VP Records is pleased to announce that Raging Fyah has been nominated for their acclaimed album Everlasting in the Best Reggae Album category at the 59th Grammys. The band continues to prove how their distinct roots reggae sound is making a major impact in the musical landscape.

In addition to this news, the band announces their 2017 World Tour with Tribal Seeds in the United States and UB40 in Europe. This Saturday (Dec 10), they will also perform at The Emerald Cup in Santa Cruz, CA along with Damian 'Jr Gong' Marley, Dirty Heads, Tribal Seeds and Stick Figure. Dates are below and on http://www.ragingfyah.com.

Everlasting, released in May 2016, follows their previous releases Judgement Day (2011) and Destiny (2014) and is their debut effort for VP Records.

The 59th Annual Grammys® will air live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Feb. 12th, 2017 at 8 p.m. ET. on CBS. Other nominees in the category include Sly & Robbie Presents...Reggae For Her by Devin Di Dakta & J.L., Rose Petals by J Boog, Ziggy Marley's self-titled album, Falling Into Place by Rebelution and SOJA: Live In Virginia by SOJA.

This past month, the band has also received tremendous support from BBC network. The band was a featured guest on Robert Elms Show, David Rodigan and Toddla T. They are one of the five artists nominated for BBC's Freshman Session 2017 and the only reggae act in the running. Other nominees are Nadia Rose, AJ Tracey, Afro B and Murder He Wrote. They also recorded a live acoustic set at the legendary BBC Maida Vale Sessions, which will run at a later date.

U.S. Tour Dates:
Jan 31 @ WOW Hall in Eugene, OR *
Feb 01 @ Wonder Ballroom in Portland, OR *
Feb 02 @ Showbox Theatre in Seattle, WA *
Feb 04 @ Hangar House in Salt Lake City, UT *
Feb 07 @ The Pub Station in Billings, MT  *
Feb 08 @ Belly Up Aspen in Aspen, CO *
Feb 09 @ Ogden Theatre in Denver, CO *
Feb 10  @ Mesa Theatre in Grand Junction, CO *
Feb 11 @ The Living Room in Omaha, NE  *
Feb 14  @ Turf Club in St Paul, MN *
Feb 15  @ The Rave Bar in Milwaukee, WI *
Feb 16  @ Double Door in Chicago, IL *
Feb 17 @ The Stache in Grand Rapids, MI *
Feb 18  @ Rex Theater in Pittsburgh, PA *
Feb 21  @ Toad's Place in New Haven, CT *
Feb 22 @ Irving Plaza in New York, NY *
Feb 23  @ House of Blues in Boston, MA *
Feb 24 @ Blue Ocean Music Hall in Salisbury, MA *
Feb 25  @ Theatre Of The Living Arts in Philadelphia, PA *
Feb 26  @ 9:30 Club in Washington, DC *
Feb 27  @ The Norva in Norfolk, VA *
Mar 01 @ The Norva in Norfolk, VA *
Mar 02  @ Music Farm in Charleston, SC *
Mar 03  @ Vinyl Music Hall in Pensacola, FL *
Mar 04  @ One Eyed Jack in New Orleans, LA *
Mar 05  @ Warehouse Live in Houston, TX *
Mar 07  @ Gas Monkey Bar N Grill in Dallas, TX *
Mar 08  @ Sunshine Theatre in Albuquerque, NM *
Mar 10  @ Rialto Theatre in Tucson, AZ *

UK Dates:
May 19 @ Northern Meeting in Inverness ^
May 20 @ Slessor Gardens in Dundee ^
May 27 @ Butts Park Arena in Coventry ^
May 28 @ Northern Echo Arena in Darlington ^
Jun 2 @ Brunton Park in Carlisle ^
Jun 3 @ The Spitfire Ground in Canterbury ^
Jun 10 @ Parc Y Scarlets in Llanelli ^
Jun 11 @ Racecourse in Taunton ^
Jun 16 @ Bloomfield in Blackpool ^
Aug 12 @ City Racecourse in Chelmsford ^

^ supporting UB40
* supporting Tribal Seeds

Jo Mersa Marley, the eldest son of Stephen Marley and grandson of Bob Marley, joins the Compton-born Samoan reggae artist Jo Boog on the road. The 2017 U.S. tour goes full circle, kicking off this week in California and spanning over 30 cities across the nation before its return back to the Golden State. See dates below.

