RV driver, BTS photographer
Nolan Padilla - Choreographer
David Delaney - music video trailers
Archimedes aka Bert – Owl

US Tour Dates:
05/26 – California Roots Pre Party – Monterey, CA
05/28 – 39th Annual Na Hoku Hanohano Awards – Honolulu, HI
06/15 – The Federal Underground – Long Beach, CA
06/17 – Hotel Café – Los Angeles, CA
06/18 – San Diego Oysterfest 2016 – San Diego, CA

Celebrating ten prolific years with their tenth studio release, the Bay Area’s Beats Antique has prepared an epic cross-country tour leading through the New Year, taking the trio of David Satori, Sidecar Tommy, and Zoe Jakes between historic venues and festivals like Colorado’s Red Rocks Amphitheatre, New York’s Irving Plaza, Louisiana’s Voodoo Music + Arts Festival, and beyond.
 
As modern-day storytellers for the digital age–where the Beats meet the Antique–the band’s live show comes fully equipped to bridge the newest technology with ancient-rooted traditions, bringing to life a singular sound that touches on downtempo Middle Eastern influences, cinematic orchestral arrangements, and futuristic interpretations of trap and bass currents.
 
The live immersive show dives full-on into the theme of shadow play, being deeply influenced by ancient practices of Indonesian shadow puppetry in the world of wayang kulit, the eons long tradition of storytelling where epic tales unfold into the wee hours of the morning. Through dance performances, art theater, crowd interaction, and intricate set design, the Shadowbox tour explores the other worlds that light, shadow, and high contrast dimensions can create. In particular, this tour features the work of Oakland-based geometric light sculpture artists HYBYCOZO to create custom lanterns for the stage.
 
The tour doubles as a preview of new material from Beats Antique’s forthcoming Shadowbox album, which includes features from Alam Khan, Tatiana Kalmykova, and brasshouse trio TOO MANY ZOOZ, who joins Beats Antique on the majority of tour dates. TOO MANY ZOOZ baritone sax player Leo Pellegrino recently appeared on “Daddy Lessons” from Beyoncé’s Lemonade album after being scouted from a viral video of the band busking in a New York City subway station. Beats Antique will also be joined on a string of dates by Bay Area experimental bass producer Thriftworks. Beats Antique is also featured on TOO MANY ZOOZ new album Subway Gawdz available now.
 
Beats Antique recently premiered the first single from their album, “Killer Bee” featuring Lafa Taylor (https://soundcloud.com/beatsantique/beats-antique-killer-bee-ft-lafa-taylor) via Billboard, mentioning that the track is “about standing up to prejudices. Just because someone calls you a killer bee, doesn’t mean you need to kill. We want people to define themselves and not be defined by what people think they should be. We are using this as an opportunity to help the bees.” As such, Beats Antique will be donating a percentage of proceeds from the July 1st show at Morrison, Colorado’s Red Rocks Amphitheatre to The Honeybee Conservancy, a non-profit dedicated to education, outreach, and research support in response to the bee crisis. The equally compelling music video (https://youtu.be/-wRva0aguAQ)
directed by Kyrian Bobeerian recently premiered over at YourEDM.com
 
After ten years of album releases and tours, Shadowbox marks the first release created in the band’s Shadowbox Productions recording studio in the Bay Area. Tying into Beats Antique’s three-dimensional approach to artistry, the group has recently opened a storefront in Berkeley, California (1741 Alcatraz Avenue) that creates a life-sized rendition of the Shadowbox concept, which also functions as a community events space and trade point for tour merch and local designers’ jewelry, art, and fashion.
 
TOUR DATES
 
July 1, 2016 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre
July 8, 2016 – San Bernardino, CA – Chalice California
July 15, 2016 – Olympic Valley, CA – Squaw Valley Ski Resort
July 23, 2016 – Bozeman, MT – Bridger Brewing w/ Tauk
August 5, 2016 – Salmo, Canada – Salmo River Ranch
August 6, 2016 – Salmo, Canada – Salmo River
August 12, 2016 – Donnelly, ID – Tamarack Resort
August 11, 2016 – Darrington, WA – Summer Meltdown Festival
August 25, 2016 – Panama, NY – Night Lights Music Festival
August 26, 2016 – Panama, NY – Night Lights Music Festival
August 27, 2016 – Atlanta, GA – Imagine Festival
August 28, 2016 – Atlanta, GA – Imagine Festival
September 23, 2016 – Oakdale, CA – Symbiosis Gathering
September 28, 2016 – Flagstaff, AZ – Orpheum Theater w/ Thriftworks
September 29, 2016 – Taos, NM – Taos Mesa Brewing w/ Thriftworks
October 1, 2016 – Lawrence, KS – Granada Theater w/ Too Many Zooz
October 2, 2016 – Lincoln, NE – Bourbon Theatre w/ Too Many Zooz
October 4, 2016 – Urbana, IL – The Canopy Club w/ Too Many Zooz
October 5, 2016 – Madison, WI – Majestic Live w/ Too Many Zooz
October 6, 2016 – Minneapolis, MN – Skyway Theatre w/ Too Many Zooz
October 11, 2016 – Portland, ME – Port City Music Hall w/ Thriftworks
October 12, 2016 – South Burlington, VT – Higher Ground w/ Thriftworks
October 13, 2016 – Boston, MA – Royale Boston w/ Thriftworks
October 14, 2016 – Baltimore, MD – Rams Head Live! w/ Too Many Zooz
October 15, 2016 – New York, NY – Irving Plaza w/ Too Many Zooz
October 16, 2016 – Philadelphia, PA – Theatre of Living Arts w/ Too Many Zooz
October 18, 2016 – Charlottesville, VA – The Jefferson Theater w/ Too Many Zooz
October 19, 2016 – Carrboro, NC – Cat’s Cradle w/ Too Many Zooz
October 20, 2016 – Charleston, SC – Music Farm w/ Too Many Zooz
October 22, 2016 – Cincinnati, OH – Bogart’s w/ Too Many Zooz
October 25, 2016 – Nashville, TN – Marathon Music Works w/ Too Many Zooz
October 27, 2016 – Tulsa, OK – Cain’s Ballroom w/ Thriftworks
October 28, 2016 – Dallas, TX – The Bomb Factory w/ Thriftworks
October 30, 2016 – New Orleans, LA – Voodoo Music + Arts Festival
October 31, 2016 – San Antonio, TX – The Aztec Theater w/ Thriftworks
October 29, 2016 – Austin, TX – Emo’s w/ Thriftworks
January 20, 2017 – Miami, FL – Norwegian Pearl

Money Chicha is an Austin, Texas based group featuring members of the Grammy-award winning Latin orchestra Grupo Fantasma and its offshoot funk outfit Brownout which performs a fuzzed-out, reverb-drenched and percussion-heavy style of music inspired by the sounds of Peru and Colombia in the 60s and 70s. This style of music, sometimes called “chicha” music, is known for its infectious Latin beat, its psychedelic, surf guitar pyrotechnics and its melodies influenced by the indigenous culture of the Andes mountains.

The group’s sound is derived from the exhilarating syncopations of congas, cowbell and timbales, the gritty tones of combo organs and vintage synthesizers, effects-laden guitar melodies, insistent basslines and a healthy dose of trippy effects. Money Chicha is a modern translation of this South American musical style interpreted by highly skilled veterans of America’s most vibrant music town. In their capable hands, the “chicha” genre takes on a new and unique character, guaranteed to move one to both dance and listen, entranced by the undeniable rhythms and virtuosic displays of musicality.

Imagine a movie starring Fred Astaire and Lena Horne, and directed by Federico Fellini. In your mind’s ear, listen to the soundtrack, a mélange of Brazilian samba, psychedelic rock, romantic compositions, and impressionistic lyrics. The music perfectly captures the elegance, earthiness, and otherworldliness of the film.

Now, for a reality check: the film was never made but if there was a movie, this would be the soundtrack. When St. Louis-based drummer/composer, Kevin Bowers, went on a deep and deepening trip through Spain, he also went on an epiphanic creative journey. He’s returned with Nova (to be released August 9^th) a tropical, trippy and rocking album with a surprise smattering of Bossa Nova influenced by the great Jorge Ben and Gilberto Gil.

“Brazilian music is something I’ve always had a passion for,” Bowers confesses. “I studied Brazilian drumming at Musicians Institute in Hollywood, CA. I even had the privilege of traveling to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil with some close friends to soak up its culture. After a trip to Spain, I began writing the album. I was heavily inspired, even hypnotized, by the music, people, art, and food of Spain.”

Bowers is one of St. Louis’ most respected drummers. He’s been featured in the iconic publication Modern Drummer. Recently, his soul-punk band, The Feed, issued a critically acclaimed album. To date, he’s released three vibrant solo albums. His latest, Nova, gathers some of the finest rock, blues and jazz musicians (and friends) in St. Louis. Together, they manage to croon like Tony Bennett, pop like Sergio Mendes and vibrate like the Beatles at their most lysergic.

Nova’s overarching concept is the adventures/misadventures of two globetrotting characters. Though Bowers is a drummer by trade, he composed the music and vocal melodies on the electric guitar. In addition to this loose-knit narrative, Bowers was also inspired by other artists and movies. He cites a cross-section of influences such as Gal Costa’s 1969 album, Tony Bennett’s The Beat of My Heart, The Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds, short stories by Anton Chekhov, and Federico Fellini’s La Dolce Vita.

Drumming fans will feast on Bowers’ jaw-dropping exotic and virtuosic performances as a solo performer and as an ensemble player. On Nova he makes use of several Brazilian instruments, including surdo, repinique, tamborim, chocalhos (Brazilian shakers), timbales, bongos, and congas, among percussion tools. “It was a challenge performing all the percussion parts and making the songs sound like there are 10 people playing together,” he confides.

Standout songs on Nova include the sun-kissed bossa nova track “Two Vagabond Lovers,” the invigoratingly percussive “Ground Motion,” and the imaginatively arranged “Lady Day Fortune.” The album is bookended by an English and then a French version of “Two Vagabond Lovers.” This track sets up the beginning of the story which is sung by the first pair of male and female narrators. “Ground Motion” is a euphoric chant song that highlights Bowers gifts for simple anthemic melodies and ground-shaking percussion arrangements. Nova’s psychedelic side is exemplified by “Lady Day Fortune” which opens with a majestic piano solo, then slips into a moody pop track, before floating away with freak-out guitar figures.

Bowers plans to tour Nova with a white-gloved presentation like a supper club experience with some playful surprises. For live performances, the band will vary in size between a lush orchestral lineup and an intimate quartet. These shows will feature the Nova album played in its entirety, along with some favorites from Bowers’ back catalog. The record release party will be at Off Broadway in Kevin’s hometown of St. Louis on August 11^th.

Track listing:

• Two Vagabond Lovers
• Sofía (Walking With Her Shadow)
• Ground Motion
• Imagination Voodoo
• Without A Sound
• Forward Rhythm Agenda
• Wrong Side Of The Tracks
• Lady Day Fortune
• Breaking For Conversation
• The Last Night In June
• Intuition (Someday, Someday)
• Two Vagabond Lovers (French Version)

Despite the pending rain, tickets for this year’s Levitate Music and Arts Festival (LMF) sold out a week prior to the festival. 10,000 music and art lovers came together on Saturday, July 9, 2016 to enjoy the mild weather and listen to an explosive line up. The Levitate Music and Arts Festival featured “The Wheels of Soul Tour” with Tedeschi Trucks Band, Los Lobos, and North Mississippi Allstars, alongside Rebelution, Lettuce, Stick Figure, Moon Taxi, Twiddle, Nahko and Medicine for the People, The Movement, and Ron Gallo.

The event took place at the historic Marshfield Fairgrounds [140 Main Street, Marshfield, MA] on Saturday, July 9, 2016. The 11 bands play on 3 stages and festival attendees enjoyed a few dozen local vendors. The Patriot Ledger noted, “Despite the record turnout, the festival maintained its homegrown feel by focusing on local vendors, musicians and artists. The family-friendly festival featured arts and crafts from the North River Arts Society, and a South Shore Conservatory music tent where kids could get in on the fun.” There was a great vibe at the festival as AXS describes, “As one band ended, the next stage came alive with another band. Beach balls were flying through the air, there were several girls hula hooping to the beat of the music, parents and children were dancing, and people were laughing and singing along with the bands.”

From its inception, Easy Star Records have paved the way for progressive reggae to reach a broader audience.  Their first reggae tribute album, Dub Side of The Moon, a reggae reimagining of Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon, was a breakthrough success that established Easy Star Records, the Easy Star All-Stars, and producer Michael Goldwasser at the forefront of modern reggae music.  Two years later, they followed it up with Radiodread (2006), a revision of Radiohead’s OK Computer, which earned acclaim from Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, LA Times, and the ultimate endorsement from Radiohead front man Thom Yorke himself.  On the album’s 10-Year Anniversary, Easy Star Records is offering a Special Edition release of Radiodread set for release on August 12, 2016.  The album features a bonus track, “High and Dry” from Radiohead’s The Bends, performed by GRAMMY-winners Morgan Heritage.  Pre-order the album here (http://easystarallstars.net).

Radiodread features an impressive array of reggae stars supplying vocals to the Easy Star All- Stars’ backing tracks. Reggae pioneers Toots and the Maytals made their Easy Star debut, singing a driving version of “Let Down” while Citizen Cope’s distinctive voice fuels the haunting “Karma Police.” Horace Andy (“Airbag”), Morgan Heritage (“Electioneering”), The Meditations (“No Surprises”), Israel Vibration (“The Tourist”), Sugar Minott (“Exit Music (For A Film)”), and Frankie Paul (“Lucky”) also joined the Easy Star All-Stars for Radiodread, which Pitchfork called, “…an entertaining project that…rises above.”

Even after ten years, Radiodread sounds fresh and relevant.  COO and co-founder Lem Oppenheimer enthusiastically states, “I think the album still resonates because it’s so damn good and [producer] Michael [Goldwasser] did an amazing job on the arrangements, especially considering how tricky the record is with time signatures. We got some really great guest vocal performances, too – Toots, Citizen Cope and Frankie Paul to name a few. It was great to turn on a lot of reggae fans to this great album by Radiohead and then to turn on plenty of Radiohead fans to reggae.”  The choice to cover Radiohead after Pink Floyd didn’t seem like the logical next move for Easy Star, but that’s what makes them continue to push the envelope.  CEO and co-founder Eric Smith elaborates, “One of the main reasons we went with OK Computer is that we wanted to avoid going with the more expected choice, like another Pink Floyd album or another mega classic rock album.”  He adds, “Reggae has always tackled dark subject matter, but manages to do it in a way that still conveys hope at the bleakest moments. Radiohead’s approach is similar.”

Easy Star All-Stars plans to work on another tribute album in 2017, but details for the project are still in their early phase.  In the meantime, you can catch the band fresh off their UK and European tour with U.S. dates starting in August throughout the Fall consisting of Radiodreadheavy sets.

The inaugural Cukui Music Festival will take place at California’s Great America on September 3^rd, 2016. Cukui Music Festival is rooted in the appreciation of music as a universal language and bring the community together with a universal blend of Reggae, R&B, Hip-hop, to Latin Music. Headlining this year’s festival will be J Boog, IAMSU!, Drew Deezy,Bayonics and The Royal Family of Reggae Morgan Heritage. This all-day and all-ages festival is a family affair. General admission tickets are currently on sale at https://www.cagreatamerica.com/?mobile=0&keyword=concerts.

Cukui started as an urban clothing store in the heart of Japantown, San Jose, CA. The name Cukui is a homonym of the Hawaiian “kukui” nut, Mexican “cukuy” boogeyman, and Japanese “kakkoii” meaning cool. It was developed in 2008 between 3 graffiti artists Orly Locquiao (Humble Beginnings Tattoo), Sam Rodriguez (Free-lance Graphic Designer), and Isaac Helm (BG Concepts), who wanted to create a brand with a unique name that reflects different cultures and lifestyles, influenced by tattoos, street art, street photography, and music. In 2010, Cukui partnered with brother Jason Locquiao and opened its brick and mortar store. Cukui is about “staying rooted” and staying true to who they are and where they’re from. They plant their seeds by creating limited edition t-shirts and hats as wearable art that people can relate to, identify with, or simply appreciate.

When co-producers Orly Locquiao, Ailesene Samatua, and Eueuese Leao first came together the idea was clear, to give life to Cukui and produce a festival that fuses a sublime and diverse combination of musical styles. “Much like the Cukui store, we wanted to bring cultures together and what better way to do it than with the universal language, which is MUSIC,” states Orly Locquiao, co-producer and owner of Cukui clothing store. Not focusing on one type of music, Cukui Music Festival teamed up with Wash House Music Group and curated the line-up with the idea that no matter where each artist is placed the music will flow into a universal blend of music. The billing includes acts like Bay’s own IAMSU!, Drew Deezy and Bayonics, Hawaii’s J Boog and Jamaica’s Morgan Heritage. “We are very pleased with this years line up, I think you will find something for everyone – from Reggae to Latin Music,” states talent buyer Reece “Anuwatu” Tagara (Wash House Music Group), “the response from the artists has been tremendous, they are really into the concept of just letting music flow without genres attached and playing along side such talent.”

