Reggae Revolution Tour featuring
Ky-Mani Marley & Gramps Morgan

8:00pm ~ Saturday ~ Redwood Stage

Described as “history being written,” the Reggae Revolution Tour pairs second-generation reggae royalty, Ky-Mani Marley and Gramps Morgan, for a select run of west coast dates that will be highlighted by this headlining Reggae On The River performance.  Each performing their own material, along with a few choice collaborations, the show will kick off with Gramps Morgan, of Morgan Heritage fame, and will culminate with a set by the Grammy-nominated singer, actor, author, and humanitarian, Ky-Mani Marley. 

Ky-Mani Marley is an artist with no limits.  Mixing reggae with hip hop, R&B, and rock to create a sound of his own, Ky-Mani has three albums to his credit: The Journey, which reached #7 on the Billboard Reggae Album charts in 1999; 2001’s Many More Roads, which was nominated for a Grammy for Best Reggae Album; and Radio, from 2007, which has more of hip hop feel than his previous albums and reached #1 on the Billboard Reggae Album charts. In 2009, Ky-Mani started the Love Over All Foundationwhich is dedicated to the educational development of the youth and distributes grants to help promote positive change in low socio-economic communities. He also released his memoir, Dear Dad, on February 6, 2010 (what would have been his father, Bob Marley’s, 65th birthday) and recently starred in several films, including Shottas, One Love, and Haven.

Gramps Morgan is a member of world-renowned sibling band, Morgan Heritage, which has released over ten albums and toured the world, amazing thousands of fans and selling millions of copies worldwide. A burly vocalist and keyboard player, Gramps released his first solo album, 2 Sides of My Heart Volume 1, in 2009. This album featured several chart-topping singles, including Wash the Tears, and won him several prestigious accolades including “Album of the Year” at the 2010 Excellence in Music Awards and a nomination for “Best Reggae Artist” at the 2010 Centric Soul Train Awards.  Lately he’s been in the studio working on his next album, Reggae Lives, and its’ first single, The Almighty, is already riding high on global reggae charts.

Seun Kuti & Egypt 80

8:30pm ~ Sunday ~ Redwood Stage

Youngest son of the legendary Nigerian afro-beat pioneer, Fela Kuti, Seun started playing saxophone and piano at the ripe age of eight and has been performing on stage since he was nine. He started his career opening for his father’s band, Egypt 80, and he still performs with this band today, taking over the role of bandleader after Fela’s untimely passing in 1997.  Since then, he’s led Egypt 80 as lead vocalist/ saxophonist, and become the focal point of a band recognized to be one of Africa’s most influential ensembles.

While Seun is the front man and a star in his own right, in many ways Egypt 80 is still his father’s band and, true to form, they bring to the stage an energetic exchange between as many as twenty singers, musicians, and dancers. Though a perfect stand-in for Fela, Seun also brings a more personal and modern touch that is resonating with a new generation of Nigerian youth and flavors both his own original tracks and the classic Egypt 80 songbook.  Mixing a pungent blend of funk and jazz with a politically-charged African sensibility, their gritty, nasty, and explosive combination of horns, keyboards, percussion, guitars, and vocals is both sophisticated and overwhelming.

Though in the 70’s they performed almost nightly at The Shrine, a club Fela built, these days they rehearse once a week and play three or four times a month at various venues around Lagos, along with regular tours of Europe and Africa.  Now embarking on what is only their second U.S. tour since Fela’s passing, they are supporting the release of their brand new disc, From Africa With Fury: Rise, a captivating follow up to their highly-regarded, self-titled debut of 2008.  A rare opportunity for stateside fans to experience the spectacle of Seun Kuti & Egypt 80, we can think of no grander way to close the 27th annual Reggae On The River than with a performance by this iconic powerhouse.