Mersa will tour in support of his brand new single "Private Beach Party" (out Jan 13, Ghetto Youths International) off the All Natural Riddim compilation, produced by Stephen Marley and slated for Jan 27 release. Mersa is also slated to release his full-length debut later this year.

Joseph “Jo Mersa” Marley was born in Kingston, Jamaica on March 12, 1991 and moved to Miami at age 11. Jo grew up surrounded by music. By the time he was four years old, Jo was appearing onstage alongside his father, his uncle Ziggy and aunts Cedella and Sharon (a.k.a. Ziggy Marley and The Melody Makers) and their children as part of the group’s rousing concert finales with Jo often taking the mic and chanting the lyrics to the Melody Makers’ biggest songs. He keenly observed his father and his uncle Damian as they created music in Stephen’s Lion's Den studio in Miami. He started making beats when he was about 11 and then began focusing on his songwriting and vocal delivery. He released his debut EP Comfortable in June 2014 on Ghetto Youths International, which spanned pop, hip hop, EDM and dancehall. He has toured extensively in U.S. and Europe alongside acts like Stephen "Ragga" Marley, Slightly Stoopid, UB40 and now J Boog.

Tour Dates:
 Feb 01 @ Brooklyn Bowl in Brooklyn, NY
 Feb 02 @ The Foundry at The Fillmore in Philadelphia, PA
 Feb 03 @ Brighton Music Hall in Allston, MA
 Feb 04 @ Higher Ground Ballroom in South Burlington, VT
 Feb 07 @ Bottom Lounge in Chicago, IL
 Feb 08 @ Turf Club in St Paul, MN
 Feb 10 @ Cervantes' Masterpiece Ballroom in Denver, CO
 Feb 12 @ Hodi's Half Note in Fort Collins, CO
 Feb 14 @ The Depot in Salt Lake City, UT
 Feb 16 @ Neptune Theatre in Seattle, WA
 Feb 17 @ Wonder Ballroom in Portland, OR
 Feb 18 @ The Oregon Winterfest in Bend, OR
 Feb 19 @ Ace of Spades in Sacramento, CA
 Feb 22 @ The Fremont Theater in San Luis Obispo, CA
 Feb 23 @ The Catalyst in Santa Cruz, CA
 Feb 24 @ The Regency Ballroom in San Francisco, CA
 Feb 25 @ The Novo in Los Angeles, CA

On February 25th, the eight-time GRAMMY-winning musician Stephen “Ragga” Marley kicked off an intimate acoustic U.S. tour in support of his latest 5-track EP, One Take: Acoustic Jams, out November 2018 on the Marley family’s Ghetto Youths International imprint. For one month, the 23-city run will span the South, Southwest and West Coast.

Stephen beautifully deconstructs both his father Bob Marley's songs ("Small Axe," “All Day” and “Easy Skanking”) and his own (“Mind Control” and “Revelation Party”) in raw and uninhibited fashion on One Take: Acoustic Jams, his latest EP. This jam session recorded in Stephen’s living room, will come to life on the road, giving fans the rare opportunity to digest these melodic hits in an authentic, stripped-down form. In addition to vocals, Stephen plays guitar and percussion. He is backed by the rich instrumentation of Javaughn Bond (bass), Ranoy Gordon (guitar), Nicholas Laraque (saxophone and clarinet) and Craig Taylor (bass, drum and percussion).

“When you share songs in their natural form, you hear them differently, so I just followed my spirit in making the choices of what songs fit this acoustic vibe,” Stephen Marley tells Billboard.

Mystic Marley (Stephen’s daughter) is slated to open for her dad throughout the latter half of the tour. The 20 year-old L.A- based singer/songwriter is prepping her debut EP Moonboard.  She recently released her debut single "Beatdown," an acoustic guitar-driven track about perseverance through adversity.

As a part of this tour, a dollar from each ticket purchased will be donated to the Ghetto Youths Foundation, the non-profit organization founded by Stephen, Damian and Julian Marley to provide aid, assistance, resources and opportunity to communities in need. In addition, fans in 19 select cities of the tour will have the opportunity to support a worthy cause by attending an ‘Exclusive Meet & Greet’ with Stephen Marley immediately following his performance, where 100% of all proceeds will go directly to the Ghetto Youths Foundation’s programs. The reception tickets can be purchased on www.stephenmarleymusic.com.