Over the years, the Cukui Music Festival producers have co-produced several successful Bay Area events and another festival that still runs strong today, known as the “Island Reggae Festival”. They plan to bring their experience, and signature vibe to this year’s family affair. It starts by taking care of every detail from backstage hospitality to front of the house vendors and merchandise. Veteran hospitality manager Cam Leaupepetele explains, “Cukui Music Festival is much more than music it is also a lifestyle. By providing an environment where artists can feel at home both on stage and off really sets the tone for good vibes and positivity for all. You can feel it in their music and resonates throughout the whole festival.” Michelle Locquiao, who hand picks all of the food and merchandise adds, “We want everyone to have a goodtime, enjoy the park, the food, and the good vibes. We choose our vendors with family in mind, there will be something for everyone.“

Ailesene Samatua, co-producer, concludes, “We are thrilled to have this years festival at California’s Great America. We wanted a family oriented venue to accommodate those families who have children both young and old, and who want to see their favorite artist(s) at the same time. We look forward to seeing everyone with their families come together and enjoy great music.”

Full Artist Line Up

• J Boog
• IAMSU!
• Morgan Heritage
• Drew Deezy
• Zhen
• Bayonics
• Hooliganz
• Rey Res

+ more artists to be announced!

DJ Line Up

• Westafa
• Cutso
• Goldenchyld
• Nappy
• Stiicks
• Tesfa

Hosted By

• Chuy Gomez
• Big Body Cisco

Festival Details

Cukui Music Festival

Date: Saturday, September 3^rd
Time: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Venue: California’s Great America
Address: 4701 Great America Pkwy, Santa Clara, CA 95054
Admission: Varies see here: https://www.cagreatamerica.com/?mobile=0&keyword=concerts
Age restrictions: All Ages

Since 2011, Steady Legend has been entertaining audiences in Austin as well as the state of Texas. Two years after the release of their debut album in 2015, the band is preparing to release their second album “Chapter Two” in January 2017.

Lead single “Every Little Thing” is a funky pop number featuring driving horns and the sweet but powerful vocals of lead singer Deb Love. Building up with an intro that feels like a pep rally and ending with a Motown-style breakdown, the sound is a small taste of what’s to come on the upcoming record. “Every Little Thing” is set to be release on August 5^th, everywhere.

“Our first album was heavier in reggae and ska,” says guitarist and band leader Mike Mancuso, thinking back on the band’s beginnings and musical evolution. “The new album will feature more funk and rock. We’re pushing into new genres but not losing sight of where we came from.”

Hailing from Austin, a city known for its musical diversity, even the band has a hard time describing their style. “I never know what to say when people ask me what kind of music we play,” says Mancuso. “We play six distinct styles that I can name off the top of my head, with influences of others, too. I generally call it ‘upbeat music’ and let listeners decide how they want to categorize it,” he continues. 

The band is known to headline shows and pack it out, but has also shared the bill with acts like The Expendables, The English Beat, KP and the Boom Boom, Mama K and the Shades, Don Chani, and more.  They were voted in the top 3 best “None of the Above” bands in the 2016 Austin Music Awards.

Steady Legend is also raising funds for their new album via Kickstarter. Click here to see the campaign.

About Steady Legend:

Steady Legend was founded in 2011 by lead singer Debora Otero and guitarist Mike Mancuso. Their music is a mix of reggae, funk, rock, ska, soul, and swing. Other band members include Omar Avitia on drums and Dan Millican on bass, with a rotating cast of talented horn players filling out the lineup. Follow their Facebook Page to keep up with upcoming shows and news.

From its inception, Easy Star Records have paved the way for progressive reggae to reach a broader audience.  Their first reggae tribute album, Dub Side of The Moon, a reggae reimagining of Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon, was a breakthrough success that established Easy Star Records, the Easy Star All-Stars, and producer Michael Goldwasser at the forefront of modern reggae music.  Two years later, they followed it up with Radiodread (2006), a revision of Radiohead’s OK Computer, which earned acclaim from Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, LA Times, and the ultimate endorsement from Radiohead front man Thom Yorke himself.  On the album’s 10-Year Anniversary, Easy Star Records is offering a Special Edition release of Radiodread set for release on August 12, 2016.  The album features a bonus track, “High and Dry” from Radiohead’s The Bends, performed by GRAMMY-winners Morgan Heritage.  Pre-order the album here (http://easystarallstars.net).

Radiodread features an impressive array of reggae stars supplying vocals to the Easy Star All- Stars’ backing tracks. Reggae pioneers Toots and the Maytals made their Easy Star debut, singing a driving version of “Let Down” while Citizen Cope’s distinctive voice fuels the haunting “Karma Police.” Horace Andy (“Airbag”), Morgan Heritage (“Electioneering”), The Meditations (“No Surprises”), Israel Vibration (“The Tourist”), Sugar Minott (“Exit Music (For A Film)”), and Frankie Paul (“Lucky”) also joined the Easy Star All-Stars for Radiodread, which Pitchfork called, “…an entertaining project that…rises above.”

Even after ten years, Radiodread sounds fresh and relevant.  COO and co-founder Lem Oppenheimer enthusiastically states, “I think the album still resonates because it’s so damn good and [producer] Michael [Goldwasser] did an amazing job on the arrangements, especially considering how tricky the record is with time signatures. We got some really great guest vocal performances, too – Toots, Citizen Cope and Frankie Paul to name a few. It was great to turn on a lot of reggae fans to this great album by Radiohead and then to turn on plenty of Radiohead fans to reggae.”  The choice to cover Radiohead after Pink Floyd didn’t seem like the logical next move for Easy Star, but that’s what makes them continue to push the envelope.  CEO and co-founder Eric Smith elaborates, “One of the main reasons we went with OK Computer is that we wanted to avoid going with the more expected choice, like another Pink Floyd album or another mega classic rock album.”  He adds, “Reggae has always tackled dark subject matter, but manages to do it in a way that still conveys hope at the bleakest moments. Radiohead’s approach is similar.”

Easy Star All-Stars plans to work on another tribute album in 2017, but details for the project are still in their early phase.  In the meantime, you can catch the band fresh off their UK and European tour with U.S. dates starting in August throughout the Fall consisting of Radiodread heavy sets.

Gary Nesta Pine has been inspired by, and devoted to, music for as long as he can remember.  “I’m a messenger from Jah.  My dad was a postman; I feel like I am the postman of music.” The impact reggae has had on his life, and him on its sound, can’t be understated. They’re so intertwined that it’s hard to imagine Jamaican roots reggae without the passion of Gary Nesta Pine.

Pine first came on to the scene in 1989 as lead singer for City Heat, one of Jamaica’s most in-demand bands. Performing at hotels for eager tourists who would bring home a copy of their CD as a souvenir, Pine and City Heat were in demand to bring their ample talents to the US, where they toured with legendary dance hall artist, Super Cat. Being in America gave Pine the impetus to help develop the New York City roots reggae scene, taking it out of the underground and pushing to move it into the foreground. In 1998, like an anointment from the reggae gods, Pine became the lead singer for the Wailers. The legendary band, which performed and created hit after hit with Bob Marley, changed the face of music – not just reggae – forever. As such, Pine played an integral part in one of the most influential movements in music history.

After his eight years fronting the Wailers, Pine’s career took a surprising twist when he began collaborating with French DJ and Producer Bob Sinclar, who featured Gary on several tracks on his Western Dream album. Their song, the platinum selling “Love Generation,” was a dancefloor and international pop hit.  It was also the theme for the 2006 FIFA World Cup and the French version of American Idol (“Star Academy”). Revelations has a fantastic new version of this anthem track. Gary also had success with Shaggy on the song “Fly High,” which exposed him to a whole new generation of fans.

This incredible new collection picks up where his highly acclaimed 2013 release, From Jahmaica to de World, left off.  Recorded in Staten Island, New York, as well as in Norwich (Port Antonio) Jamaica, Revelations was produced by veteran reggae bassist Devon Bradshaw (former bassist for Burning Spear), Ian “Beezy” Coleman (guitarist for Ziggy Marley), and Tristan Richards (keyboard player for Live Wya). Gary was the primary songwriter with contributions from Bradshaw, Coleman and Basil Cunningham (former bassist for Rita Marley).

The 13-track set includes songs that deal with very timely topics such as “Pirates” and “Mr. Wallstreet,” which both examine the current financial crisis.  Says Pine “Those tracks, they are about the vibe on Wall Street.  Not everyone, but a lot of people in that field just care about money. It’s a warning song letting those who may not know better to watch their backs.” The acoustic guitar driven “Justice” tackles the issue of police brutality and how it affects people who are trying to remain peaceful and loving, “I’ve been sitting on that song and decided to release it on this album. Police killing my brothers and sisters and getting away with it, it’s just a hard thing to watch. I’m not on anybody’s side – I’m on God’s side – I’m on justice’s side.” On the drum heavy “That’s the Way” Pine sings about the lack of opportunity offered to a segment of the population.  The big fish are eating the small fish.’ We should all have equal opportunities, like having the chance to go to college. We live in a system of preferential treatment and it isn’t working.”  The rhythmic “Woman Like You” is a love song to strong and beautiful women. Says Pine, “It’s about a woman who is successful in business, love and education. She has style and grace, was raised well and is someone you want to be around.”  Maybe the most personal track is “Thanks and Praise,” where, as Pine says, “It’s just Gary giving thanks and praise to the almighty Rastafari, for the mountains, the birds, the world, the people who influenced my life, the love of my family, his guidance. It’s a prayer from me to God.” Gary also ‘covers’ his big hit with Sinclar, “Love Generation,” using the same melody but different lyrics.

Gary’s music, which regularly attracts new followers from all over the world, has taken him from Jamaica to America to the forefront of the New York City roots reggae scene to the top of the European Dance charts… and now to the long-awaited release of Revelations, out on August 26, 2016.

REVELATIONS TRACK LISTING

1.     The Herbs

2.     Woman Like You

3.     Mr. Wallstreet

4.     Love Generation

5.     Great Kings of Africa

6.     Thanks and Praise

7.     Pirates

8.     Justice

9.     Live the Love

10.  That’s the Way

11.  Natural High

12.  Ragga Muffin

13.  Dancing in the Rain

On August 19, 2016, HIRIE will release Wandering Soul, her highly anticipated sophomore album on the forward-thinking Rootfire Cooperative record label. True to the title, one can get lost in the soulful reggae grooves, pop lyrics and riddims that the album has to offer. HIRIE elaborates, “I’ve definitely felt like a gypsy – having lived in so many countries (Philippines, Italy, UK, Hawaii, Mainland U.S.) and even more so having toured and slept in so many hotel rooms, on living room floors, and more. This kind of gypsy existence excites me. Being a Wandering Soul can mean so many things, and I hope my listeners will find their own questions within the album about themselves and everything around them.”

Wandering Soul is funded by both a successful Kickstarter campaign along with financial support from the Rootfire Cooperative that allowed the band to create the album of their dreams. They were able to record the vast majority of the instrumentation live, giving the album an organic feel that is palpable. HIRIE states, “The caliber of musicianship on this album surpasses any of our previous recordings. Between the features, arrangements, songwriting and beyond we just took everything to a whole new level.” Special guests on this wandering journey include Trevor Hall (“Good Vibration”), Nahko Bear (“Renegade”), and Nattali Rize(“Woman Comes First”) to name a few. The album includes a number of notable producers including Danny Kalb (Beck, Ben Harper, Karen O, Foster The People), Sergio Rios, Don Corleon (Rihanna, Sean Paul, Shaggy) and additionally some production by Josh Cardinali,Chris Hampton and Andrew McKee.

The album’s first single “You Won’t Be Alone” is a playful track filled with catchy hooks and refreshing chords in the chorus that is poised to be a summer anthem. Boomshots premiere the track in early August and for HIRIE, " ‘You Won’t Be Alone’ is about our lives on the road and how it feels to leave everything behind, in order to pursue a dream.” The second single, “Renegade,” will be followed by a video release and features Nahko Bear of Nahko and Medicine for the People, and this song is a call to action. “It’s good to go against the grain in today’s society, in which being blind and following the herd is widely accepted. But if you want change, you have to go against all of that and become a renegade” says HIRIE. Another highlight is “Good Vibration” featuring Trevor Hall, a healing song that is a call to find your inner peace and balance in life. To HIRIE, “This song is meant to heal people. I wrote it as the “Smile 2.0” from our debut album, and having Trevor Hall be a part of this song takes it to a really spiritual level.”

More notable tracks include “Woman Comes First” featuring Nattali Rize, which is a female empowerment song with a retro Motown vibe, and the Don Corleon (Rihanna) produced“Boom Fire” tune that is dubbed out, soulful, and has a strong pop appeal. Wandering Soul also includes “Melody of A Broken Heart.” For HIRIE, “that song brought me to tears every time I tried to sing it in the vocal booth, so I never actually got through a full-take. Being about my daughter and the heartache I feel being away from her, this song brings the most emotion out of me. You can hear me running in place and sniffling, which Danny (my producer) left in there.”

HIRIE surged onto the global reggae scene with her infectious self-titled album HIRIE (released in 2013) that not only cemented her as reggae’s newest female sensation, but also spawned one of the biggest reggae hits of the year when “Sensi Boy” garnered over 500,000 YouTube plays. Born in the Philippines, and raised in Italy and Hawaii, HIRIE has taken her influences and carved a signature sound of island vibes, mixed with soulful roots and incredibly melodic motifs. In the past three years, HIRIE has gone on to nationally tour with Tribal Seeds, Iration, J Boog, Stick Figure, Collie Buddz – and she has supported bands such as Rebelution, Matisyahu, and The Expendables, catapulting her and the band onto the mainstage of festivals including California Roots Music and Arts Festival, Sierra Nevada World Music Festival, andReggae on the River among others.

In an exploding scene that is getting saturated with releases, Wandering Soul not only stands out with its high production value, top-notch musicianship, and special guests, but with each listen it will take you on a different journey that will withstand the test of time. HIRIE will be nationally touring in support of the album directly supporting Nahko and Medicine for the People this fall and then with Rebelution soon after. Full tour dates to be announced.

The 13th annual Emerald Cup proudly announces its full artist lineup produced by Ineffable Music Group.  The Emerald Cup will take place at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa, CA from December 10-11, 2016.  This year’s impressive lineup combines the best talent from the progressive reggae community with Stick Figure, Tribal Seeds, and Dirty Heads alongside Jamaican reggae torchbearers Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley, Kabaka Pyramid, Raging Fyah, and more.  Full artist lineup is listed below.
 
The Emerald Cup, founded by Tim Blake in 2003, is California’s premier outdoor organic medicinal cannabis competition for growing and breeding.  What started as a small passionate 200-person event at Blake’s Area 101 property has blossomed into today’s most prestigious organic cannabis competition that Rolling Stone calls “the Academy Awards of the cannabis industry.”  The two-day event sees over 20,000 attendees partake in industry leading panels, interact with innovative vendors, while immersing themselves in a carefully curated musical experience.
 
Co-producer Taylor Blake enthusiastically states, “The Emerald Cup has always had a strong musical element to it, and with Dan Sheehan of Ineffable Music Group booking it the past few years, we’ve seen the event and experience reach a whole new level.  Not all genres and styles fit our vibe, but Sheehan manages to curate a fluid lineup year after year, with 2016 being the most exciting to date.”
 
Music booker Dan Sheehan adds, “The Emerald Cup and the organic cannabis industry continue to grow at an exponential rate, that parallels the roots music community.  The synergies between music and cannabis are so cohesive that I’m proud to bridge the two communities together at such a pinnacle event.”
 
Now in its 13^th year, The Emerald Cup prides itself in bringing together experts and educators in the cannabis field from fellow farmers, patients, and patrons each year. It is a community celebration that has grown to become a global movement honoring the year's finest, organic, sun-grown, medicinal cannabis harvest.  More details and tickets can be found at http://theemeraldcup.com.
 
2016 Full Artist Lineup:

• Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley
• Dirty Heads
• Stick Figure
• Tribal Seeds
• California Honeydrops
• Kabaka Pyramid
• Hirie
• Raging Fyah
• Nattali Rize
• Vokab Kompany
• Thrive
• Arden Park Roots

 
FESTIVAL DETAILS
The 13^th Annual Emerald Cup
Dates: Saturday, December 10, 2016 – Sunday December 11, 2016
Time: Doors at 11am PT
Venue: Sonoma County Fairgrounds
Address: 1350 Bennett Valley Rd, Santa Rosa, CA 95404
Admission: Varies // $60 (single day) - $110 (weekend)
Purchase Link: https://emeraldcup2016.eventbrite.com
Age restrictions: 18+

Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad (GPGDS) are on a mission to “Make It Better.” The new album from the Rochester, New York-based band addresses this theme, not just through music, but through art, conversation, and everyday living. Even the smallest actions on a local level can produce positive change on a global scale. Singer-bassist James Searl explains, “There is a lot of intention in this release. We had a purpose to prove to ourselves recording this album. We wanted to know that we could put our heads down and do good work fast. It was a great release artistically. It uniquely sounds the most progressive of anything we have ever done while also sounding the most like our first album.”