J-Boog

6:15pm ~ Saturday ~ Redwood Stage

Making his first ever Reggae On The River appearance, J-Boog is an artist on the rise.  Captivating audiences worldwide with his highly-acclaimed debut album, 2007’s Hear Me Roar, his multi-genre style blends reggae, R&B, hip-hop, and Polynesian soul with his own original street flair.  Following the success of his debut release, he joined the Wash House Music family in 2008 and started working with Gramps Morgan, on his second disc, which was recorded in a variety of historic Jamaican studios and features tracks with reggae giants, Richie Spice, Tarrus Riley, and Morgan Heritage. His latest album, 2010’s Back Yard Boogie, has catapulted him to near superstar status and contains the hit single, Let's Do It Again, produced by the legendary Don Corleone.  Credited with changing the role of Polynesian artists in mainstream music, J-Boog is excited about the future and has the right spirit and attitude to continue his rise to the top.

Tony Rebel

6:35pm ~ Sunday ~ Redwood Stage

Patrick George Anthony Barrett (aka Tony Rebel) came of age in Manchester Parish, JA and started out as a reggae DJ/ singer with Sugar Minott’s Youthman Promotions Sound System.  His first release was the 1988 single, Casino, and his first big hit, Fresh Vegetable, followed in 1990.  Noted as one of the few dreadlocked “cultural” DJs of the ragga/ dancehall era, he landed a deal with Columbia Record to release Vibes Of The Times, a reggae fusion album which helped propel his rise to international stardom.  With this success, he founded his own Flames record label in 1994 and that same year started the now-annual (and immensely popular) Rebel Salute reggae festival.  Though he continues to record and tour internationally, these days he puts a great deal of focus into furthering the career of his protégé, Queen Ifrica, as well as overseeing the production of his festival.  When he does come to play though, the audience always gets the consummate reggae performer and his singular style of inspirational, roots-oriented dancehall music.

Queen Ifrica

5:15pm ~ Sunday ~ Redwood Stage

A reggae singer and DJ from the hills above Montego Bay, JA, Queen Ifrica is the daughter of ska music legend, Derrick Morgan. Her rise to the top officially began in 1995 when she won a big talent competition held at the Club Inferno. By 1998 she was working with Tony Rebel and his Flames Productions crew and in the years since has gone on to perform all over the world and develop an international fan base.  She is now recognized as one of the premier female cultural reggae artists in the business and boasts a stage craft and repertoire to match.  With her haunting melodies, clear message, and fluid delivery, when performing live, Queen Ifrica is a force to be reckoned with.  Making timeless rebel music in the tradition of Garnett Silk, Nina Simone, and Miriam Makeba, this Rastafarian by faith is equally known in Jamaica for her community work as for her music. Her discography is comprised of three popular albums on the Flames label, including her latest, an ode to her hometown, Montego Bay.

Bushman

5:00pm ~ Saturday ~ Redwood Stage

Born Dwight Duncan in St. Thomas, Jamaica in 1973, Bushman started his professional career in his teens as an acclaimed selector/ vocalist (Junior Melody) with the Black Star Line sound-system.  Moving to Kingston to further his opportunities, he met Steely & Clevie, who were so impressed with his talents that they encouraged him to change his name to Bushman and record his first singles, Grow Your Natty and Call The Hearse.  The success of these singles led to a record deal with Greensleves and the 1997 release of his first album, the now-classic, Nyah Man Chant.  He has ten albums to his credit, including Total Commitment and Higher Ground, which were recorded with veteran producer King Jammy; A Better Place, where he teams up with the UK-based Stingray crew; and his latest, Sings The Bush Doctor, a tribute to the music of Peter Tosh. Though the success of these albums has brought Bushman ever-increasing global recognition, he remains a humble, down to earth figure who lives in St. Thomas with his wife and children and follows a strict ital lifestyle.