Today, Trenchtown, Jamaica, is the site of some of the Ghetto Youths Foundation's most exceptional work. This unique and vibrant community is known for producing some of the greatest artists in the world, including Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff, Peter Tosh and Toots Hibbert, yet 100% of the population still lives below the poverty line. Opening its doors in 2019, the Ghetto Youths Foundation Homework Center will be the first of its kind in the heart of Trenchtown – a sanctuary and safe haven supporting learning and personal achievement, providing mentorship and opportunity and fostering hope. More than 400 young people each month will have free access to the Homework Center. "Education is the pathway to freedom, and every child deserves the opportunity to walk down that path,” says Stephen Marley.

STEPHEN “RAGGA” MARLEY - 2019 ACOUSTIC JAMS TOUR DATES

Feb 26 (Tue) @ Varsity Theater in Baton Rouge, LA  ^
Feb 27 (Wed) @ House of Blues in New Orleans, LA  ^
Feb. 28 (Thu) @ House of Blues in Houston, TX  ^
Mar 2 (Sat) @ Scoot Inn in Austin, TX
Mar 3 (Sun) @ Gas Monkey Live in Dallas, TX ^
Mar 5 (Tue) @ Fort Lewis College in Durango, CO ^
Mar 6 (Wed) @ Sheridan Opera House in Telluride, CO ^
Mar 8 (Fri) @ Fox Theatre in Boulder, CO  ^
Mar 9 (Sat) @ Washington's in Fort Collins, CO  ^
Mar 10 (Sun) @ Vilar Performing Arts Center in Beaver Creek, CO  
Mar 11 (Mon) @ Belly Up in Aspen, CO  ^
Mar 13 (Wed) @ Brooklyn Bowl in Las Vegas, NV  ^
Mar 14 (Thu) @ Belly Up in Solana Beach, CA  ^
Mar 15 (Fri) @ Garden Amp in Garden Grove, CA ^ *
Mar 16 (Sat) @ The Catalyst in Santa Cruz, CA ^ *
Mar 17 (Sun) @ The UC Theatre in Berkeley, CA ^ *
Mar 19 (Tue) @ Crystal Bay Club Casino in Crystal Bay, NV *
Mar 21 (Thu) @ Northern Quest Resort & Casino in Airway Heights, WA *
Mar 22 (Fri) @ Midtown Ballroom in Bend, OR ^ *
Mar 23 (Sat) in Historic Ashland Amory in Ashland, OR ^ *
Mar 24 (Sun) @ Mystic Theatre in Petaluma, CA ^ *
Mar 26 (Tue) @ The Roxy Theatre in West Hollywood, CA ^ *

*  w/ Mystic Marley
^ Exclusive Meet & Greet Reception

Commencing in Redway, CA on August 26th, 2021, the eight-time GRAMMY-winning musician Stephen Marley will kick off his 20+ city Babylon By Bus Tour. Cementing his iconic status while proudly carrying on the Marley legacy, Stephen aptly titled his tour after his father Bob Marley and The Wailers’ iconic 1978 live album. The headlining tour spans the United States' Pacific Coast, Southwest, The Rocky Mountains, Midwest and Southeast region, wrapping in Asheville, NC on September, 26, 2021.

Stephen will perform with his band, playing a mixture of his own hits covering his illustrious 40+ year career and revitalizing some of his father’s iconic catalog.

In 2020, Bob Marley would’ve turned 75-years-old. The Marley family honored this celebration virtually during the pandemic, but as a continuation Stephen will join his brother Ziggy for a special tribute concert at the Beachlife Music Festival in Redondo Beach, CA on Sun. Sept 12, 2021.

Also as part of the Babylon By Bus 2021 Tour, a dollar from each ticket purchased will be donated to the Ghetto Youths Foundation, the non-profit organization founded by Stephen, Damian and Julian Marley to provide aid, assistance, resources and opportunity to communities in need. Today, Trenchtown, Jamaica, is the site of some of the Ghetto Youths Foundation's most exceptional work. This unique and vibrant community is known for producing some of the greatest artists in the world, including Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff, Peter Tosh and Toots Hibbert, yet 100% of the population still lives below the poverty line. The foundation has created an elderly food program, wellness initiatives providing medical care for all ages and educational endeavors that support young people with tuition, books, backpacks, pencils and give them access to safe homework centers with computers and technology.