With five previous studio albums, ranging from their alternative Americana releases Country(2012) and Bright Days (2015) to their Billboard Reggae chart topper Steady (2014), Giant Panda normally tests out new material live before capturing studio recordings. Make It Better was a different approach. With children, families, and age, the band has made an effort to focus on the economics of time: how to spend it together efficiently while pursuing goals with intention. The economics of time led to a focus on music and the importance of capturing and sharing recorded moments more frequently. Searl adds, “This work is new and fresh. We had to make it better. We wanted to catch up with our lives and take a dive into work that had not been fleshed out live, by recording and releasing it quickly.” The result is the band’s finest work to date. Aptly titled Make It Better, the captivating ten track album is set for release on September 16, 2016 on the Rootfire Cooperative imprint.

Formed in 2001 in Rochester, NY, Giant Panda first received praise for their live show, which combined world beats and reggae rhythms with an urgent energy and jamband dynamics. More recently the band’s diverse recordings have showcased their songwriting, musicianship, and ability to transcend genre.

With building buzz, it’s no surprise that Live For Live Music calls the band, “one of the most innovative and genre-pushing reggae bands out there.” The fifteen year old band consists of James Searl (Bass, Vocals), Chris O’Brian (Drums, Vocals), Dylan Savage (Guitar, Vocals), Dan Keller (Guitar, Vocals), and Tony Gallicchio (Keys).

Make It Better was mixed and co-produced by Danny Kalb (Beck, Ben Harper, Karen O) and recorded with Matt Goodwin at Riot City Sound and Blackdog Studios in Rochester, NY, and Scanhope Sound in Littleton, CO with engineer Joel Scanlon. Danny Kalb and the band have never met in person. The relationship is based purely on music, sending each other demos and critiques, allowing the music to meld into one sonic vision that has become Make It Better. Both Goodwin and Scanlon have a long history with the band. Goodwin was GPGDS’ first keyboardist, off and on former roommate, and has recently been their live sound engineer. Scanlon also spent years on the road as the sixth Panda member: engineering, recording, and live dubbing the band across the nation. Both are intimately aware of Giant Panda’s core elements and intuitively understood how to capture their essence for these recordings.

The album’s first single “Live And Travel” is written by guitarist-vocalist Dylan Savage focusing on “a person’s long journey making their way home to be with loved ones. It’s a love song not only for family and those close to us, but for the nature and beauty that surrounds us everyday.” Savage also wrote “Really True,” featuring backup vocals from Elliot Martin of John Brown’s Body, a tune that carries the lover’s rock spirit of Gregory Isaacs and Bunny Wailer, with “the idea that love for your country is more than symbolic flag waving, but truly addressing the real and serious issues that face our country with a sense of nuance, flexible perspective and purpose.”

The title track “Make It Better” kicks off the album with an upbeat horn-fueled stomper that reinforces the underlying theme, while “Gone” the closing track beautifully bookends the set with its African inspired acoustics, introspective lyrics, and heavy one-drop rhythm. Other highlights include “Gotta Make A Living,” which Searl explains was inspired by watching an in depth Wu-Tang documentary, and how artists “make all kinds of sacrifices with friends, time, money, family, and distance, but not as a choice, but as a necessity, while still having to make a living.”

Every detail on the album reflects the working commitment to collaboration and art creation, even down to the provocative artwork created by artists Icy and Sot (http://icyandsot.com) from Brooklyn by way of Iran. The sibling artists formed a strong solidarity with the band when they worked in Rochester doing street art for the “Wall Therapy” movement that drummer-vocalistChris O’Brian is a part of. “Wall Therapy creates a therapeutic urban environment by painting beautiful art in public spaces. Through collaboration with international street artists, local businesses, and volunteers, Wall Therapy has 100% succeeded in making Rochester a better place to live,” O’Brian states.

In conclusion, Searl summarizes, “We want to convey the message that acting locally and thinking globally has real effects. Let’s focus on the problems until we can find solutions. This is not just political or pain associated. All around us, people are finding better ways to educate children, discovering healthy alternatives to deadly addictions, and we are always striving to make our music and art more intentional.”

Giant Panda will celebrate in Rochester with their hometown album release party on September 10 at Anthology with Thunder Body and a fall tour to follow.

Pre-Order Make It Better

Make It Better Tour
Aug 18: Richmond, VA – The Broadberry
Aug 19: Asheville, NC – New Mountain Theater
Aug 20: Elkins, WV – Camp Barefoot
Aug 21: Cincinnati, OH – Woodward Theater
Sep 4: Salisbury, MA – SurfSide Salisbury Beach
Sep 10: Rochester, NY – Anthology
Sep 16: Hammonton, NJ – Camp Jam in the Pines
Oct 4: Cambridge (Boston), MA – Middle East
Oct 5: Brooklyn, NY – Knitting Factory Brooklyn
Oct 6: Washington, DC – Gypsy Sally’s
Oct 7: Harrisburg, PA – The Abbey Bar at ABC
Oct 8: Syracuse, NY – Westcott Theater
Oct 12: Philadelphia, PA – World Cafe Live Downstairs
Oct 13: Albany, NY – The Hollow
Oct 14: Ithaca, NY – The Dock
Oct 15: Buffalo, NY – Tralf Music Hall

Originally from Jerusalem, Lior Ben-Hur has spent years traveling the world playing and learning music. His band’s new music video, "Roads of Creation,” tells the journey and story of the traveler who chooses to be on the move in order to learn about the world and humanity first hand. 

"Roads of Creation" from the upcoming album, So I Wander, reveals Lior Ben-Hur’s deep passion for Reggae, and demonstrates his band’s ability to perform high-energy roots music.

Despite the ups and downs, the struggles and obstacles of being on the road, Lior Ben-Hur shares his message of the importance of “waking up” by traveling and experiencing the world with one’s own eyes.   The video was shot as a part of a band road trip, which began at their home base in San Francisco and ending at a remote oasis in the Mexican desert. It reveals the band’s strong belief in personally discovering, respecting and preserving mother nature.

“Roads of Creation” is the first release from Lior Ben-Hur’s upcoming debut album, So I Wander, and is produced by Marcus Urani (Groundation), mixed and mastered by Jim Fox (Lion and Fox recording studios) and features special contributions from artists Kumar Bent (Raging Fyah), Jah Levi, Rasta elder Mutabaruka and the accomplished Palestinian rapper, Saz.

Born in Jerusalem, Israel with Greek and Iraqi roots, Lior Ben-Hur has been playing and writing music from young age. Since 2004, Lior has made his home in San Francisco, CA.  In 2011, he formed his band, which in 2012 released an eclectic, World music album under the name Sol Tevél. 

Along with his 8-piece band, Lior Ben-Hur continues to develop his passion for Reggae music, a key inspiration for his musical creativity and spirituality. In June 2015, the band released their self-titled Reggae EP, and have since shared the stage with legendary Roots Reggae artists such as; Stephen Marley, Black Uhuru, Tarrus Riley, Groundation, Richie Spice and Don Carlos.

Think about the best concerts you’ve attended and chances are you had a lot of fun, dancing and smiling throughout the show. This is exactly the kind of vibe you will experience when Black Masala is performing live. Performing hundreds of shows a year has helped Washington, DC’s gypsy punk brass band hone their sound, while injecting it with a healthy dose of funk, soul and eclectic grooves. Black Masala is all about having fun!

In 2015 Black Masala released their second studio album, I Love You Madly and has plans to release remixes of that album later this year. I Love You Madly was well received and reached #2 on the CMJ World Chart and #4 on Canada’s national Earshot radio chart. On their second album it is clear that Black Masala are having a lot of fun incorporating various musical influences into their go-anywhere Brass sound. Ranging from Gypsy punk, Balkan brass and New Orleans funk, to Bhangra and bounce, this is an album for the multicultural music listener. The heavy horns and danceable rhythms tie “I Love You Madly” together and create an album that can be played for a wide range of audiences.

The band has not let up since releasing the album, touring heavily with their infectious live show to clubs and festivals up and down the East Coast. This fall sees the band reaching new heights and new regions with some exciting tour dates. New fans will be hooked and those already familiar with the band will be excited to hear and see new instruments and songs.

Tour Dates:

Friday, September 2nd – Jambrew – Herndon, VA
Saturday, September 3rd – The Lincoln Theatre – Washington, DC
Saturday, September 10th – Hyattsville Blues & Brews – Hyattsville, MD
Saturday, September 10th – Next Now Festival – College Park, MD
Friday, September 16th – Pink Moon Festival – Rock Camp, WV
Saturday, September 17th – Private Party – Washington, DC
Thursday, September 22nd – Alive at Five – Frederick, MD
Friday, September 23rd – Watermelon Park Festival – Berryville, VA
Saturday, October 1st – Taste of Bethesda – Bethesda, MD
Saturday, October 1st – Sehkraft Brewing – Arlington, VA
Saturday, October 8th – Sleepy Creek Harvest Festival – Berkeley Springs, WV
Friday, October 21st – Levitt AMP Concert Series – Charlottesville, VA
Saturday, October 29th – DC9 – Washington, DC

Deuterman Productions and Ineffable Live are proud to present Rootfire At The Park, a music and lifestyle festival with the promise of exceptional music and thoughtful details that make a day outside listening to music even better.  The one-day event takes place October 22 at the scenic Cocoa Riverfront Park in Cocoa, FL.  The lineup includes Iration, Tribal Seeds, Collie Buddz, Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad, The Movement, The Holdup, Dustin Thomas, and local favorite Beebs.  Early bird GA, early bird VIP, and discounted tickets for biking to the event are on sale now here.
 
With so many festivals popping up across the country, it can be a challenge to really stand out.  Rootfire At The Park does just that, by not only focusing on presenting a well-curated musical lineup, but by providing a fully immersive outdoor experience with family and friends, both old and new.  Outdoor activities include pickup soccer games, volleyball, and yoga, while kids can enjoy the refreshing splash pad and kite flying, and kids ages 12 and under can enter free when accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. 
 
Other details extend beyond these activities and include free sunscreen, a discounted ticket price for riding your bike to the event, and a free 32oz Rootfire NALGENE bottle for the first 2,000 ticket holders.  Through a partnership with REVERB’s #RockNRefill program free filtered water stations will be provided on site for all fans to use at the festival.  As a way of giving back to the local community $1 from each of the first 2,000 tickets sold will be donated to the local non-profit efforts of Keep Brevard Beautiful.  The event will also highlight craft vendors who create thoughtful food, and local vendors who keep the energy close to home.  In the beverage world, the term craft is extended to not only cover quality beer and wine, but to also offer a place to enjoy other beverages ranging from kombucha to kava kava, and beyond.
 
Rootfire At The Park (RF003) is the lifestyle brand’s third event, their first on the east coast, and their most expansive production to date.  Founder Seth Herman enthusiastically states, “We are returning to the east coast, a little closer to home for many of us, with the intention of weaving elements of our everyday lives into this event.  Think riding bicycles, playing pickup soccer, and eating local food, all within the context of the music we love and the community we are trying to create.” 
 
Stay tuned for more information and announcements at Rootfire.net. Check out the official event page and read Herman’s personal description of what the day will look like.
 
FESTIVAL DETAILS
Rootfire At The Park
Dates: Saturday, October 22, 2016
Time: 12pm ET – 10pm ET
Venue: Cocoa Riverfront Park
Address: 401 Riveredge Boulevard, Cocoa, FL 32922
Admission: Varies
Purchase Link:  rootfireatthepark.com
Age restrictions: All Ages

Ineffable Live, a Division of Ineffable Music Group is proud to present the Alta Music Festival, a new music & lifestyle festival held at Avila Beach, CA. The one-day event takes place on October 15 at the scenic Avila Beach Resort.  Headliners already announced include Iration, Nahko And The Medicine For The People, and Collie Buddz.  “Sea Level”  GA, and “Summit” VIP/Beach Balcony tickets are on sale now at http://altamusicfestival.com/tickets. 
 
Alta Music Festival is created by Dan Sheehan, talent buyer and co-producer of the California Roots Music & Arts Festival.  Sheehan, and his partners in Ineffable Live, bring their talents alongside Otter Productions to showcase a new and exciting event.  ‘ALTA’ means high, height, higher, elevated, and can refer to everything from a state of consciousness to a preference in the arts.  Attendees of the Alta Music Festival can expect an elevated festival experience - the same high production value that is synonymous with all of these producers’ events are known for with exceptional input to the finest details.
 
Starting as a one-day festival, attendees will dance in the grass while the sun sets against the beautiful ocean view while sipping some great craft beers and munching on some tasty bites from the eclectic array of food vendors.  Sustainability is integral to the success of the event.  In an effort to eliminate single-use plastic waste, the Alta Music Festival has partnered with the environmental non-profit REVERB and the #RockNRefill program. Every ticket will include a $5 fee that will go toward single-use plastic free solutions. This $5 fee will provide every ticket holder with a custom 32oz Alta Music Festival NALGENE bottle and free filtered water stations will be provided on site for all fans to use at the festival.
 
The majestic California Condor, the largest flying bird in North America, is featured on the festival’s 2016 artwork.  As a way of giving back to the natural wildlife organizations, Alta Music Festival has partnered with the Ventana Wildlife Society to raise funds and awareness to their Condor Program.  The California Condor is the largest endangered bird in North American and soars to dizzying heights with its ten-foot wingspan. The bird symbolizes the same heights that the Alta Music Festival looks to achieve in its overall production and experience. $1 from all tickets sold to the Alta Music Festival will be donated directly to the Ventana Wildlife Society.  Additionally, the festival is working on free bike valet and a partnership with TripZero to offset carbon through hotel reservations as a part of establishing the event’s greening initiatives.
 
Stay tuned for more information and lineup announcements at http://AltaMusicFestival.com.
 
FESTIVAL DETAILS
Alta Music Festival
Date: Saturday, October 15, 2016
Time: 12 noon – 11pm PT
Parking Lot/Box Office Opens: 12:00pm, Gates: 1:00pm, Music Starts: 2:00pm,
Music Ends: 10:00pm, Parking Lot Closes: 11:00pm
Venue: Avila Beach Golf Resort 
Address: 6464 Ana Bay Road, Avila Beach, CA 93424
Admission: Varies
Trailblazer (Early Bird), Sea Level (Advance), Summit (VIP/Beach Balcony)
Purchase Link: http://altamusicfestival.com/tickets
Age restrictions: All Ages (10 and under free with paid adult/parent/guardian)

Since 1996, John Brown’s Body has been at the forefront of the American reggae scene, blazing paths with its patented Future Roots sound.  This year the band celebrates 20 years by releasing its eleventh full-length release Fireflies, out on Easy Star Records September 9^th, and embarking on a national tour.  Since releasing Kings & Queens (2013) and its follow up Kings & Queens In Dub (2015), JBB has criss-crossed the nation debuting new material alongside classic hits in live settings such as Red Rocks, Cali Roots Festival, and Summer Camp Festival. They are now proud to premiere the first track of the Fireflies album – “New Fashion” – via Billboard.
 
With its current lineup arguably its strongest to date, JBB’s founding members Elliot Martin (lead vocals) and Tommy Benedetti (drums) are now joined by Jay Spaker (guitar / vocals), Jon Petronzio (keys), Dan Africano (bass), Sam Dechenne (trumpet), TJ Shaper (trombone), and Mike Vitale (tenor saxophone). The current group continues to push boundaries in the studio, this time with long time JBB collaborator Craig “Dubfader” Welsch (10 Ft. Ganja Plant) at his Rear Window Studio (Boston, MA).  Welsch’s approach brings out classic elements of the JBB sound, including Martin’s otherworldly harmonies and a super tight horn section, while the rhythm section has moved into a super deep, tight phase that echoes the Roots Radics in their prime.
 
New to the band is the songwriting collaboration between longtime front man Martin and relative newcomer Spaker. Spaker’s positivity and genuine zest for life brings a new angle that complements Martin’s lyrical complexity and social commentary on the current state of affairs. Which isn’t to say that Martin doesn’t also enjoy himself, as evidenced by first single “New Fashion,” which manages to be both nostalgic and forward-looking, while name dropping a number of classic dancehall moves. Three new songs on the album were written and sung by Spaker (“High Grade,” “Like A Queen,” “Pure Fire”); songs such as “Badman” & “Mystery” were written together; and Martin also contributed several that will be fresh to the live set (“Hard Man Fe Dead,” “Fireflies,” “Who Paid Them Off,” “Mash Them Down”).
 
Fireflies is the perfect release to celebrate a fruitful 20-year career, encapsulating the evolution of the band while demonstrating that they are nowhere close to stopping. The band is currently on tour with summer appearances in the Northeast, Northwest, and Alaska, and will kick-off their Fireflies Release Tour on September 9^th in Ohio at the Black Swamp Arts Festival.  Head to Johnbrownsbody.com for more info.
 