Gondwana

3:30pm ~ Sunday ~ Redwood Stage

Proving that the influence of Bob Marley and reggae music has traveled the world, Gondwana has long been recognized as South America’s premier reggae band.  Formed in Chile in 1987 during the years of the Pinochet dictatorship, the band kept a low profile in their early years as the government wasn't too keen on the younger generation airing beliefs that didn't mesh with their own, especially involving Rastafarianism.  As the political climate eased, however, Gondwana quickly made a name for themselves and their rockish, bolero-infused take on roots reggae. Their debut album, Together, dropped in 1996, but their sound truly came to fruition on their sophomore effort, 2000’s Second Coming.  In Chile, this disc rocketed to the top of the national charts as did the album’s hit single, Antonia.  Their most recent release, a CD/ DVD combo entitled, En Vivo En Buenos Aires, was recorded live in 2009 at a marathon concert in Argentina and showcases their tremendous performance style.  In huge demand internationally, Gondwana rarely tours the U.S. and we’re lucky their schedule could include this highly-anticipated Reggae On The River performance.

Rootz Underground

8:30pm ~ Sunday ~ River Stage

One of the most exciting young reggae bands to emerge from Jamaica in recent years, the “revolution reggae music” of Rootz Underground is edgy, raw, and natural.  They burn the rules and mash down the limitations of a single genre to channel the musical vibration that rings true in the heart and soul of all conscious rebel rockers, late night revelers, and soul seekers.  Their richly textured sound, full of careful layers, serves as a comfortable bed for some of the most universal and honest lyrics to rest in a reggae mix. They also feature a serious rock sensibility with breakdowns, hard-hitting grooves, intense builds, and smooth transitions back to the one-drop reggae rhythm. Their three acclaimed albums, Movement (2008), Gravity (2009), and Alive, which was recorded live on the 2009 Reggae Train Tour, have led to a slew of top name festival performances around the globe where they’ve developed a reputation for one of the most captivating live shows out there. The six core members of Rootz Underground are Stephen Newland (lead vocals), Jeffrey Moss-Solomon (rhythm guitar), Colin Young (bass), Leon Campbell (drums), Paul Smith (keyboards), and Charles Lazarus (lead guitar), and within the last decade they’ve blossomed from a favorite Jamaican club act to one of the most respected names in reggae music. 

Annette Brissett

3:20pm ~ Saturday ~ Redwood Stage

Beginning her musical career in the early 1970s, Annette Brissett got her start drumming behind Jamaican artists who would visit New York City.  She formed her first group, Sistren, in 1985, and one of their songs, I Shall Sing, became a major hit for Marcia Griffiths.  Annette’s debut solo album, Love Power, came out in 1986, and in the years that followed she went on to release Gun Shooting Raw (on which she played every instrument herself) and Get Up and Dance.  While all impressive albums in their own right, her first commercial success came in 1992 with the release of Annette Brissett & The Taxi Gang, which was recorded with Sly & Robbie and helped propel her career to a new level.  Since this time she’s continued to record her own material and work with top shelf artists, the most recent of which was Beres Hammond on a series of hit tracks in 2002/03.  With a knack for songwriting/ arranging and the ability to play all the required instruments, she is without a doubt one of the most versatile female artists on the reggae circuit today and is currently touring in support of her new album, Lift Your Head Up.

Clinton Fearon

1:40pm ~ Sunday ~ Redwood Stage

Like many reggae musicians who came of age in the late 60s and early 70s, Clinton Fearon was a country boy who migrated to Kingston to seek his musical fortune amongst the proliferating studios and sound systems of the big city.  Born in St. Andrew in 1951 he relocated to Kingston in 1967 and immediately organized a singing group. Around 1970, he joined Albert Griffiths and Errol Grandison to form The Gladiators, a seminal Jamaican vocal trio with which he truly hit his stride as a musician.  In addition to their own material, The Gladiators were also highly in demand as session men, contributing to the works of Burning Spear, Stranger Cole, and Lee Scratch Perry.  By the late 80’s the group had basically disbanded, at which time Clinton moved to Seattle, where he continues to live and record in the company of his Boogie Brown Band.  Their latest release, a soon-to-be-classic from 2006 entitled, Vision, showcases the outstanding vocal prowess and songwriting talents which have made Clinton Fearon one of the most enduring names in reggae music.