Stephen Marley is the second eldest son of reggae legend Bob Marley and Rita Marley. He was raised in Kingston, Jamaica and started singing professionally at seven-years-old with his elder siblings Ziggy, Sharon and Cedella as The Melody Makers. The singer, songwriter, musician and producer has earned a total of eight Grammys for Best Reggae Album. He won this accolade as a solo artist for Mind Control, Mind Control Acoustic and Revelation Part I: The Root of Life, as producer for Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley’s Half Way Tree and Welcome To Jamrock and as a member of Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers for Conscious Party, One Bright Day and Fallen Is Babylon. Following Revelation Part I: The Root of Life (2012), the multi-talented artist's latest studio album Revelation Part II: The Fruit of Life (2016) is the second installment of his two part series, which was released on the Marley family’s Ghetto Youths International label imprint. Whereas The Root of Life is more a traditional roots reggae album, The Fruit of Life utilized a diversified sonic palette to express the far-reaching impact Jamaican music has had on various genres, especially hip hop. The album features Rick Ross, Pit Bull, Dead Prez, Rakim, DJ Khaled, Busta Rhymes, Wyclef Jean, Shaggy, Black Thought (of The Roots), Bounty Killer, Sizzla, Capleton, Damian Jr. Gong Marley, Ky-Mani Marley and Jo Mersa. In 2018, Stephen released a 5-track EP, One Take: Acoustic Jams consisting of his and his father's tracks deconstructed in raw form. He took this stripped-down set on the road for three North American tours. In more recent years, Stephen has expanded on his philanthropic efforts. He continues mission work as the co-founder of Ghetto Youths Foundation. He also created Kaya Fest, an annual music festival which began in 2017 to raise awareness on the benefits of cannabis guided by the mantra “Education Before Recreation.”

2021 STEPHEN MARLEY U.S. TOUR DATES

Thu. August 26, 2021 in Redway, CA @ Mateel Community Center
Fri. August 27, 2021 in Placerville, CA @ Dry Diggings Festival
Sat. August 28, 2021 in Monterey,CA @ Fairgrounds
Sun. August 29, 2021 in Rohnert Park, CA @ Somo
Tue. August 31, 2021 in Salt Lake City, UT @ The Depot
Thu. September 2, 2021 in Denver,CO @ Number Thirty Eight
Sat. September 4, 2021 in Vail, CO @ Gerald R Ford Amphitheater
Sun. September 5, 2021 in Aztec, NM @ Tico Time River
Wed. September 8, 2021 in Tempe, AZ @ Marquee Theatre
Fri. September 10, 2021 in Las Vegas, NV @ Event Lawn (Virgin Hotel)
Sat. September 11, 2021 in San Diego, CA @ PETCO Park In The Park
Sun. September 12, 2021 in Redondo Beach, CA @ Beachlife *
Wed. September 15, 2021 in Austin,TX @ Haute Spot
Thu September 16, 2021 in New Orleans, LA @ House of Blues
Fri. September 17, 2021 in Nashville,TN @ Brooklyn Bowl
Sat. September 18, 2021 in Aurora, IL @The Piazza
Tue. September 21, 2021 in Cincinnati, OH @ Riverfront Live
Sat. September 25, 2021 in Wilmington, NC @ Greenfield Lake Amphitheater
Sun. September 26, 2021 Sun in Asheville, NC @ Salvage Station

*Bob Marley’s 76th Anniversary Tribute with Ziggy Marley

After an unexpected two year hiatus, Welcome To Jamrock Reggae Cruise returns in 2022 for its 7th annual musical excursion across the Caribbean Sea and announces its artist lineup. The new dates will be December 7-12, 2022, sailing on Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas. The six-day, five-night cruise will depart from Miami, Florida’s cruise port with stops in Montego Bay and Ocho Rios, Jamaica before its return.