Fireflies

1. Who Paid Them Off?
2. Hard Man Fe Dead (feat. Karim Israel of Arise Roots)
3. High Grade
4. Bad Man
5. New Fashion
6. Like a Queen
7. Fireflies
8. Mystery
9. Pure Fire
10. Mash Them Down

11. Tour Dates

    9.9 | Bowling Green, OH | Black Swamp Arts Festival
    9.15 | Ithaca, NY | Downtown Ithaca Summer Concert Series
    9.16 | Albany, NY | The Hollow
    9.17 | Fairfield, CT | StageOne
    9.22 | Asheville, NC | Asheville Music Hall
    9.23 | Atlanta, GA | Masquerade
    9.24 | Jacksonville, FL | Jack Rabbits
    9.25 | St. Petersburg, FL | Jannus Landing
    9.26 | Orlando, FL | The Social
    10.12 | Columbus, OH | Woodlands Tavern
    10.13 | Cleveland, OH | Beachland Ballroom
    10.14 | Chicago, IL | 1st Ward @ Chop Shop
    10.15 | Kalamazoo, MI | Bells
    10.20 | Washington, DC | Gypsy Sallys
    10.21 | Harrisburg, PA | Abbey Bar
    10.22 | Rochester, NY | Flour City Station
    11.10 | San Diego, CA | Music Box
    11.11 | Santa Barbara, CA | SoHo
    11.12 | Hermosa Beach, CA | Saint Rocke
    11.13 | San Luis Obispo, CA | SLO Brew
    11.16 | Sacramento, CA | Harlow's
    11.17 | Santa Cruz, CA | Catalyst
    11.18 | Chico, CA | Lost On Main
    11.19 | San Francisco, CA | Slim's
    12.2 | Syracuse, NY | Westcott Theater
    12.3 | Buffalo, NY | Iron Works
    1.26 | Burlington, VT | Higher Ground
    1.27 | Portland, ME | Port City Music Hall
    1.28 | Boston, MA | The Paradise

The 13th annual Emerald Cup proudly announces The Emerald Cup Xperience tickets on sale now. Tickets include access to two Xperience lounges, in and out privileges, meet and greet with some of the artists, admission to Friday pre-party, swag bag, and VIP 215 wristband station access! For more information, and to purchase tickets visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-emerald-cup-2016-tickets-25420681944. 

The Emerald Cup full artist lineup is produced by Ineffable Music Group and will take place at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa, CA on December 10-11, 2016. This year’s impressive lineup combines the best talent from the progressive reggae community with Stick Figure, Tribal Seeds, and Dirty Heads alongside Jamaican reggae torchbearers Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley, Kabaka Pyramid, Raging Fyah, and more.  Full artist lineup is listed below. This event is for ages 18+, ticket prices vary visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-emerald-cup-2016-tickets-25420681944.
 
The Emerald Cup, founded by Tim Blake in 2003, is California’s premier outdoor organic medicinal cannabis competition for growing and breeding.  What started as a small passionate 200-person event at Blake’s Area 101 property has blossomed into today’s most prestigious organic cannabis competition which Rolling Stone states, “the Emerald Cup honors the best strains of marijuana of the year.”  The two-day event sees over 20,000 attendees partake in industry leading panels, interact with innovative vendors, while immersing themselves in a carefully curated musical experience.
 
Co-producer Taylor Blake enthusiastically states, “The Emerald Cup has always had a strong musical element to it, and with Dan Sheehan of Ineffable Music Group booking it the past few years, we’ve seen the event and experience reach a whole new level.  Not all genres and styles fit our vibe, but Sheehan manages to curate a fluid lineup year after year, with 2016 being the most exciting to date.”
 
Music booker Dan Sheehan adds, “The Emerald Cup and the organic cannabis industry continue to grow at an exponential rate, that parallels the roots music community.  The synergies between music and cannabis are so cohesive that I’m proud to bridge the two communities together at such a pinnacle event.”
 
Now in its 13^th year, The Emerald Cup prides itself in bringing together experts and educators in the cannabis field from fellow farmers, patients, and patrons each year. It is a community celebration that has grown to become a global movement honoring the year's finest, organic, sun-grown, medicinal cannabis harvest.  More details and tickets can be found at http://theemeraldcup.com.
 
2016 Full Artist Lineup:

• Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley
• Dirty Heads
• Stick Figure
• Tribal Seeds
• California Honeydrops
• Kabaka Pyramid
• Hirie
• Raging Fyah
• Nattali Rize
• Vokab Kompany
• Thrive
• Arden Park Roots

FESTIVAL DETAILS
The 13^th Annual Emerald Cup
Dates: Saturday, December 10, 2016 – Sunday December 11, 2016
Time: Doors at 11am PT
Venue: Sonoma County Fairgrounds
Address: 1350 Bennett Valley Rd, Santa Rosa, CA 95404
Admission: Varies // Early Advance ticket prices: $60 (single day), $110 (weekend) , $300 (Emerald Cup Xperience)
Purchase Link: https://emeraldcup2016.eventbrite.com
Age restrictions: 18+

HIRIE’s Wandering Soul has impressively debuted at #1 on the Billboard Reggae Chart and #10 on Billobard Heatseekers Album Chart! Wandering Soul (released on August 19, 2016 on Rootfire Cooperative) is the band’s second studio album and their first release to claim the #1 spot on the Billboard Reggae Chart and #10 on the Heatseekers Album Chart. The album is  also HIRIE’s first release on the forward-thinking U.S. label Rootfire Cooperative. HIRIE, comprises of Hirie, Chris Hampton, Andrew McKee, Andy Flores and Blaine Dillinger, has garnered critical acclaim and earned a dedicated fanbase in a short three years. They exploded onto the reggae scene with the viral hit “Sensi Boy” from their debut album HIRIE and continued the momemtum through touring. In the past three years, HIRIE has gone on to nationally tour with Tribal Seeds, Iration, J Boog, Stick Figure, Collie Buddz – and has supported bands such as Rebelution, Matisyahu, and The Expendables, catapulting  the band onto the mainstage of festivals including California Roots Music and Arts Festival, Sierra Nevada World Music Festival, and Reggae on the River among others.
 
“We are eternally grateful to the fans for their dedication to HIRIE. The album’s top position on the Billboard Reggae Chart solidifies HIRIE’s place in the U.S. reggae scene,” says Seth Herman founder of Rootfire Cooperative, “we are especially proud of the band for the thoughtfulness they put into creating the album and the opportunities they took to to involve their dedicated fans along the way.” Wandering Soul was funded by both a successful Kickstarter campaign along with financial support from the Rootfire Cooperative that allowed the band to create the album of their dreams. They were able to record the vast majority of the instrumentation live, giving the album an organic feel that is palpable. HIRIE states, “The caliber of musicianship on this album surpasses any of our previous recordings. Between the features, arrangements, songwriting and beyond we just took everything to a whole new level.”
 
The new record has 11 songs and includes special guests Trevor Hall (“Good Vibration”), Nahko Bear (“Renegade”), and Nattali Rize (“Woman Comes First”) to name a few. The album also has a number of notable producers including Danny Kalb (Beck, Ben Harper, Karen O, Foster The People) , Sergio Rios, Don Corleon (Rihanna, Sean Paul, Shaggy) and additional production by Josh Cardinali, Chris Hampton and Andrew McKee.

In what is endearingly called the “big little” festival, Levitate Music and Arts Festival donated over $18,000 to Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield this summer. With 10,000 attendees this year, LMF donated $1.25 per ticket sold, plus parking revenue. This is the fourth year that the festival partnered with the club and previous fundraising efforts helped to rebuild the town’s skate park. Alex Wall of The Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield commented, “The kindness and generosity of individuals such as Jess & Dan and organizations like Levitate goes a long way in making our job at the Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield possible.  Over the years Levitate has always be a strong supporter of our Club, and the recent success of the Levitate Music Festivals have allowed Jess & Dan to go above and beyond the call of duty to provide the Club with this extremely generous donation!  We excitedly look forward to many years of collaboration in the future.  As long as the bands keep playing, we’ll keep parking!”
 
Prior to becoming a festival, Levitate was (and still is) a community oriented surf/skate shop and apparel line. When Daniel and Jessica Hassett took over Levitate from the founder Bob Pollard, they continued the tradition to lift up and grow the surrounding communities of Marshfield. For more than a decade, Levitate continues to be involved with youth programs, beach cleanups, surf and skateboard contests and fundraising initiatives. In addition to the Boys and Girls Club, LMF also partners with the Strength Foundation, ZWoods Scholardship, and South Shore Conservatory to name a few.
 
On Saturday, July 9, 2016, music and art lovers came together at the historic Marshfield Fairgrounds in Massachusetts to listen to an explosive line up. The Levitate Music and Arts Festival 2016 featured “The Wheels of Soul Tour” with Tedeschi Trucks Band, Los Lobos, and North Mississippi Allstars, alongside Rebelution, Lettuce, Stick Figure, Moon Taxi, Twiddle, Nahko and Medicine for the People, The Movement, and Ron Gallo. The festival has received high critical praise with The Boston Globe selecting it numerous times as a “festival” and “event” pick for the summer, while tastemaker media outlets featured LMF including Vanyaland, and Jambase, who raved about the “supremely stacked” lineup. This yearly family friendly event, currently planning the fifth year, boasts camping, VIP areas, local vendors and a homegrown feel.
 
11 bands play on 3 stages and LMF 2016 festival attendees enjoyed a few dozen local vendors. The Patriot Ledger noted, “Despite the record turnout, the festival maintained its homegrown feel by focusing on local vendors, musicians and artists. The family-friendly festival featured arts and crafts from the North River Arts Society, and a South Shore Conservatory music tent where kids could get in on the fun.” There was a great vibe at the festival as AXS describes, “As one band ended, the next stage came alive with another band. Beach balls were flying through the air, there were several girls hula hooping to the beat of the music, parents and children were dancing, and people were laughing and singing along with the bands.”
 
CONNECT:
LMF – Website
LMF – Facebook
LMF – Twitter
LMF – Instagram 

It’s impossible to describe Beats Antique using just a single genre. One listen to their forthcoming album, Shadowbox (released on their own Beats Antique Records imprint), and their unique hybrid of sound makes perfect sense; their ability to blend so many different kinds of music in to an incredibly vibrant, distinctive and peerless album is what this band has been doing for the past ten years.
 
Sidecar Tommy, David Satori and Zoe Jakes make up Beats Antique, who is releasing their 10^th album on October 5^th to commemorate their tenth year as a band. They’ve mounted a larger-than-life cross-country tour that will take their vision to theaters across America. “Shadowbox is both the title of our new album, the theme of our tour, and our new store front in Berkeley CA. We decided to bring it all together on this release.“
 
Mostly recorded at their studio in Oakland (which has been around since the 50s), the Bay Area band also recorded in Russia and Israel. “We were lucky to record in both Moscow and Tel Aviv, because we had shows there and wanted to connect with the local artists. We had amazing sessions in both locations; In Moscow we recorded on the outskirts of the city in a wild Industrial complex. We ended up going through strange corridors into this plush bamboo-floored-Hare-Krishna-owned recording studio with state of the art gear. When we were in Tel Aviv, we gave a call to a local legend Yossi Fine and he helped us get time at Pluto Studios, which is one of the best in the city. We recorded with Talya Solan and her amazing group of musicians. We used elements of the Tel Aviv session to create our track “Bdna Salam,” which is raising money for Syrian refugees.” Along with Talya other features on Shadowbox include Lafa Taylor, Alam Khan, Tatiana Kalmykova, brasshouse trio Too Many Zooz (who are touring with Beats Antique), Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Dana Elle, Madoline Tasquin and Medium Troy Orchestra.
 
Shadowbox is a retrospective of sorts, with Beats Antique pulling from all of their previous work as almost a homage to the first ten years of their career. “This will be our first full album produced in Beats Antique’s recording studio/dance performance space.  We feel like Shadowbox touches on all our styles from down-temp Middle Eastern influences to cinematic orchestral arrangements. The songwriting process is also different for every song. Sometimes David will come in with a melody and Sidecar will add the bass and beats, and vice versa. One thing that always makes the songwriting process unique is that Zoe creates and arranges music based around stories she wants to tell though dance, so sometimes the performance aspect influences the creation of the music.”
 
In June, the group premiered the first single, “Killer Bee,” featuring Lafa Taylor, on Billboard.com. The track is “about standing up to prejudices. Just because someone calls you a killer bee, doesn’t mean you need to kill. We want people to define themselves and not be defined by what people think they should be.” In addition to being a ‘killer’ track, with a compelling music video directed by Kyrian Bobeerian, Beats Antique donated a percentage of the proceeds from their July 1st show at Red Rocks Amphitheatre to The Honeybee Conservancy, a non-profit dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of bees.
 
An enthusiastic touring band, a new album also means a new tour, and since Beats Antique is all about the ‘concept,’ Shadowbox (the album and the idea) is another opportunity for them to get the creative juices flowing for the live shows. The band plan to use shadows, light, Indonesian shadow puppetry, custom-created lanterns, dance, storytelling, crowd participation and more to make sure this is an unforgettable visual spectacle for their audience.
 
Shadowbox, an album that is an amalgamation of the history of Beats Antique, merged with a tour that will both tease and excite the senses, shows off what this band does best – transform, innovate and revolutionize what you think you know about music.
 
Pre order at: http://hifi247.com/beats-antique.html
 
Beats Antique 2016 Tour Dates:
09/23 – Oakdale, CA @ Symbiosis Gathering Festival
09/28 – Flagstaff, AZ @ Orpheum Theater
09/29 – Taos, NM @ Taos Mesa Brewing
09/30 – Bellevue, CO @ Mishawaka Amphitheatre
10/01 – Lawrence, KS @ Granada Theater
10/02 – Lincoln, NE @ Bourbon Theater
10/04 – Urbana, IL @ The Canopy Club
10/05 – Madison, WI @ Majestic Live
10/06 – Minneapolis, MN @ Skyway Theatre
10/07 – Chicago, IL @ Concord Music Hall
10/08 – Grand Rapids, MI @ The Intersection
10/09 – Indianapolis, IN @ Vogue Theatre
10/11 – Portland, ME @ Port City Music Hall
10/12 – South Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground
10/13 – Boston, MA @ Royale Boston
10/14 – Baltimore, MD @ Rams Head Live
10/15 – New York, NY @ Irving Plaza
10/16 – Philadelphia, PA @ Theater of Living Arts
10/18 – Charlottesville, VA @ The Jefferson Theater
10/19 – Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle
10/20 – Charleston, SC @ Music Farm
10/21 – Black Mountain, NC @ Leaf Festival
10/22 – Cincinnati, OH @ Bogart’s
10/25 – Nashville, TN @ Marathon Music Works
10/26 – Memphis, TN @ New Daisy Theatre
10/27 – Tulsa, OK @ Cain’s Ballroom
10/28 – Dallas, TX @ The Bomb Factory
10/29 – Austin, TX @ Emo’s
10/30 – New Orleans, LA @ Voodoo Music & Arts Festival
10/31 – San Antonio, TX @ The Aztec Theater
11/12 – Longmont, CO @ Roosevelt Park
12/03 – Oakland, CA @ Fox Theater
1/20-25 – Miami, FL @ Jam Cruise

John Brown’s Body’s Fireflies has debuted at #1 on the Billboard Reggae chart.  Fireflies (released September 9, 2016 on Easy Star Records) is the band’s eleventh full-length release and celebrates a fruitful 20-year career, encapsulating the evolution of the band while demonstrating that they are nowhere close to stopping.  The album debuted impressively on other Billboard charts including #25 on the Heatseekers Chart.  The album mirrors the success of 2013’s Kings and Queens album and 2008’s Amplify, which both debuted at #1 on the Billboard Reggae Chart.

“It’s truly impressive to see JBB fans from 20 years ago continue to grow with the band alongside new fans embracing their new album worldwide.  Their sound continues to evolve from release to release appealing to a wide audience from different music scenes and lifestyles outside their core reggae community.  JBB’s consistent musical output and live shows combined with their dedicated fans is what helped them reach #1,” says Easy Star CEO Eric Smith.

The band is currently on tour showcasing songs from the new album and back catalog.

Tour Dates:

9.22 | Asheville, NC | Asheville Music Hall

9.23 | Atlanta, GA | Masquerade

9.24 | Jacksonville, FL | Jack Rabbits

9.25 | St. Petersburg, FL | Jannus Landing

9.26 | Orlando, FL | The Social

10.8 | Bethel, NY | Beer Fest @ Bethel Woods

10.12 | Columbus, OH | Woodlands Tavern

10.13 | Cleveland, OH | Beachland Ballroom

10.14 | Chicago, IL | 1st Ward @ Chop Shop

10.15 | Kalamazoo, MI | Bells

10.20 | Washington, DC | Gypsy Sallys

10.21 | Harrisburg, PA | Abbey Bar

10.22 | Rochester, NY | Flour City Station

11.10 | San Diego, CA | Music Box

11.11 | Santa Barbara, CA | SoHo

11.12 | Hermosa Beach, CA | Saint Rocke

11.13 | San Luis Obispo, CA | SLO Brew

11.16 | Sacramento, CA | Harlow’s

11.17 | Santa Cruz, CA | Catalyst

11.18 | Chico, CA | Lost On Main

11.19 | San Francisco, CA | Slims

12.2 | Syracuse, NY | Westcott Theater

12.3 | Buffalo, NY | Iron Works

1.26 | Burlington, VT | Higher Ground

1.27 | Portland, ME | Port City Music Hall

1.28 | Boston, MA | The Paradise

Tickets at www.johnbrownsbody.com/tour/

Following the success of Backbeat Soundsystem’s debut album Together Not Apart (Easy Star Records), the Cornwall-based 8-piece reggae outfit, is back with a new EP Into The Light and a ten date UK tour starting this week.  Into The Light, which is set for release on October 7^th on Easy Star Records, features 5 new songs that are a natural progression from their debut album. Vocalist Dean Forrest enthusiastically states, “From the inception of the record, we wanted it to be a deeper and more experimental project. We wanted it to feel more mature and refined; more musical. I think it really pushes the boundaries of what you can do within the reggae genre. We never just want to recreate what has come before us; we want to do something new and exciting, and I think this collection of tunes is definitely going to give people something to think about.”