Perfect

2:05pm ~ Saturday ~ Redwood Stage

HR (Human Rights)

8:25pm ~ Saturday ~ River Stage

HR (aka Human Rights) is the stage name of Paul D. Hudson, the lead singer of the influential hardcore punk band, Bad Brains.  HR’s vocals can be quite diverse, ranging from a rapid-fire nasal whine, to feral growling, smooth crooning, and staccato reggae rhymes.  HR and his Bad Brains counterparts became Rastafarians in 1979 and this spiritual direction influenced their music and inspired the creation of HR’s side-project, the reggae band, Human Rights. HR has now released 10 albums with this group, from 1984’s It’s About Luv through 2008’s Hey Wella, which is the first of seven upcoming HR albums set for release on the DC Hardcore label.  Remembered for his wildly animated and aggressive stage antics in the 70s and 80s, HR performances these days are more mellow and restrained, focusing primarily on reggae rhythms and the unique delivery of his Rasta message.

Army

6:50pm ~ Sunday ~ River Stage

Born Fritzmaurice Williams and raised on St. Croix, Virgin Islands, Army is one of the chosen ones.  Beginning his musical journey at the age of five in the youth choir at his local church, a love of jazz and other diverse musical styles led him to pick up the saxophone. He went on to study music in New York and grew into an accomplished vocalist before making the surprising decision to join the U.S. Army.  After a stint, he chose to focus on his musical career and moved back to St. Croix, where he became involved in active VI reggae scene.  With an eye for talent, he was quickly snatched up by Dub Rise Records, who released his debut CD, Yesterday’s News, and its follow-up, Struggler, both of which were hailed as refreshingly original.  Now recording and performing internationally, he seeks to send a positive universal message through his music without getting caught up in all the commercialism we see so much of these days.  So don’t be expecting Army to venture off and write screenplays, produce sound tracks, or direct movies, because he’s content to continue doing what he does best… singing and making music.

Edi Fitzroy

6:35pm ~ Saturday ~ River Stage

Edi Fitzroy was born Fitzroy Edwards in 1955 in Chapelton, Clarendon, JA.  An early association with Pam Hickling and Mikey Dread led Edi to do his first set of recordings of songs like Miss Molly Colly and Country Man, which took his exposure to a new level and opened doors for a trip to London, where he did a stint opening for rock legends, The Clash. Not long after, Edi released his first album, Check For You Once, which soared to #1 on the Jamaican Hit Parade Albums Chart in 1982.  His latest, Hold The Vibes, from 2006 proves that Edi is still in top form and he continues to record and tour the world over.  Throughout his career, he’s received the Press Association Of Jamaica Award for his contribution to the development of Jamaican music, the Rockers Award for Most Conscious Performer, visited England as a Reggae Ambassador, won a Rockers Video Award, and been deemed the Most Culturally Orientated Artist in the 7th, 8th, and 9th Annual International Music Awards.  Lately the veteran roots and culture singer has also added another dimension to his artistic persona as host of the popular radio show, Cultural Explosion, which airs weekly on Roots FM 96.1in Kingston.

Alcyon Massive (with the Celebrity Horns)