Today, WTJRC reveals this year’s formidable lineup. From reggae, dancehall, lover’s rock and everything in between, Jamaican music from every pivotal era will be represented at this year’s cruise. Two-time Grammy award winner and living reggae legend Burning Spear will perform for the first time after a six year hiatus. Classic dancehall fans are in store for a rare special performance from the legendary Shabba Ranks. Damian “Jr Gong” Marley and Stephen “Ragga” Marley will return to the stage with their catalog of hits. Dancehall icons like Bounty Killer, T.O.K. Cham and Ding Dong will heat up the crowd, while reggae acts from all generations like Johnny Osborne, Morgan Heritage, Cocoa Tea, Sizzla, j Boog and Kabaka Pyramid will tap into conscious minds alike. Cruisers will also swoon to the sounds of lover’s rock from singers Maxi Priest, Tarrus Riley, Christopher Ellis, Etana and newcomer Naomi Cowan.

Defending sound system champion Warrior Sound has also announced his return for the annual Sound Clash At Sea. This is one of WTJRC’s most-anticipated climatic events, where sound systems go head-to-head, tune-for-tune to battle it out for the championship title. WTJRC will announce the full DJ and sound system lineup at a later date.

2022 will be nothing short of extraordinary. Visit www.welcometojamrockreggaecruise.com for cabins and more information.

The Westport Library, located in southwest Connecticut and serving New England and the tri-state area, has been touted as one of the coolest and most innovative libraries in the country from musicians and industry professionals alike. It was honored with a 5-star rating from Public Library Service’s 2022 Library Journal Index — distinguishing it as one of the top 2% libraries in the nation.

There are many things that make this library special, but one of its standouts is Verso Studios. This inviting multimedia facility boasts an array of state-of-the-art spaces including: the hybrid-analog SSL Recording Studio created by Rob Fraboni (the design genius behind Bob Dylan and The Band's famed Shangri-La Studios); a broadcast control suite with cutting-edge video production and livestream capabilities; a post-production suite; and Trefz Forum (a 600-capacity performance venue where Verso just concluded its second annual four-day music and media festival VersoFest).

Verso Studios collaborations and events have featured three Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Famers in Dennis Dunaway (Alice Cooper Group), Chris Frantz (Talking Heads), and Mark Naftalin (Paul Butterfield Blues Band), as well as renowned producer Steve Lillywhite, hip hop originators Tony Tone (Cold Crush Brothers) and DJ Grand Wizzard Theodore (inventor of the scratch), pioneering Norton Records cofounder and original Cramps member Miriam Linna, rock 'n' roll designer Christian Joy (Yeah Yeah Yeahs), soul renaissance woman Joshie Jo Armstead (Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Syl Johnson), and preeminent reissue label Light In The Attic, among others.

Formed under the Verso Studios umbrella in the spring of 2022 is the adjacent independent record label Verso Records. On Saturday, June 3, 2023, Verso Studios will unveil its debut Verso Records: Volume One. The compilation will be available on all digital platforms and on beautiful, bright yellow, limited edition vinyl — making it the first piece of vinyl to be recorded, produced, and released by a public library. Pre-order now on https://versorecords.westportlibrary.org/.

Supporting and showcasing local talent, the LP culls 12 live tracks from Connecticut and tri-state area artists, recorded by Audio Studios Manager and in-house sound engineer Travis Bell at The Westport Library’s Verso Studios. It features a diverse array of artists across all genres (rock ‘n’ roll, jazz, hip hop, folk, indie) heralding the oft-unsung heroes of the region. Standout tracks include indie-rock band Daniprobably’s “Cowboy,” produced by Grammy Award-winning producer Peter Katis (Interpol, The National, Kurt Vile, Sharon Von Etten); futuristic hip-hop from MIGHTYMOONCHEW with “Jus Bcuz,” produced by influential hip-hop icon Dooley-O; Alexandra Burnet & The Stable Six’s lush, ethereal, eight-piece arrangement of the meditative “You’re Okay,” and many others.

Talking Heads' Chris Frantz, a longtime collaborator with The Westport Library, wrote the album's liner notes and shares that "I feel so proud to live in a community that supports a library that, in turn, celebrates its local emerging and established musicians. Continuing its legacy in cultural innovation, The Westport Library has become the first public library ever to record, produce and release a vinyl album, and it’s really cool!"