The title of the EP Into The Light, is a very personal title for the band. From the band’s experience, the song is inspired by being in a dark place and pushing through it with a fresh positive outlook. The message resonates over a funky horn driven beat and pulsating basslines. Other themes include the moment you say goodbye to a dead end job to chase your dreams on “So Long,” society’s obsession with selfies and the concern of being connected online versus connected to the natural world on “Falsify,” the importance of making time for your community and friends on “Stick Together,” and the experimental-space-reggae-fusion of “Satellite” inspired by American astronomer Carl Sagan.

While many other artists obsess in their attempt to recreate an authentic Jamaican-leaning sound, Backbeat Soundsystem are not afraid to go in totally different directions, pulling in influences from all across the music spectrum, to create their vision of modern reggae. With all of this, Backbeat stands out in the current scene – pushing the envelope in their studio productions and pumping up crowds in their live set.

Backbeat Soundsystem has already racked up performances at many of the best-known UK festivals including Glastonbury, Boomtown Fair, Beautiful Days, Secret Garden Party, Greenman, Boardmasters, and many others, as well as toured in Europe and the United States. They embark on a 10 date UK tour to celebrate the release of the new EP. The tour kicks off on October 7^th (release day) and will feature a new set that is crafted to ebb & flow through their discography and take their audience on a real journey. Forrest concludes, “Some tracks have been extended, and whole new sections have been added. The live show is like our record, but dubbier, and with a shitload of bass! No matter how hard you try to capture your songs on a recording, there is just something about the raw energy of live music that doesn’t happen any other way.”

Tracklisting

1.   So Long

2.   Satellite

3.   Falsify

4.   Stick Together

5.   Into The Light

Tour Dates

10/07 @ Watering Hole – Perranporth, UK

10/12 @ The Junction – Plymouth, UK

10/14 @ The Vic – Swindon, UK

10/15 @ The Rene – Gloucester, UK

10/17 @ Hare & Hounds – Birmingham, UK

10/16 @ HiFi – Leeds, UK

10/19 @ Gwidhw – Cardiff, UK

10/20 @ Hope & Ruin – Brighton, UK

10/21 @ The Attic – Bristol, UK

10/22 @ Hootannany – London, UK

Every year The Emerald Cup adds a little more to the premiere outdoor organic medicinal cannabis competition at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds. This year the event will be held from December 10th to 11th, and will include a new award – Regenerative Cannabis Award, activists and artists Alex and Allyson Grey, Damian Marley pre-party on Friday, December 9^th and much more!

The Emerald Cup is excited to announce the newly added Regenerative Cannabis Award, and this year the festival is introducing the new award as an honorary award. However, they’ve laid out a three year plan to implement the changes required for the award’s application process. Adding the regenerative process to organic farming practices will positively transform and revolutionize the festival's competition. For Tim Blake, founder of The Emerald Cup, “It’s not just about being organic anymore. Regenerative agriculture is exciting. Gone are the days, of stripping and tilling the soil to start over. Introducing and eventually implementing these requirements to The Emerald Cup is the natural progression of growing.”  Regenerative agriculture is an organic farming practice that that uses resources locally available, from manure to mulch, it takes into consideration biological systems, and provides for plant nutrition and crop production, over time farmers see an increases to soil fertility. The practice of regenerative agriculture with organic farming is said to produce healthy soil, clean water, clean air, and the highest quality cannabis from artisanal flowers to the finest extracts.
 
In addition, this year The Emerald Cup welcomes Alex and Allyson Grey, visionary artists and activists. They will be participating in industry panel discussions, live-painting during the music portion of the festival, and will be engineering a light show. Also new this year, Damian Marley will be hosting a kick-off party on Friday, December 9^th. This special kick off party is included in the new Xperience tickets, the general admission ticket for the December 9th event will go on sale later this month. More announcements on what is new to the competition will be announced later this month.
 
The Emerald Cup, founded by Tim Blake in 2003, is California’s premier outdoor organic medicinal cannabis competition for growing and breeding.  What started as a small passionate 200-person event at Blake’s Area 101 property has blossomed into today’s most prestigious organic cannabis competition that Rolling Stone states “the Emerald Cup honors the best strains of marijuana of the year.”  The two-day event sees over 20,000 attendees partake in industry leading panels, interact with innovative vendors, while immersing themselves in a carefully curated musical experience.
 
The musical portion of The 13th annual Emerald Cup is produced by Ineffable Live, a division of Ineffable Music Group. This year’s impressive lineup combines the best talent from the progressive reggae community with Stick Figure, Tribal Seeds, and Dirty Heads alongside Jamaican reggae torchbearers Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley, Kabaka Pyramid, Raging Fyah, and more.  Full artist lineup is listed below.
 
Now in its 13^th year, The Emerald Cup prides itself in bringing together experts and educators in the cannabis field from fellow farmers, patients, and patrons each year. It is a community celebration that has grown to become a global movement honoring the year's finest, organic, sun-grown, medicinal cannabis harvest.  More details and tickets can be found at http://theemeraldcup.com.
 
2016 Full Artist Lineup:

• Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley
• Dirty Heads
• Stick Figure
• Tribal Seeds
• California Honeydrops
• Kabaka Pyramid
• Hirie
• Raging Fyah
• Nattali Rize
• Vokab Kompany
• Thrive
• Arden Park Roots

 
FESTIVAL DETAILS
The 13^th Annual Emerald Cup
Dates: Saturday, December 10, 2016 – Sunday December 11, 2016
Time: Doors at 11am PT
Venue: Sonoma County Fairgrounds
Address: 1350 Bennett Valley Rd, Santa Rosa, CA 95404
Admission: Varies // Early Advance ticket prices: $60 (single day), $110 (weekend) , $300 (Emerald Cup Xperience)
Purchase Link: https://emeraldcup2016.eventbrite.com
Age restrictions: 18+, 215 Area is 21+

The 8^th annual California Roots Music and Arts Festival will take place at the historic Monterey County Fair and Event Center from May 26-28, 2017.  The top tier national festival is the premier gathering for the progressive U.S. Reggae and roots music movement, bringing the scene together over Memorial Day weekend in beautiful Monterey, CA.
 
The 2016 edition of California Roots was the most successful year to date with a record capacity of attendees, celebrity sightings, and the most expansive green initiatives yet.  There is no wonder that the Huffington Post chose it as one of the “Top 10 Under-The-Radar Music Festivals in North America,” while The Monterey County Weekly noted that the festival is “…growing so big that its arms are stretching out towards Coachella and Bonnaroo territory.”
 
2017 is shaping up to continue where last year left off, but embodying the spirit of the historic Monterey Pop Festival, which will be celebrating their 50^th anniversary in 2017, and took place at the same location as California Roots.  The Monterey Herald recently found parallels between both festivals stating, “One might point to Monterey Pop as the first such groovy-vibes kind of festival, although from my experience, Cali Roots is the epitome of that feeling.”
 
2017’s California Roots Music and Arts Festival announces today another impressive line-up with its first round of artists.  Limited Early Bird 3-day tickets will go on sale on Tuesday, October 11, 2016 at 10am PST (Purchase Link: http://californiarootsfestival.com/tickets).  This year also introduced, The California Roots “Redwood Pass” in partnership with the Redwood Forest Foundation (www.rffi.org). Two redwoods will be planted for each of these, very limited Redwood Passes, resulting in a total of 800 new redwood trees. The launch was so successful, that the passes sold out in five minutes.
 
Round One Artist Line-Up Announcement:

• Dirty Heads
• Jurassic 5
• Common Kings
• Alborosie
• Anthony B
• Jesse Royal
• Mellow Mood
• Through The Roots
• Tribal Theory
• Humble Soul
• Iya Terra
• The Late Ones

“We are excited to announce our first round of the 2017 line-up.  I am proud in curating another diverse lineup that mixes some Cali Roots favorites including Dirty Heads, Common Kings, and Through The Roots, with more up and coming talent making their debut.  Artists like Jesse Royal and Mellow Mood from Italy are bringing a high energy fresh sound to our scene alongside Tribal Theory and Humble Soul representing stateside.  The legendary hip hop group Jurassic 5 will also be making their first appearance and we couldn’t be more thrilled for them to bring their uplifting vibe to our festival,” says festival Co-Producer Dan Sheehan.  He adds, “With two more artists’ announcements to come, 2017 is shaping up to be a landmark year.”
 
FESTIVAL DETAILS:
The 8^th Annual California Roots Music and Arts Festival
Dates: Friday, May 26, 2017 – Sunday May 28, 2017
Time: 10:00 am – 11:00 pm PDT
Venue: Monterey County Fair and Event Center
Address: 2004 Fairground Road, Monterey, CA 93940
Admission: Varies (Purchase Link: http://californiarootsfestival.com/tickets)   
Age restrictions: All Ages
Round Two Artist Announcement: Friday, December 2, 2016
Round Three Artist Announcement: Tuesday, January 10, 2017

Beats Antique is excited to announce that their new album, Shadowbox, release through their own label, Beats Antique Records. Their 10th album out on October 5th commemorates their tenth year as a band. They’ve also mounted a larger-than-life cross-country tour that will take their vision to theaters across America. “Shadowbox is both the title of our new album, the theme of our tour, and our new store front in Berkeley CA. We decided to bring it all together on this release,” states the band that consists of Bay Area residents Sidecar Tommy, David Satori and Zoe Jakes.

Mostly recorded at their studio in Oakland (which has been around since the 50s), the band also recorded in Russia and Israel. “We were lucky to record in both Moscow and Tel Aviv, because we had shows there and wanted to connect with the local artists. We had amazing sessions in both locations; In Moscow we recorded on the outskirts of the city in a wild Industrial complex. We ended up going through strange corridors into this plush bamboo-floored-Hare-Krishna-owned recording studio with state of the art gear. When we were in Tel Aviv, we gave a call to a local legend Yossi Fine and he helped us get time at Pluto Studios, which is one of the best in the city. We recorded with Talya Solan and her amazing group of musicians. We used elements of the Tel Aviv session to create our track “Bdna Salam,” which is raising money for Syrian refugees.” Along with Talya other features on Shadowbox include Lafa Taylor, Alam Khan, Tatiana Kalmykova, brasshouse trio Too Many Zooz (who are touring with Beats Antique), Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Dana Elle, Madoline Tasquin and Medium Troy Orchestra. 

Shadowbox is a retrospective of sorts, with Beats Antique pulling from all of their previous work as almost a homage to the first ten years of their career. “This will be our first full album produced in Beats Antique’s recording studio/dance performance space.  We feel like Shadowbox touches on all our styles from down-temp Middle Eastern influences to cinematic orchestral arrangements. The songwriting process is also different for every song. Sometimes David will come in with a melody and Sidecar will add the bass and beats, and vice versa. One thing that always makes the songwriting process unique is that Zoe creates and arranges music based around stories she wants to tell though dance, so sometimes the performance aspect influences the creation of the music.”

An enthusiastic touring band, a new album also means a new tour, and since Beats Antique is all about the ‘concept,’ Shadowbox (the album and the idea) is another opportunity for them to get the creative juices flowing for the live shows. The band plan to use shadows, light, Indonesian shadow puppetry, custom-created lanterns, dance, storytelling, crowd participation and more to make sure this is an unforgettable visual spectacle for their audience. 

Shadowbox, an album that is an amalgamation of the history of Beats Antique, merged with a tour that will both tease and excite the senses, shows off what this band does best – transform, innovate and revolutionize what you think you know about music.

Beats Antique 2016 Tour Dates:
10/05 – Madison, WI @ Majestic Live
10/06 – Minneapolis, MN @ Skyway Theatre
10/07 – Chicago, IL @ Concord Music Hall
10/08 – Grand Rapids, MI @ The Intersection
10/09 – Indianapolis, IN @ Vogue Theatre
10/11 – Portland, ME @ Port City Music Hall
10/12 – South Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground
10/13 – Boston, MA @ Royale Boston
10/14 – Baltimore, MD @ Rams Head Live
10/15 – New York, NY @ Irving Plaza
10/16 – Philadelphia, PA @ Theater of Living Arts
10/18 – Charlottesville, VA @ The Jefferson Theater
10/19 – Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle
10/20 – Charleston, SC @ Music Farm
10/21 – Black Mountain, NC @ Leaf Festival
10/22 – Cincinnati, OH @ Bogart’s
10/25 – Nashville, TN @ Marathon Music Works
10/26 – Memphis, TN @ New Daisy Theatre
10/27 – Tulsa, OK @ Cain’s Ballroom
10/28 – Dallas, TX @ The Bomb Factory
10/29 – Austin, TX @ Emo’s
10/30 – New Orleans, LA @ Voodoo Music & Arts Festival
10/31 – San Antonio, TX @ The Aztec Theater
11/12 – Longmont, CO @ Roosevelt Park
12/03 – Oakland, CA @ Fox Theater
1/20-25 – Miami, FL @ Jam Cruise

Dos Santos' sophomore release—Fonografic—is a gritty and electrifying ride. Out October 1st on Electric Cowbell Records, this new EP pushes the Chicago-based band’s signature formula of guitar-heavy, percussion-driven sounds further into the fierce sonic terrain of traditional Latin rhythms and hard-hitting funk and soul. A danceable record with intense grooves, the EP’s seven tracks feature merengue-inspired vamps, heavy-weight vintage salsa, and organic cumbia vibes that will surprise you at every turn.

“Sound-writing,” or writing with sound, is the literal meaning and creative intent of Fonografic. And on this record, Dos Santos skillfully broadcasts the contemporary voice of the American Latinx experience through the reverb-slathered echoes of the “golden age” of tight-knit ensembles of the 1970s and 80s that shook sweatbox dance floors all over Latin America.

Fonografic showcases the work of some heavy-hitters from around the country. It was produced by Beto Martinez of Grammy Award-winning Grupo Fantasma. Recorded in central Texas, tracking was split between Martinez’s Leche House studios and the Austin powerhouse Ohm Recording Facility headed by engineer extraordinaire Chico Jones. Here is what Martinez has to say about working with band:

“Alex Chavez and I have known each other going back to his years in Austin. Our first foray into working closely together was a soul and R&B project—The Downtown Rulers Club—which I recorded and we co-produced in 2010. After his move to Chicago, he shared some of the music he was working on with Dos Santos. I was instantly a fan and knew I wanted to work with them. In Summer of 2015, they approached me about producing and I decided to bring them down to my studio. The process was smooth, fun, and in the end I'm humbled and honored that the guys allowed me to be a part of the project. They're a great band with tremendous potential and a killer sound.”

Dos Santos also teamed up with Brooklyn-based record label Electric Cowbell Records. Headed by musical visionary Jim Thomson, Electric Cowbell releases some of the hottest independent Latin music from around the world. Here’s how Thomson describes the forthcoming 7” vinyl:

“Definitively Latin-tinged, it’s hard to pin a genre on Dos Santos. For their 7” on Electric Cowbell, the band highlights their instrumental muscle delivering groovy Chicano-noir atmospherics that cook atop a boiling pot of cowbells, congas, and timbales. Side A’s ¡Cafeteando! sounds like a dubby descarga that Willie Colon could have conjured up collaborating with a mad scientist in the famous Discos Fuentes studios in Medellín, Colombia. Camino Infernal/Phantom Weight on the second side come out of the gate sounding like a soundtrack to a chase scene. The sound is at once an urgent, up-tempo psychedelic cumbia complete with twangy, reverb-drenched guitar, then halfway through resolves itself into a commanding strut of Latin funk badassery that vacillates between time signatures yet never steps out the deep groove trench that these lads dig! The offspring of many varieties of Latin music—cumbia, salsa, Afro-Cuban, Chicano rock, and more—Dos Santos are blooming for peeps to dance on!”

Fonografic will strike a chord with fans of contemporary and vintage Latin music alike, especially people who love to dance with a purpose. Dos Santos pride themselves in producing honest dance music with no frills and no fear that proclaims: ¡Aquí estamos y no nos vamos! At a time when the echoes of “I can’t breathe” and “Don’t shoot” ring out in the ears of U.S. communities struggling against the pressures of institutionalized racism and police brutality, Fonografic is a sonic backdrop for those who continue to listen to and slang the melodies and poetry of their lives. From Chicago to the world, this release is a bold sonic celebration of the work, art, and beautiful dissonance of those who are defiantly loud together with dignity everywhere. Dos Santos comprises of Peter Vale (congas, percussion), Alex Chavez (vocals, guitar, keys), Daniel Villarreal-Carrillo (drums, percussion), Jaime Garza (bass), and Nathan Karagianis (guitar, backing vocals).