4:15pm ~ Saturday ~ River Stage &
12:00pm ~ Sunday ~ River Stage

SILA

5:10pm ~ Sunday ~ River Stage

Sila and the Afrofunk Experience, now known simply as SILA, have been playing their unique brand of afrofunk since 2003. As a child growing up in Kenya, bandleader, Sila Mutungi, discovered western music through his grandmother’s radio. He later relocated to San Francisco and started writing music that meshed his African heritage with the influences of rock, funk, pop, and soul, to create the amalgam now known as afrofunk.  The group was a leader in San Francisco’s polyrhythmic renaissance and established a reputation for their dynamic live performances.  In 2004, Sila co-founded the AfroFunk Festival, which has grown to be an annual fest and tour of Afro-inspired bands to benefit humanitarian causes.  In 2006, he released his first album, The Funkiest Man in Africa, followed by 2009’s, Black President.  The latter was hailed as one of the Top 5 Afropop albums of the year by NPR and won the 2009 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding World Music Album.  Most recently, Sila announced the next step in his musical odyssey, a solo album that will see him further explore the diverse terrain of Ethiopian jazz, Afro-rock, Afro-reggae, and Afro-Brazilian.

Zili Misik

12:00pm ~ Sunday ~ Redwood Stage &
2:30pm ~ Sunday ~ River Stage

Bridging cultures, generations, and continents for eleven years with the captivating sounds of Africa, Zili retraces routes of forced exile and cultural resistance through diasporic rhythm and song.  Powerful Haitian, Brazilian, and West African rhythms infuse Zili's original creations and traditional folksongs, reconnecting Haitian mizik rasin, Jamaican roots reggae, Afro-Brazilian samba, Afro-Cuban son, and African American spirituals, blues, jazz, and neo soul. An all-female ensemble, Zili Misik’s sensual lyrics glide seamlessly from English to Kreyol, Portuguese, and Spanish for a combination that’s earned them the 2008 Boston Music Award for Outstanding International Act, Boston Phoenix’s Best World Music Band in (2008/09), and Berklee College of Music's Battle of the All-Female Bands (2007).  Their two full-length albums, 2007’s New World Soul and 2009’s Zee'lee Mee'seek, have earned them respect among (and comparisons to) top international acts like Zap Mama, Les Nubians, and Boukman Eksperyans.

Native Elements

12:00pm ~ Saturday ~ Redwood Stage

Native Elements has been keeping the energetic, feel-good reggae tradition alive in the Bay Area for over 15 years. Comprised of 11 seasoned musicians with decades of experience in rock, metal, blues, jazz, R&B, and hip hop, this eclectic and fearless crew melds all of their unique influences into a contemporary, melodic, horn-driven party.  One of the hardest working and most respected bands on the Northern California reggae scene, they have been nominated for a San Francisco Weekly, Local Music Award (Wammie) and BAM Magazines, Bay Area Music Award (Bammie) for Outstanding World Beat/Reggae Club Band, and are currently getting rave reviews for their new CD, Sign Of The Times.

Mystic Roots Band

10:30am ~ Saturday ~ Redwood Stage

Serving up an original style based in reggae, hip-hop, and dancehall with overtones of rock, funk, and ska, a Mystic Roots Band concert guarantees a powerful, high-energy experience. This Chico-born, San Diego-based group brings a brand new sound which embraces roots reggae wholeheartedly and incorporates smooth harmonies and energetic freestyles over a solid groove.  Throughout their history, they’ve won an LA Music Award for Best Reggae/ Pop Album (for Constant Struggle), starred in a reality TV show on The Learning Channel, toured for nearly three years as Pato Banton’s official band, and their new disc, Cali-HI, is currently enjoying impressive stats on i-tunes and ranking on reggae charts around the world.

The Impalers

12:45pm ~ Saturday ~ River Stage

A San Francisco-based reggae/ ska band featuring an all-star lineup of veteran musicians from bands like Skankin' Pickle, Let's Go Bowling, The Rudiments, and 78 RPM's, the heart of The Impalers music lies in the deep traditions of Jamaica.  Take the very best of 60's and 70's reggae, the grooves of the The Soul Vendors, the melodic sensibilities of Horace Andy, the rhythms and soul of Aretha Franklin, and the shear funkiness of The Meters, and you’ll have a sense of the potent and electrifying mix that is The Impalers. Live, they are the ultimate soul shakedown party, and are guaranteed to be playing in-your-face grooves off their debut release, Blood, Rum & Reggae.