“The fruits of our grand vision and tireless labor are here,” said Westport Library Executive Director Bill Harmer. “I am thrilled to be celebrating this momentous achievement for Verso Studios. This is a historic snapshot of the current Connecticut and tri-state area music scene. This album is eclectic, powerful, fun, and shows the world what community and vision can do when we band together.”

To coincide with the unveiling of its debut album, on June 3 The Westport Library will celebrate the occasion with a record release party held at 7 pm in the Trefz Forum, featuring live performances from five of the bands and artists represented on the album, including returning Verso rockers The Problem With Kids Today (New Haven), indie rock mainstay Ports of Spain (New Haven), Lulu Lewis duo Dylan Hundley & Pablo Martin (NYC), hockey rockers The Zambonis (Bridgeport), and dreamy folk/Americana artist Kierstin Sieser (Middletown). Registration and details can be found here.

Samory I pours waves of emotion into every word he sings. “Wrath” is the latest release by the roots reggae artist, on which he is joined by Grammy award-winner Kabaka Pyramid and dancehall legend Capleton. The single release comes with the announcement of Samory I’s solo debut album Strength, out November 3, 2023, via Overstand Entertainment/Easy Star Records. The LP is helmed by prolific reggae producer Winta James (Protoje, Chronixx, Damian Marley) and features guest appearances by Jamaican reggae artists Lila Iké, Jesse Royal, and Mortimer, in addition to Kabaka Pyramid and Capleton. That emotion Samory I projects comes through all over the new record in both the lyrical content and the performances. “Wrath” is one that particularly stands out in this regard. One listen to Samory explaining his approach on the track and it becomes clear.

“The blatant corruption of the system in this day and age is coming to an end, because the youths of today will take a stand. This corruption has led to a gross increase in government mistrust, poverty, gang violence, and is an overall detriment to Jamaica and our people," Samory I says when discussing the song.

On “Wrath,” Samory I’s fiery words for truth and justice ride over Winta James’ gritty instrumental with a soft tone that pulsates between heavy drums reminiscent of a ‘90s New York hip-hop masterpiece. For the accompanying video, director 300K weaves in performances by all three musicians, while scenes of street justice play out against corrupt law enforcement. The visual is as affecting as the song itself.

Producer Winta James discusses the making of the song: "The aggressive energy of this track definitely called for a similarly aggressive vocal and lyrical delivery. Kabaka heard the beat and immediately did his verse in one take. That set the tone for Samory’s chorus, which adds a melodic kinda menace that is equal parts defiant and ominous. And it was an easy choice to reach out to Capleton for a verse on a song that was inspired in part by an album he did for Def Jam in the nineties which put some of his greatest tunes on some equally great hip hop beats.”

As a single release, “Wrath” follows two previously released tracks since November 2022: “Blood in the Streets” and the recently dropped “Crown.” Both tracks have garnered key radio play and global attention, especially from tastemakers like Sir David Rodigan of BBC1, who has cited Samory I as one of only a small handful of current Jamaican artists carrying reggae forward at the moment.   

About the new album, Samory I states, "The album is called Strength. It represents the struggles I’ve overcome, both mentally and physically, and is also a representation of my son, who is my driving force behind this album."

Echoing this sentiment, the album’s cover is a beautiful, stark, black-and-white photo of Samory with his son, shot by Yannick Reid. The record is sure to continue to push Samory I’s status as a prominent artist in the Jamaican and global reggae scene.

Samory’s career has been on the rise in recent years after his collaborative album Black Gold (2017) with Jamaican producer Rory “Stonelove” Gilligan, which helped make Samory a household name in the reggae world. The breakout single “Rasta Nuh Gangsta” from this rich opus of conscious Rastafarian declarations has over 10 million views on YouTube alone. Since then, Samory I has landed features on two Grammy-nominated reggae albums, including Jesse Royal’s Royal (2021) for their collaboration “High Tide or Low,” and Protoje’s album Third Time’s The Charm (2022) for the closing track “Heavy Load.” In 2022, Samory I released “Life Is Amazing” feat. dancehall star Chi Ching Ching and “Love and Mercy'' off the Gratitude Riddim compilation (produced by Winta James), which became one of his most streamed tracks to date. Since then, Samory I has continued to work with Jamesc