Dos Santos will celebrate the release of Fonografic on October 1st with a show at the legendary Hideout (1354 W Wabansia Ave) in Chicago. Those who purchase advance tickets will receive a copy of the CD. Fans will also be able to place pre-sale orders for the 7” vinyl. The night will feature Dos Santos, DJ Daniel Villarreal, visuals by CaliXta, and a few very special guests TBA.  The album is now available everywhere digitally, and the vinyl will be available on October 28th.

Fonografic EP Track Listing:
01 - Epilogue 66
02 - El Puerto de Animas
03 - ¡Cafeteando!
04 - Santa Clara
05/06 - Camino Infernal/Phantom Weight
07 - Red

Tour Dates:

October 14
— El Club (Detroit, MI)
 
October 15
— Founders Brewery Taproom (Grand Rapids, MI)
 
October 19
— Siete Banderas (Laredo, TX)
 
October 20
— Swan Dive w/Money Chicha (Austin, TX)
 
October 21
— Lechehouse Studio Session w/Money Chicha (Austin, TX)
 
October 22
— Squeezebox w/Money Chicha (San Antonio, TX)
— In-store at "Friends of Sound"
 
October 23
— Continental Club w/Money Chicha (Houston, TX)

Alta Music Festival is proud to announce its #RockNRefill partnership with REVERB and Nalgene in efforts to create an environmentally conscious event on October 15^th at Avila Beach Resort. Artists for the debut event include Iration, Nahko And Medicine For The People, Collie Buddz, Unified Highway, and Wheeland Brothers.
 
In an effort to eliminate single-use plastic waste, the Alta Music Festival has partnered with the environmental non-profit REVERB and their #RockNRefill program. Dan Sheehan, festival producer, states, “Through this program, we strive to be a successful green and forward-thinking festival that makes the right choices not only with our music lineup and experience, but also with the way we can sustain our environment by making conscious choices from our water programs to our commitment to the California Condors.” Every ticket will include a $5 fee that will not only go toward single-use plastic free solutions, but will also provide every ticket holder with a custom 32oz Alta Music Festival NALGENE bottle. Free filtered water stations will be provided on site for all fans to use at the festival.
 
Tanner Watt, partnerships and development director at REVERB says, “We are excited to be teaming up with Alta Music Festival for our #RockNRefill program. By eliminating single - use plastic and encouraging the use and reuse of refillable water bottles the #RockNRefill program estimates diverting between 15,000 and 20,000 single-use plastic bottles from the landfill. This year the #RockNRefill program got in front of an estimated 2,338,500 music fans in the United States and we are proud Alta Music Festival’s first year will be a part of this success.”
 
The #RockNRefill program supported 49 non-profit organizations across the country raising nearly $600,000 for non-profit efforts in 2016. Based on 14 fill-ups per bottle (ppc estimate), REVERB and NALGENE will have successfully diverted 820,540 single-use plastic bottles from landfill at the end of this season. If participants use their #RockNRefill bottles for one year (based on PPC figure of 167 single-use bottles annually per American), the program will have diverted 9,787,870 single-use bottles from landfills.
 
More information can be found at http://AltaMusicFestival.com and http://reverb.org.
 
FESTIVAL DETAILS:
Date: Saturday, October 15, 2016
Lineup: Iration, Nahko And Medicine For The People, Collie Buddz, Unified Highway, Wheeland Brothers
Time: 12 noon – 11pm PT
Parking Lot/Box Office Opens: 12:00pm, Gates: 1:00pm, Music Starts: 2:00pm,
Music Ends: 10:00pm, Parking Lot Closes: 11:00pm
Venue: Avila Beach Golf Resort 
Address: 6464 Ana Bay Road, Avila Beach, CA 93424
Admission: Varies
Trailblazer (Early Bird), Sea Level (Advance), Summit (VIP/Beach Balcony)
Purchase Link: http://altamusicfestival.com/tickets
Age restrictions: All Ages (10 and under free with paid adult/parent/guardian)

On October 8th, progressive reggae quintet Fluid Foundation will release its self-titled debut album on 17th Street Records. Fluid Foundation is a vibrant mix of reggae, dub, balmy surf music, and hip-hop. The album features a clutch of special guests, and was tracked at the famed 17^th Street Studios with esteemed producer Lewis Richards (Dirty Heads, Sublime, Slightly Stoopid, Iration, and Seedless). Pre-orders available on Bandcamp.

The Oceanside, California band’s debut exudes a futuristic reggae feel that shatters genres with electronic textures while preserving a spiritually uplifting feeling. The band describes its invigorating message thusly: “Our Foundation has been set…It is a solid one but Fluid enough to keep you always moving forward in a positive direction!”

Fluid Foundation embodies its name lyrically and musically. The group is comprised of an eclectic group of musicians with intriguing pedigrees. The quintet is: Nathan Arriola, lead vocals, guitar, ukulele; Shaun Dubick bass guitar, guitar, ukulele; Tony Saenz, drums, percussion; Rob Eldon keys, piano, organ, steel pan; Uke, vocals and composition. The group’s refreshingly eclectic stylistic swath encompasses reggae, electronic music, folk, rock, and jazz.

Fluid Foundation brims with positivity, longing, reflection, and introspection. On “Roll With Me,” majestic ambient textures blanket a sizzling skank rhythm, setting the stage for a message of love and commitment beyond boundaries. The infectious “Spin Me Around” features reggae legend and recording artist Pato Banton (UB40, Sting) and Stick Figure’s Kevin Offitzer on drums. The track is an intriguing cross section of influences, fluidly combining Banton’s UK reggae style with Fluid Foundation’s Cali vibe and Offitzer’s rock drumming. The other guest on the album is Marlon “The Ganja Farmer” Asher who appears on “Tripulation.”  A standout track that blends roots reggae and the Cali vibe, with a message about the trials and tribulations of life and love. 

Another Fluid Foundation highlight is “Cruzin,” a balmy hybrid of bubbling reggae and classic hip-hop with pop hooks. “I grew up working on cars and spending time around classic cars, so I wanted to write a track that went out to all the ‘Riderz’ and the ‘Lo Los’ who are just cruzin’ and hittin’ switches,” says Rob Eldon. Additionally, the track “Foundation” was the inspiration for this album. When Shaun joined Fluid Foundation he set into motion the next chapter in his life, including a moved from Maryland to San Diego, the announcement of his wife’s pregnancy, and the immediate work on creating the album Fluid Foundation. Shaun says, “with all these changes happening, I feel like this period of time in my life is really a foundation for the future and everything that’s coming next in life. And I feel like I’m not the only one going through changes in life, and wanted to make something that not only I could relate to, but that I thought everyone could really relate to.”

The band showcases its commitment to social consciousness with the track “Carefree” which features Micah Brown (Iration), co-writer and vocals. The invigorating track was written to bring awareness about adopting pets from local animal shelters, and all proceeds from this single will go directly to the San Diego Animal Rescue. Additionally, Fluid Foundation has a merchandise line dedicated to the cause, ranging from tees to hats called “Rasta Paw”, where all profits go directly to the San Diego Animal Rescue. Check out the store here: http://www.fluidfoundationmusic.com/#!store-1/f03rd

Now, with a stellar debut album under its collective belt, Fluid Foundation is focused on playing live. Audiences can expect a fully immersive landscape of sound at Fluid Foundation shows. The band will recreate its lush studio records with instrumental sounds and samples. Fluid Foundation will also heighten the live experience with a coordinated light and visual show. Catch the band this summer in California on September 24th @ Casa Estrella, and October 8th at 710 Beach Club at their record release party.

Ukraine-born singer, songwriter, and actress Marina Maximilian emigrated to Israel at the age of three. She studied with her mother, a classical pianist, sang in choirs, attended a music conservatory, and by the age of fifteen was performing in front of thousands at the Red Sea Jazz Festival.

Being a star comes with some baggage – like personal managers with high expectations. "That can create artificial pressure when we're making songs, because everyone expects a hit," Muskat explains. But the combination of Maximilian’s humility and undeniable talent makes all the tension disappear. "Every time we’re in the studio together, the music always comes out a bit off-center, and everyone starts getting worried," Muskat laughs. "But the proof is in the end result."

Maximilian and Muskat wanted a vintage-sounding sample for 'Illegal Talk', so the producer recorded and re-recorded into a tape machine until he found the perfectly damaged sound. "Tamir is really inspiring to work with," Marina says. "He has an amazing brain. I learn so much every time."

So where did the lyrics come from? "Tamir's crazy beat painted a scene in my head, some mysterious environment with lots of action and movement," Marina says. The singer was several months pregnant while working on the single. "My unborn baby was always on my mind," she says. Through the writing process, Marina discovered the theme: carrying love from the inside to the outside. "I felt the melody should be a bit childish and repetitive. I guess the song is about the adventure that is life, but also the hidden dangers."

"Shooting the video was a bit weird. I was very pregnant," Marina remembers. "But I wasn’t worried because I knew I was in good hands." The video also features Muskat's son, Ilya, playing a marching drum. "We both felt that Ilya could represent the idea of the imaginative kid, the one that is in Marina's head," Muskat says.

Can music change the world? "Yes! Music is magic," Marina says. Every time we let a song into our hearts, it alters us. In such a crazy world, I think creating change through positive energy is critical. Music rises above all the differences that divide us as humans. Music brings people together through beat and harmony."

Loco Hot is a duo comprised of producer / drummer Tamir Muskat and singer Gilad Kahana. Born in Mexico, vocalist, composer, and author Kahana is the founder and lead singer of Girafot, a critically acclaimed Israeli rock band who went gold in 2006.
 
Loco Hot's 2014 debut album burst onto the scene through the back door. The duo avoided radio and mainstream media, instead developing their own ground-breaking tools to mount a viral campaign which generated millions of hits. "Magazines and blogs kept talking about our bizarre methods," Muskat says. "It totally changed the game, especially coming from two established artists like us."
 
A-Wa
A-Wa (the Arabic word for ‘yes’) is a band of three sisters who fuse Yemenite traditional music with hip-hop and electronica – a style they call Yemenite Folk'n'Beat. Born in a desert commune, the Haim sisters were raised on the music of their Yemenite grandparents.
 
When the lead singer of Balkan Beat Box, Tomer Yosef, heard the Haim's demo, he joined as producer, and immediately put the band into the studio. The video for A-Wa's debut single 'Habib Galbi' ('Love of My Heart') went viral world-wide, while becoming the first ever song in Arabic to hit number one on the Israeli pop charts. Following concert tours of Europe and America, A-Wa began work with Loco Hot on 'I'm a Tribe'.
 
'I'm a Tribe' 
The song was jump-started by Kahana's English lyrics, which A-Wa translated into Yemenite – riding on a custom Muskat beat. Kahana says his words originated from the idea that humanity is one tribe – despite the fact that societies can seem fragmented. A-Wa agrees: "We wanted to remind people of the true essence of why we are here: Love and unity."
 
The 'drop' (instrumental melody) was created by Muskat editing A-Wa's voices into a synth sound, then re-playing it like an instrument. From there on, A-Wa recalls, "We all worked together in the studio, brainstorming and developing the melodic structure." Kahana plays with lyrics as adeptly as Muskat manipulates beats and samples. "He's a master of his craft," Muskat says. "So working with him on ideas is amazing. Great stories just flow out of him!"
 

"APE Records is like a musical family for us," A-Wa agrees. "So the collaboration was natural and inspiring. The way we worked in the studio opened up new channels and ideas, which we will definitely use making our next album."

The Emerald Cup is the premier outdoor organic medicinal cannabis competition. Every year thousands of event attendees gather at The Sonoma County Fairgrounds to learn about new cannabis techniques, technologies and hear from thought leaders in the cannabis community. This year, the panels will include subjects ranging from California’s Proposition 64, regenerative farming, to the importance of terpenes. This is the first round of announcement for the panel portion of the event.
 
With California’s Proposition 64 vote on the November ballots, growers and farmers alike will want to understand how to navigate a post Prop 64 landscape. Topics will include: “County Organizations Making a Difference,” “AUMA and MCRSA”, and a panel with key government agencies to discuss compliancy for growers. Panel speakers will include, Tim Blake, grower, activist and founder of The Emerald Cup; Amanda Reiman of Drug Policy Alliance; Hezekiah Allen from California Growers Association; and many more to be announced soon.
 
With the new honorary regenerative growers award, attendees can learn more about regenerative farming practices. In this four part series, panel topics will discuss living soil, chemical free pests and mold management, bottled vs. brewed and regenerative farming, to learn the ins and out of regenerative farming practices. Panel speakers will include Jeff Lowenfels celebrated author of “Teaming with Microbes,” “Teaming with Nutrients” and “Teaming with Fungi;” Dragonfly Earth Medicine; and Alec Dixon from SC Labs to name a few.
 
Another standout panel will include discussions on terpenes. It was originally thought that THC was indicative of The Emerald Cup award but now it seems that terpenes perhaps count more. These panels will include topics ranging from how to maximize the terpene profile to the benefits of terpenes. And back by popular demand, there will be a panel to discuss mapping the cannabis genome.  Speakers on these topics include Kevin McKernan from Medicinal Genomics; and Mark Lewis and Michael Backes from Napro Research; and many more to be announced soon.
 
The Emerald Cup is a 2-day conference, festival and competition taking place at the Sonoma County Fair Grounds on December 10th and 11th, 2016. For more information about the panels and speakers as they are rolled out, please check out the website at http://theemeraldcup.com/.
 
 
2016 Full Artist Lineup:

Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley

Dirty Heads

Stick Figure

Tribal Seeds

California Honeydrops

Kabaka Pyramid

HIRIE

Raging Fyah

Nattali Rize

Vokab Kompany

Thrive

Arden Park Roots

 
FESTIVAL DETAILS
The 13th Annual Emerald Cup
Dates: Saturday, December 10, 2016 – Sunday December 11, 2016
Time: Doors at 11am PT
Venue: Sonoma County Fairgrounds
Address: 1350 Bennett Valley Rd, Santa Rosa, CA 95404
Admission: Varies // Advance ticket prices: $70 (single day), $120 (weekend) , $300 (Emerald Cup Xperience)
Purchase Link: https://emeraldcup2016.eventbrite.com
Age restrictions: 18+, 215 Area is 21+

California Roots has announced its partnership with Pints for Prostates for the month of November to help raise awareness for prostate cancer. All month long, the California Roots Pints are on sale, and for every pint purchased Cali Roots will donate a portion of the proceeds in the fight against prostate cancer. The campaign is aptly titled “NovemBEER Pints for Prostate,” with the goal to reach men through the universal language of beer about the importance of regular health screenings and early detection for prostate cancer.

“California Roots is dedicated to promoting a healthy lifestyle year-round and our partnership with Pints for Prostates is a testament to that mission,” states co-producer Dan Sheehan. He adds, “What better way to raise awareness about early and regular health screenings than through pints of beer? For every Cali Roots pint sold in November, we will contribute $2 to Pints for Prostates.”

The National Cancer Institute estimates roughly 233,000 new prostate cancer cases are diagnosed each year in the U.S. and it’s the second leading cancer causing death in U.S. men behind skin cancer.

“We are always looking for strong partnerships to get in front of men in interesting and meaningful ways,” says Rick Lyke, a prostate cancer survivor who founded Pints for Prostates in 2008 after successful treatment for the disease. He adds, “partnering with such a well-respected music and lifestyle festival like California Roots allows us to amplify our message and encourage guys to talk with their doctors about scheduling health screenings. The donations from every pint sold will help our organization’s awareness efforts, free men’s health screening events, and help fund prostate cancer support groups.”

The 8^th annual California Roots Music and Arts Festival will take place at the historic Monterey County Fair and Event Center from May 26-28, 2017.  The top tier national festival is the premier gathering for the progressive U.S. Reggae and roots music movement, bringing the scene together over Memorial Day weekend in beautiful Monterey, CA.

Official hashtags: #NovemBEER #Pints4Prostates

Following the success of The Big Smoke, which found Gentleman’s Dub Club (GDC) sitting on top of the iTunes Reggae Chart, GDC have teamed up with the likes of the legendary Prince Fatty (Lily Allen, Dub Syndicate, The Skints, Hollie Cook), Hungarian-born DJ Madd, Chief Rockas, and more to shed a fresh light on the material. By combining the time-tested traditional elements of reggae, dub, and ska with innovative modern techniques, Gentleman’s Dub Club have found their fan base growing at a rapid rate. From the humble roots of playing in a basement in Leeds in 2006, to performing major festivals worldwide, Gentleman’s Dub Club have captured the attention of ears across the globe, including heavy rotation from top UK radio DJs, most notably from their breakthrough hit “High Grade.” The Big Smoke (Remixed) was released on November 11, on Easy Star Records.