The Alliez

1:40pm ~ Sunday ~ River Stage

When The Alliez take the stage, prepare to go on a musical journey that starts in the Hawaiian Islands and lands somewhere along the Northern Cali coast. Defining a new Pacific sound, The Alliez have it all- hard driving rhythms, conscious lyrics, grooving bass lines, and scorching guitar solos.  Formed in 2006 on Maui, the band has played sold out shows across the state of Hawaii, from Hilo to Hanalei, with bands like Pepper, Matisyahu, Groundation, Agent Orange, and Ooklah the Moc.  They just released their first full-length CD, Right Time, and its title track recently hit #1 on the CD Baby Reggae Rock charts.  The group is comprised of Humboldt homegrown guitarist, Brian Sykes; along with vocalist/ front-man, Jacob Abeytia; bassist, Benjemin Cerda; and drummer, Jesse Smith.

Sahra Indio

6:00pm ~ Saturday ~ River Stage &
11:00am ~ Sunday ~ River Stage

Born in Philadelphia to a musical family, Sahra gravitated toward the magnetic mysticism of reggae music early on. Relocating to Hawaii, where she joined Jahringa Reggae Band, she was inspired to sing about life's beauty and enigma.  Blessed with a sultry voice and natural ability to convey the message of universal truth and rights, her first two albums, Goods Gonna Happen and Change, also benefit from the talents of veteran guitarist/ producer, Tuff Lion.  Her latest release, the EP, Marijuana Music,features several tracks that won honors in the American Marijuana Music Awards (2007-2010) and is a fitting testament to her hemp and marijuana activism.  On a musical campaign for global change, Sahra Indio is a keenly conscious artist who addresses provocative issues with grace, compassion, and soul.

Jah Sun & Ishi Dube with Redemption Band

3:20pm ~ Sunday ~ River Stage

This special set will feature two of Humboldt County’s most enduring and talented reggae vocalists, Jah Sun and Ishi Dube, with backing by The Redemption Band.

Jah Sun dropped his debut album, Height Of Light, in 2006.  It earned him an LA Music Award nomination and featured his songs done in collaboration with artists like Luciano, Jr. Reid, Lutan Fyah, and Yami Bolo.  Lately he’s been recording with Queen Omega, touring with Gentleman, and his 2011 duet with Alborosie, Ganjah Don, recently hit top 10 on the Reggae Nation singles chart.

Ishi Dube is a talented and determined artist with a profound love for reggae music. On stage, he doesn't miss a beat and always gives a sincere, energetic, and uplifting performance. Not only a singer and songwriter, but also a skilled producer, instrumentalist, and sound engineer, Ishi has recently been found collaborating with the likes of Everton Blender, Capleton, and Ras Attitude.

Jade Steel & The Emerald Triangle Band

10:30am ~ Sunday ~ Redwood Stage

Humboldt County native, Jade Steel, has been a local favorite at festivals and events for the better part of two decades. With the arrival of his much anticipated fourth album, the recently released, Children of Humboldt, Jade continues to craft reggae songs for the world community using his hometown as an example.  From Southeast Asia to Brazil, Jamaica, and Berlin, Jade has brought his music and culture to many stages and continues the journey in the company of his ultra-tight group, The Emerald Triangle Band.

Ambush

11:00am ~ Saturday ~ River Stage

Southern Humboldt’s newest soca/ reggae sensations, Ambush have been playing to rave reviews for more than a year now.  Fronted by smooth vocalist and tasty guitarist, Sanou, a native of St. Lucia, VI, he’s put together a collection of some of the best players in south county for an authentic Caribbean musical experience.

7th Generation Rise

10:15am ~ Sunday ~ River Stage &
10;15am Saturday ~ Redwood Stage Opening Prayer

Kicking off the day with an acoustic set of indigenous soul music, local Native American artist/ activist, Goodshield, bridges the styles of folk, rock, funk, and reggae with a distinctive indigenous beat and conscious political message.