The genre of dub thrives on well-crafted production and masterful work and knowledge of sounds and effects, lending itself well to remixes. The upcoming release offers a wide-reaching selection of styles, melding seamlessly from one into the next. Elements of dub, steppas, dubstep roots and even flashes of drum & bass can all be found within the seven-track remix album. “We have met so many talented producers and remixers along the way and we wanted to put a spotlight on them and what they could do with our tunes. For us the foundation of remixing is in Dub, so it seemed like a very appropriate way of celebrating the songs on The Big Smoke,” explains GDC’s bassist Toby Davies.

Among these talented producers are works from the likes of Prince Fatty, Chief Rockas, dubstep heavyweight DJ Madd, Breadwinner, London-based Nick Manasseh, and ex-GDC member Eddie Ranking, each combining elements of their style to the unmistakable sound of Gentleman’s Dub Club. From the live one-take feel of Prince Fatty’s take on “Music Is the Girl I Love” to the tonality changeup of Chief Rockas’s version of “One Night Only (ft. Natty),” down to the dance-inducing sounds of DJ Madd embedded into “One Road,” GDC aims to provide “a mix of the old and new, something we try to explore in every release” adds Davies. The Big Smoke (Remixed) brings back some old faces for new mixes, featuring the return of Breadwinner, who was responsible for mixing the 2015 original release, using the album sessions as the foundation for his remixes, providing a similar sound found on The Big Smoke. Another familiar face is former GDC bandmate Eddie Ranking providing a stripped-back rendition of “Extraordinary.” Nick Manasseh offers a deeper, more contemplative look at “Earthquake.”

The Big Smoke (Remixed) is now available through Easy Star Records. It will be available digitally, with the band set to tour throughout the UK and France throughout the fall.

Tracklisting

1.) One Night Only (Chief Rockas remix)

2.) Music Is The Girl I Love (Prince Fatty remix)

3.) See Them (Breadwinners Dub)

4.) One Road (DJ MADD remix)

5.) Extraordinary (Eddie Ranking remix)

6.) Earthquake (Manasseh remix)

7.) Afraid Of The Dark (Breadwinners Dub)

Tour Dates

Nov 4 @ HiFi – Leeds, UK

Nov 5 @ Studio 24 – Edinburgh, UK

Nov 11 @ Tramshed – Cardiff, UK

Nov 17 @ 4 ECLUSES – Dunkirk, FR

Nov 18 @ Grange A Musique – Creil, FR

Nov 19 @ Run Ar Puns– Chateualin, FR

Dec 15 @ Paul B. – Massy, FR

Dec 16 @ Le Chaudron – Le Mee Sur Seine, FR

Dec 17 @ Le Nadir – Bourges, FR

Feb 17 @ Princess Pavilion – Falmouth, UK

Feb 18 @ The Hub – Plymouth, UK

Feb 19 @ Mr Kyps – Poole, UK

Morgan Heritage is proud to announce the Strictly Roots Deluxe Edition, set to be released on December 9^th on their own CTBC (“Cool to be Conscious”) record label. Morgan Heritage has a 20-plus year career as a revered reggae act, and reached the pinnacle when they won the GRAMMY Award for Best Reggae Album in 2016 for their incredible Strictly Roots record, which is being re-released as a two-disc deluxe version adding four new songs and three new remixes to the album just in time for the holidays. The band will also be doing a short East Coast promotional tour in December to end their landmark year. Full tour dates listed below.
 
Moran Heritage put Strictly Roots out on their own label, CTBC Music Group (“Cool to be Conscious”) on April 21, 2015, working with many like-minded acts such as Jo Mersa Marley (son of Stephen Marley and grandson of the great Bob Marley), who radiates on the track “Light It Up.” While the family knew they’d made a strong album, it was still thrilling to win their first Grammy 20+ years after their initial performance when they were kids playing as the backing band for their father Denroy Morgan and Reggae legends such as Dennis Brown, Judy Mowatt (I-Threes background singer with Bob Marley and The Wailers), Freddie McGregor and Sister Carol to name a few. “Winning our first Grammy for this album is special because it's our first release as an independent artist on our label. Even more so, to win the Grammy tells us that our peers recognize our contributions to our genre of Reggae Music.”
 
The deluxe edition of Strictly Roots is a two-disc aural voyage that showcases unreleased tracks and remixes alongside features from GRAMMY winner Shaggy, J Boog, Flogging Molly, Eric Rachmany of Rebelution, Bobby Lee of GRAMMY Nominated SOJA, Chronixx, Jemere Morgan and Gil Sharone.
 
Of the bonus tracks, Morgan Heritage says that “Come Fly,” featuring Flogging Molly, is a song “about freedom of the mind, body and spirit,” while “Rise Up” is about “never losing faith whilst standing up for your rights in life.” “Talk Dem Ah Talk” encourages “everyone to ignore the noise out in the world, and not to let naysayers hold you back from what you believe in.” Another track, “Lion Order,” shares the lifestyle in which “living a clean life, and giving daily praise to our father in Zion, keeps us strong like a lion.”
 
Morgan Heritage also hosted a remix contest for the song “Light It Up,” which asked fans, producers and DJ’s to submit a remix through Indaba Music. “The team at Indaba was amazing, and the selection process was tougher than we thought it would be because there were so many great remixes. We picked 3 finalists, all of who were eclectic and captivating, but ultimately went with a young, talented producer from Arizona named Silencyde. Two other re-mixers worked with us as well: 6 time Juno Award Winner/Nominee Dubmatix, Canada’s premiere dub and reggae producer, and Guido Craveiro, of the multi-platinum German band Seeed.” For anyone who loves reggae, or couldn’t get enough of the original Strictly Roots, this deluxe set does not disappoint.
 
Many refer to Morgan Heritage as either “The Royal Family of Reggae” or “The Rolling Stones of Reggae,” but this group remains humbled, true to their culture and, yes, their roots. On tour in America through December, with a new album expected in April 2017, the band looks at this latest release as a gift to fans. “We'd like this Deluxe Edition of Strictly Roots to light up everyone's holiday season with love from our family to yours.”
 
Strictly Roots (Deluxe Edition) Two Disc Tracklisting:

Disc One
1. Strictly Roots
2. Child of Jah (feat. Chronixx)
3. Light It Up (feat. Jo Mersa Marley)
4. Rise and Fall
5. Perform and Done
6. So Amazing (feat. J Boog, Jemere Morgan & Gil Sharone)
7. Wanna Be Loved (feat Eric Rachmany of Rebelution)
8. Why Dem Come Around
9. We Are Warriors (feat Bobby Lee of SOJA)
10. Put It On Me
11. Sunday Morning
12. Celebrate Life
13. Keep on Jammin’ (feat. Shaggy)
 
Disc Two
1. Talk Dem Ah Talk
2. Lion Order
3. Come Fly (feat. Flogging Molly)
4. Rise Up
5. Light It Up (Silencyde Remix)
6. Light It Up (Guide Craveiro Remix)
7. Light It Up (Dubmatix Blaze Up Remix

 
Tour Dates:
12/05/16 @ Indochine – Jacksonville, FL
12/07/16 @ Manor – Washington, DC
12/08/16 @ Royal Peacock – Atlanta, GA
12/09/16 @ Farotage – Raleigh, NC
12/14/16 @ Kays Oasis – Boston, MA
12/15/16 @ Toads Place – New Haven, CT
12/16/16 @ BB Kings – New York, NY
12/17/16 @ MP Ultra Lounge – Norfolk, VA
12/18/16 @ Copa – Richmond, VA

A little over a month ago Samoan Reggae Artist and Compton Native J Boog announced the release date (Nov 18, 2016) of his long awaited album. Five years after releasing his sophomore album Backyard Boogie J Boog and his Bay Area/Hawaii based Record Label The Wash House Music Group, have finally released J Boog's much anticipated third album Wash House Ting. This will be his second album under The Wash House Music Group and will include features from international reggae artists: Gappy Ranks, George "Fiji" Veikoso, and a powerful young New Zealand Artist by the name of Aaradhna. Also featured on the album are Jamaican Reggae Legends Chaka Demus, and two Grammy Award winning Artists Gramps Morgan, and Buju Banton himself. Up & coming artists Lion Fiyah & Tenelle also appear on the album.
 
This album has come just three days after J Boog & his Hawaii based band "The Hot Rain Band" showcased a brilliant performance on the third annual Welcome To JamRock Reggae Cruise. A performance that left the reggae cruise predominantly made up of Jamaican and Caribbean passengers wide eyed and in awe. J Boog & Hot Rain made history as they entered as the first Polynesian Artists to be invited on the line-up. Critics & artists have all concurred that they may have very well had one of the best performances on the cruise this year. To celebrate the release of his album the Compton Native alongside his band joined Reggae sensation Christopher Martin and performed for the first time ever in Jamaica.
 
Wash House Ting is currently sitting at #1 on the Billboard Reggae Charts, as well as #4 on the Billboard Heat Seekers Charts, and #26 for Billboard’s Independent Albums, while debuting at #1 on the iTunes Reggae Charts in the U.S. & rapidly climbing on International iTunes Charts as well. Press accolades have been rolling in from tastemakers including Billboard, Crave, LA Weekly, The Pier, Reggaeville, and more!
 
Even though the holiday season is upon us and 2017 is just weeks away, J Boog has no intentions on taking a vacation just yet. He is set to travel to the island of Saipan and Guam where he will be performing alongside fellow Hawaiian Musicians Mike Love, Anuhea, and The Jimmy Weeks Project. He will also be kicking off the new year with a 6 week winter tour set for January to promote the release of the new album. Supporting acts for the tour are a couple of legends in the making, Jo Mersa Marley who is the son of Grammy Award winning Reggae Legend Stephen Marley and Jemere Morgan son of Grammy Award winning Reggae Legend Gramps Morgan. Dates, tickets & information for the Wash House Ting Tour can be found below.
 
Wash House Ting available now!
iTunes
Amazon
Spotify
Order A Physical Copy
 
Wash House Ting Tour
1/12 SAN DIEGO, CA OBSERVATORY NORTH PARK
1/13 SANTA ANA, CA THE OBSERVATORY
1/14 TEMPE, AZ THE MARQUEE
1/15 TUCSON, AZ THE ROCK
1/16 ALBUQUERQUE, NM SUNSHINE THEATER
1/18 DALLAS, TX GAS MONKEY LIVE!
1/19 AUSTIN, TX EMPIRE CONTROL ROOM AND GARAGE
1/20 SAN ANTONIO, TX PAPER TIGER
1/21 NEW ORLEANS, LA TIPITINA’S
1/22 PENSACOLA, FL VINYL MUSIC HALL
1/25 FORT LAUDERDALE, FL CULTURE ROOM
1/26 ORLANDO, FL THE SOCIAL
1/27 PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL PONTE VEDRA CONCERT HALL
1/28 ATLANTA, GA THE LOFT
1/31 WASHINGTON DC THE HAMILTON
2/1 BROOKLYN, NY BROOKLYN BOWL
2/2 PHILADELPHIA, PA THE FOUNDRY AT THE FILLMORE
2/3 BOSTON, MA BRIGHTON MUSIC HALL
2/4 SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT HIGHER GROUND BALLROOM
2/7 CHICAGO, IL BOTTOM LOUNGE
2/8 SAINT PAUL, MN TURF CLUB
2/10 DENVER, CO CERVANTES’ MASTERPIECE BALLROOM
2/11 COLORADO SPRINGS, CO THE BLACK SHEEP
2/12 LONG BEACH, CA ONE LOVE FESTIVAL
2/14 SALT LAKE CITY, UT THE DEPOT
2/16 SEATTLE, WA NEPTUNE THEATRE
2/17 PORTLAND, OR WONDER BALLROOM
2/18 BEND, OR THE OREGON WINTERFEST
2/19 SACRAMENTO, CA ACE OF SPADES
2/22 SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA THE FREMONT THEATER
2/23 SANTA CRUZ, CA THE CATALYST
2/24 SAN FRANCISCO, CA THE REGENCY BALLROOM
2/25 LOS ANGELES, CA THE NOVO

The Holdup is proud to announce that their next album, Leaves in the Pool, is now out and available everywhere. The 16-track album is the band’s first full-length release since late 2013 and, like all other Holdup albums, was written and produced by the multi-talented Mike Garmany. This will also mark the band’s first full collaboration with Ineffable Music Group and Rootfire Cooperative, both of whom are well respected pillars in the Reggae community, and manage and have released albums with artists such as Collie Buddz, Stick Figure, The Movement and Hirie.

The Holdup has garnered a strong organic following throughout the years, starting from the local circuits in San Jose. Through tireless effort, they managed to find success on a national level. From their debut album Stay Gold reaching #1 on the iTunes Reggae Charts, to 2011’s Still Gold peaking at #2 on the Billboard reggae chart, The Holdup has been receiving accolades, recognition, and new fans at a rapid rate. They have also been awarded the title of iTunes’ Best New Reggae Artist of 2010 as well as being featured on Mac Miller’s “MostDope” blog and 2 Chainz’ “Most Expensivest Shit” GQ video series.

Leaves in the Pool reflects a transitional point in the life of The Holdup. The title itself symbolizes the end of one season and the transition into the next. While the band has enjoyed a high-level of success, recent events have skyrocketed Garmany’s ambition to a new high. Inspired by a move out from the caring wing of his mother, who Garmany praises on the moving opening track “Neighborhood”, Mike has begun to take a more serious approach to his craft, approaching his ambitions with more urgency. With a new season, a new home, and some new touring bandmates, Leaves in the Pool is sure to show a revitalized side of The Holdup.

Not unlike other Holdup releases, songwriting, engineering, and production were all spearheaded by Mike Garmany. Writing and recording were handled in-house, literally, allowing Garmany complete control over arrangements. Mastering work was handled by Huntley Miller, who recently mastered Bon Iver’s new release. Inspiration varied from track-to-track, but Garmany hints at something bigger than himself, stating: “The older I get, the more I feel like the ideas come from somewhere else outside of me.”

The tracks on Leaves in the Pool touch on a large handful of thoughts and emotions. Everything from love songs like the urban-edged “This Ain’t Love” and the feel-good poppiness of “Blink of an Eye”, to the struggles of reaching the next level of success in “Almost Famous” and “Dumb Luck”, and everything in between, including a heavy dose of hip hop closing the album with “10 Karats”. Followers of The Holdup might be happy to hear that, of the three tracks released earlier this year, “Imperfections” found its way onto the album. Fans can expect a lot more guitar work on this release. Speaking on the new-found inspiration Garmany credited bandmate Grant Averill as the catalyst, saying “Grant turned me into a John Mayer fan. 2015 was the year of John Mayer for me. I pretty much exclusively listened to the album Continuum. That got me back into guitar in a heavy way. I kind of left it alone for a while but I'm in love with it now. I don't think I'll ever put it down again.”

The Holdup plan to tour as much as possible, crediting a lack of touring as the area in which they fell short on in the past. They have dates lined up currently through Mid-December, including supporting gigs with Rootfire-friends The Movement. Leaves in the Pool shows that major changes are the natural progression of life. The songs showcase the transformation of The Holdup and the lives of its members, adding a layer of depth to the catchy songwriting fans of The Holdup have come to enjoy. Leaves in the Pool dropped December 1^st, 2016 gave listeners something new to fall in love with.
 
Leaves in the Pool Tracklisting:

1. Neighborhood
2. Dumb Luck
3. Way Too High
4. Imperfections
5. Spoken For
6. Right Away
7. Blink of an Eye
8. Hotline Interlude
9. This Ain’t Love
10. Wait for Me
11. Nothin’s on Fire
12. The Truth
13. Leaves In The Pool
14. Almost Famous
15. Come for You
16. 10 Karats

The Holdup Tour Dates:

Nov 18 – Grange Hall – San Luis Obispo, CA
Nov 19 – Casa Sorrento – Salinas, CA
Nov 20 – The Federal Underground – Long Beach, CA
Nov 23 – Discovery Ventura – Ventura, Ca
Nov 26 – Pub Rock – Scottsdale, AZ
Nov 28 – The Green Room – Houston, TX
Nov 30 – The Parish – New Orleans, LA w/ The Movement
Dec 1 – Vinyl Music Hall – Pensacola, FL w/ The Movement
Dec 2 – The Masquerade – Atlanta, GA w/ The Movement
Dec 3 – The Pour House – Charleston, SC w/ The Movement
Dec 4 – Visulite Theater  – Charlotte, NC w/ The Movement
Dec 6 – The Calico Room – Wilmington, NC w/ The Movement
Dec 8 – Baltimore Soundstage – Baltimore, MD w/ The Movement
Dec 9 – Great Scott – Allston, MA w/ The Movement
Dec 10 – Parlor Bar & Kitchen – Newport, RI
Dec 16 – Social Hall SF – San Francisco, CA

The 8th annual California Roots Music and Arts Festival that takes place at the historic Monterey County Fair and Event Center from May 26-28, 2017, announced its third and final round of artists completing their full lineup.

Adding to the already impressive lineup of Nas, Dirty Heads, SOJA, Iration, Stick Figure, Jurassic 5 and more, is the recently GRAMMY nominated Rebelution, Thievery Corporation, Matisyahu, and Collie Buddz. Melding well into the environmentally conscious and sustainable nature of the festival is Rising Appalachia, who recently announced “The Slow Music Movement” designed to “to create and promote sustainable touring practices across the board.” Rebelution frontman Eric Rachmany will have a busy weekend, as he will also be teaming up with Amp Live showcasing their Unified Highway project. Zach Deputy will also be adding his far-reaching talents and live looping abilities. Representing reggae on the east coast will be John Brown’s Body and Roots of Creation. Capping off the list is Beebs, LAW Records artist Darenots, LA-based Tyrone’s Jacket, and the Skank Roots Project, founded by DJ Skanks and Tribal Seeds’ E.N Young.

Three (3) day general advance tickets are currently on sale at http://californiarootsfestival.com/tickets and select Bay Area ticket outlets http://californiarootsfestival.com/ticket-outlets, with the availability of the 3 Day “Redwood Advance” passes.

Round Three Artist Line-Up Announcement:

Rebelution
Thievery Corporation
Matisyahu
Collie Buddz
Rising Appalachia
John Brown's Body
Unified Highway
Zach Deputy
Roots Of Creation
Beebs
Darenots
Tyrone’s Jacket
Skanks Roots Project

“This past year has seen tremendous growth in our roots music scene, and we are proud that 2017’s lineup includes recent GRAMMY nominees Rebelution and SOJA. Showcasing hip hop icons like Nas and Jurassic 5, alongside the global electronic acts Thievery Corporation and Rising Appalachia takes our programming to a whole new level. With more art and announcements on the festival experience coming, we plan to embody the Monterey Pop Festival spirit as it celebrates its 50th anniversary,” states festival CoProducer Dan Sheehan.

Multi-talented artist, songwriter and producer, David Messier is set to release two music videos from his recent release Waiting For Eldridge out now, everywhere on Fable Records. This is David Messier’s debut solo album, as the former front man of the Boston band Papermoon he has three previous released albums. Waiting For Eldridge is a culmination of years of playing, guitar, drums, piano, songwriting, and producing music. For David, the private radio station that constantly plays in his head is finally available to everyone to hear.

Waiting for Eldridge was inspired by Eldridge Goins an Austin based producer who’s credits include: Carolyn Wonderland, Colin Brooks, and Brian Keane. The album was produced on a friendly dare between the producers, David Messier of Same Sky Productions and Eldridge Goins of Mixorama Records. The challenge was simple, each produce a track using music the other wrote. David had just written “Everything Breaks My Heart” days before the bet and played it for Eldridge. David recalls, “There is this turn around and the chord changes to D, the lyric is “Why in the world should I calm down?” and Eldridge said “that is the hook. Do that again.” I only did it once in the whole song and he said “no you gotta do that at every turn”, I said – Jesus he is right. So I went over to his house and he produced that song for me and it came out better than anything I had ever done. He then produced 9 more for me.”

David Messier’s music is inspired by the likes of Little Richard, Velvet Underground, Philip Glass and sounds very much like a young Tom Petty with a touch of Tom Waits. The 10 track album, Waiting For Eldridge, was called an “expanse of talent and ideas” by the Austin Chronicle and KUTXsaid “Messier is a hurricane force of music.”

A standout track from the album is “Everything Breaks My Heart.” For David this track pushed him into new territory. He recalls, “this is the moment where I broke some new ground. “Everything Breaks My Heart” is a track where I really heard something new.” Another album highlight with an upcoming video release is “Franklin’s Key.” David’s gritty voice gives the track a vintage sound along side the use of the marimba and bari saxophone provides a sound scape of electricity. The track “Keeping Up With Fashion,” had the strongest reception and according to Messier, it sounds like a dirtier and grittier version of Paul Simon’s Graceland. A video for “Keeping Up With Fashion” will be released in late winter.

Waiting For Eldridge was produced at Eldridge’s Mixorama Records in Austin, TX and mastered by the multi GRAMMY award winning engineer Bob Ludwig. The album title came about during the writing and production process. As the pieces of the album started to come together Messier was constantly asked when the record would be available, to which he would reply – I’m waiting for Eldridge. But the meaning to Messier was two fold, one was the production process but the other was more symbolic. Eldridge was the one who inspired Messier to perform after a several year hiatus, and pushed him to evolve into to the artist he is today.

About:
David Messier is a multi-instrumental musician, songwriter, and producer. He is the owner of the Austin based recording studio, Same Sky Productions and the President of The Texas Chapter of The Recording Academy (The Grammys). The SXSW veteran will be performing in and around Austin this winter and spring, and during SXSW.

The “biggest little festival” in Massachusetts just grew a little bigger. Starting off as a humble friendly barbeque, the Levitate Music and Arts Festival has since grown into a full-fledged weekend-long festival featuring top national touring acts, expecting a draw of over 10,000 fans per day. The fifth year will see the festival running two days: Saturday, July 8th and Sunday, July 9th.

The festival has gathered a lot of attention from fans and press alike most notably receiving a nomination from Pollstar Concert Industry Awards for “Music Festival of the Year.” Levitate blossomed in part thanks to rave reviews from The Boston Globe, Vanyaland, JamBase, and others who have cited previous lineups as “supremely stacked” and “explosive.”

Levitate provides a unique and affordable festival experience fit for the entire family. The hand-picked selection and scheduling processes guarantee no overlap between major acts, meaning fans can enjoy the full offerings of every artist. It also allows for a one-of-a-kind lineup that is sure to stand apart from those of the shockingly similar major summertime festivals, all while maintaining a homegrown vibe centered around community building.

The Levitate Music and Arts Festival (LMF) is produced by Levitate, a community oriented surf/skate shop and apparel line based out of Marshfield. The husband and wife team of Daniel and Jessica Hassett own and operate the shop and threw the first LMF in 2013 as a ten-year anniversary party. Daniel began working at the store as a high school student in 2003 under the previous owner Bob Pollard, who taught Daniel how to surf and skate. For more than a decade, Levitate has been involved in youth programs, beach cleanups, surf and skateboard contests and fundraising initiatives, including donating $18,000 to the Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield in 2016, with hopes to raise even more this year. The Hassett’s have consciously honored Levitate’s mission to lift up and grow the surrounding communities with their event. The organizers are adding a comprehensive recycling program at the festival, and are planning for more environmentally sustainable measures for future events.

This year’s headliners perfectly encapsulate the socially conscious spirit of the festival. From Boston-based favorites Dispatch, who have remained faithful to their independent roots while enjoying high levels of success, including being the first independent artist to sell out the historic Madison Square Garden. The purpose of that show? Raising funds for humanitarian efforts in Zimbabwe. Dispatch are set to take center stage alongside the likes of GRAMMY Award-Winning Ziggy Marley, and the label-defying musicianship of Umphrey’s McGee. The mix of rock, funk, and reggae is strengthened with the gifted and talented Lake Street Dive and the deep dubby atmosphere of Stick Figure.

The spirit of New Orleans will be showcased from its roots with the Rebirth Brass Band, all the way to the latest branch of The Revivalists, who are enjoying the success of their hit song “Wish I Knew You” which found the band taking top honors on the Billboard Adult Alternative chart.

East Coast favorites will share stages with national legends during this summer festival. Jazz-inspired jam rockers Twiddle will be representing Vermont, while the small state of Rhode Island brings a big sound in Deer Tick. Southern rockers JJ Grey & Mofro hold down Florida while Rubblebucket will showcase their brass-laden dance music. Boston-based funky rockers Ripe and alliteration-friendly Pigeons Playing Ping Pong will join stage as well. The conscious music of Trevor Hall and Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad compliment the lineup with an extra dose of reggae.

Ghost of Paul Revere offers a unique folk vibe to a carefully curated lineup while teenage blues prodigy Quinn Sullivan is set to impress festival goers of all ages. Landon McNamara will be flying in from Hawaii for his first east coast performance, fresh off the release of his debut album. Capping off the lineup announcement is Six Fox Whiskey, a local Boston folk-rock group.

Traveling the middle path of combining top-drawing acts with local legends, encompassed by a supportive community, helps Daniel Hassett continue to build on the Levitate legacy while remaining true to the culture of the festival’s roots. Hassett explains "It's been an eye opening experience. It was like we threw a block party in a neighborhood that hadn't had one in decades and you weren't sure what the neighbors would think, and every single person said ‘Yes! What can we bring?’ That’s the reaction we’ve had from day one.” Hassett adds “Our community deserves to experience world class music and art in their own backyard.  It's been a very rewarding experience providing this, and being able to jump to two days this year is really special.”

Full Artist Line-Up:

●     Dispatch
●     Ziggy Marley
●     Umphrey’s McGee
●     Lake Street Dive
●     Stick Figure
●     The Revivalists
●     Twiddle
●     Deer Tick
●     Trevor Hall
●     JJ Grey & Mofro
●     Rubblebucket
●     Ripe
●     Rebirth Brass Band
●     Pigeons Playing Ping Pong
●     Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad
●     Ghost of Paul Revere
●     Quinn Sullivan
●     Landon McNamara
●     Six Fox Whiskey

FESTIVAL DETAILS

The Fifth Annual Levitate Music and Arts Festival

Dates: Saturday, July 8th and Sunday, July 9th, 2017

Venue: Marshfield Fairgrounds

Address: 140 Main Street, Marshfield, MA 02050

Tickets: On Sale January 18th, 2017 $99 - 2 Day Tickets

J Boog is back with his highly anticipated new album, Wash House Ting, which was released on November 18, 2016 on Wash House Music Group. He is now in the midst of a massive national tour which began January 12th with support from Jemere Morgan and Jo Mersa Marley.

J Boog is a reggae singer of Samoan descent, was born in Long Beach and was raised in Compton, California. Steeped in Samoan culture and as the son of a Samoan chief, J Boog’s large family has had a huge impact on his artistry. He is the youngest of seven brothers and one sister. He credits his sister with being one of his earliest musical influences. She played piano and he began to sing along when she brought home a Bob Marley songbook.  Each sibling offered exposure to other genres, such as rap and R&B, which allowed J Boog a sense of freedom to be himself. This variety of musical influence combined with Reggae’s feel good sound that was embraced by the whole Afemata family, J Boog was set on a path to creating his own unique reggae sound.

Boog is keeping true to his namesake. Nicknamed “Boog” by his siblings because he could never sit still for long, J Boog is currently living and traveling between Hawaii and California. J Boog has not taken a break since the release of his debut album “Hear Me Roar” in 2007. It was his close collaboration with island music pioneer, George “Fiji” Veikoso, whom he met in 2005, that has helped spur the creation of J Boog’s unique sound, as well as pave the way for many other Polynesian artists. Another great milestone in the creation of J Boog’s debut album was when he joined the Hawaii/San Francisco based musical family, Wash House Music Inc.

In 2008 J Boog teamed up with Yami Bolo and a member of reggae’s royal family, Ambassador Gramps Morgan of Morgan Heritage. He then traveled to Jamaica to experience the culture of Jamaican reggae. This being J Boog’s first visit to Jamaica he did not expect to find himself working in such amazing studios such as Bob Marley’s “Tuff Gong Studio,” Don Corlean’s “Hit Maker Studio,” Bobby Digital’s “Digital B Studio,”  Shaggy’s ” Big Yard Studio” and Sugar Minott’s “Youth Man Promotions.” Guided by Gramps Morgan, J Boog found himself surrounded by several artists he himself had been influenced by and would later appear on his follow-up album, Backyard Boogie in 2011.  Backyard Boogie entertained a great spectrum of reggae fans and invited new reggae fans around the world, offering a variety of musical roots, including R&B and Rock.  J Boog got back to that feel good, be himself music that is uniquely his.  Backyard Boogie topped the US Billboard charts and iTunes charts in numerous countries.  Featured hits were “Let’s Do It Again,” produced by legendary Don Corleon, and “Sunshine Girl,” produced by Gramps Morgan/Dada-son and featured Morgan Heritage front man, Peetah Morgan.  The success of Backyard Boogie earned J Boog the Best New Entertainer Award at the 2012 International Reggae and World Music Awards held in Chicago.

J Boog’s new album showcases why he’s become one of the most in demand performers in the scene and includes guest appearances by Buju Banton, Gramps Morgan, Lion Fiyah, Gappy Ranks, Aarahdna, Tenelle, and the lovable Fiji. Three songs from his recent Rose Petals EP will make its way onto the new album including “Good Cry” featuring Chaka Demus, in addition to the “Brighter Days” and “Rose Petals.”

Wash House Ting Tour
1/20 SAN ANTONIO, TX PAPER TIGER
1/21 NEW ORLEANS, LA TIPITINA’S
1/22 PENSACOLA, FL VINYL MUSIC HALL
1/25 FORT LAUDERDALE, FL CULTURE ROOM
1/26 ORLANDO, FL THE SOCIAL
1/27 PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL PONTE VEDRA CONCERT HALL
1/28 ATLANTA, GA THE LOFT
1/31 WASHINGTON DC THE HAMILTON
2/1 BROOKLYN, NY BROOKLYN BOWL
2/2 PHILADELPHIA, PA THE FOUNDRY AT THE FILLMORE
2/3 BOSTON, MA BRIGHTON MUSIC HALL
2/4 SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT HIGHER GROUND BALLROOM
2/7 CHICAGO, IL BOTTOM LOUNGE
2/8 SAINT PAUL, MN TURF CLUB
2/10 DENVER, CO CERVANTES’ MASTERPIECE BALLROOM
2/11 COLORADO SPRINGS, CO THE BLACK SHEEP
2/12 LONG BEACH, CA ONE LOVE FESTIVAL
2/14 SALT LAKE CITY, UT THE DEPOT
2/16 SEATTLE, WA NEPTUNE THEATRE
2/17 PORTLAND, OR WONDER BALLROOM
2/18 BEND, OR THE OREGON WINTERFEST
2/19 SACRAMENTO, CA ACE OF SPADES
2/22 SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA THE FREMONT THEATER
2/23 SANTA CRUZ, CA THE CATALYST
2/24 SAN FRANCISCO, CA THE REGENCY BALLROOM
2/25 LOS ANGELES, CA THE NOVO

All around Kidal, the Malian desert stretches in every direction. Endless horizons of rock and sand, barren and parched. This is the southwestern edge of the Sahara, the home of the Tuareg people, and the town of Kidal is one of their main cultural centers. Fought over, conquered and re-conquered, it remains the symbol of Tuareg defiance and hope, the spiritual home of a dispossessed people.

It is also the town in which Tamikrest first came together as a group, and on Kidal, Tamikrest’s fourth studio album, the band pays homage to this place that’s nurtured them and their people.

It’s a cry of suffering and the yell of rebellion. It’s power and resistance. This is pure Tuareg rock’n’roll.

“Kidal talks about dignity,” Ag Mossa says. “We consider the desert as an area of freedom to live in. But many people consider it as just a market to sell to multinational companies, and for me, that is a major threat to the survival of our nomadic people.”

The Tuareg have always been nomadic people, their lives in motion across the desert, sometimes taking with them only the bare essentials. But for one brief moment they possessed a home after the Tuaregs rose up in 2012 and declared the independent state of Azawad in the northeast of Mali. It lasted less than a year, as first al-Qaeda conduits swept in from the north, imposing Islamist rule, and then the French military arrived to liberate the area – once again leaving the Tuareg with little or no chance for self-determination. But the dream remains, still trapped between governments and the greed of global corporations.

“Kidal, the cradle of all these uprisings, continues to resist the many acts perpetrated by obscure hands against our people,” notes band associate Rhissa Ag Mohamed. “This album evokes all the suffering and manipulation of our populations caught in pincers on all sides.”

The songs on Kidal evoke a long history. And for all the electricity, as Ag Mossa observes, “It’s very traditional if you go deeply into what I’m playing.”

Everything here is focused. Everything burns. Ag Mossa punctuates his lyrics with inspired bolts of guitar. Even an acoustic song like “Tanakra” maintains a luminous edge.

With Kidal, that blaze is roaring. Recorded in Bamako, Mali in the summer of 2016, the album was produced by Mark Mulholland (Afro-Haitian Experimental Orchestra) and mixed by David Odlum, who received a Grammy for his work with Tinariwen. It’s an album that’s taken two years to make, Ag Mossa says, “because we share the same difficulties of our people.” And the songs here mirror their joys, their pain and their unwillingness to accept things as they are.

There’s a raw beauty in Tamikrest’s rock’n’roll. It’s there in the driving, insistent groove that powers the songs, the lean, snaking bass lines and the guitars that twine and twist around the melodies, and the utterly natural musical blending of Sahel Africa, the Maghreb, and the West – a reflection of influences as diverse as Pink Floyd, Rachid Taha, and flamenco. Yet the Sahara, and the people who live there, is always firmly at its heart.

“This music was founded on a very precise cause, the Tuareg cause,” Ag Mossa told journalist Andy Morgan in 2013. They might be threatened on all sides, but they won’t give up, and this album celebrates who the Tuareg are, the Kel Tamasheq (“those who speak Tamasheq”), the keepers of an ancient and endangered cultural voice.

Tamikrest’s new album is the music of defiance, of hope. It’s rock’n’roll from the Sahara, the sound of the Tuareg dream, a dream that will be renewed again, in their ancestral town: Kidal.