Reggae Rising Festival 2008

Reggae Rising 2008: Roots, Dancehall, and an International Flavor

By Jamey Millie / Photos by Elliot Shields

Beres Hammond

August 14, 2008 – San Francisco, CA – On August 1, 2, and 3, 2008, the 2nd Annual Reggae Rising Festival took place in the Redwood hills of Humboldt County, northern California. Twenty thousand-plus Reggae fans united for a weekend celebration of music, nature and Jamaican Rasta culture. A dedicated group of organizers plan all year for California‘s biggest Reggae show, staged along the tranquil banks of the Eel River. The second annual staging of Reggae Rising continues a long tradition of Reggae music. Each year Reggae Rising, once known as Reggae on the River, can boast that its annual line-up is packed with international talent. This year’s line-up was no exception, featuring such artists as Sizzla, Gentlemen, Sly and Robbie, UB40, Beres Hammond, Junior Reid, Mr. Vegas, Cham, Turbulence, Tanya Stephens, Etana, and Collie Buddz, to name a few. Local bands included The Lion Camp and Jah Sun, while Detour Posse backed the Saturday series of Dancehall artists.

Friday afternoon featured Mr. Easy, Cham and Tanya Stephens, the only female in the male-dominated roster. Friday evening saw Beres Hammond deliver a breath-giving two hour performance.The veteran Lover’s Rock singer kept the energy of his set so smooth that new fans could visualize how many amazing songs he actually has recorded. Closing Friday night, the UK’s UB40 followed with a real Caribbean vibe not to be messed with. Even without vocalist Ali Campbell and trumpeter Astro, the solid musicians of the classic group made for a real Reggae experience. Continue reading

The Dirty Heads

The Dirty Heads to Take the Country by Storm

By Bruce Moore

LA-based The Dirty Heads

August 9, 2008 – Los Angeles, CA – Los Angeles-based reggae band The Dirty Heads are preparing to release their long-awaited debut CD, Any Port in a Storm, on September 23. Produced by Sugar Ray, drummer Stan Frazier, and Steve Fox (producer of Ashlee Simpson,) the self-released CD features a wide array of guest musicians, including legendary keyboardist Billy Preston to Nine Inch Nails (NIN) and Korn drummer Josh Freese. Melding reggae and hip-hop with acoustic guitars and a hint of pop, The Dirty Heads have crafted a brilliant sounding CD that is a whole lot of fun to listen to. The first single, “Stand Tall,” was featured in the Sony Pictures movie, Surfs Up. They have toured with the likes of the critically acclaimed reggae/hip hop act 311 and Jewish Reggae DJ Matisyahu, and are preparing to go back out on the road in support of Any Port in a Storm. I recently had the opportunity to speak with vocalist Jared Watson about the band and their debut CD. Continue reading

LOUIE CULTURE – Vol 12 #9 1994

LOUIE CULTURE – MEET MR. GANGALEE

by Karie Russell
Dancehall fans, here he is, the original Mr. “Gangalee” himself– Mr. “I wanna be free from all chains and all bangles and rope/Free from all bars and all borders and dope/Free to praise the Lord because mi naw praise the Pope/So mind how yuh a wash yuh face wid Babylon soap/I was born to be free ’cause mi a ole gangalee/Gangalee and who have eyes they will see” (taken from the hit song “Gangalee.”)

He’s also known as DJ Louie Culture, as that is the name he entered the music business with, but ever since he scored with his big hit, Dancehall fans, home and abroad, have branded him “Mr. Gangalee.” He’s very proud to wear this title, not only because he made it popular, but more so, because his belief in the concept of the word “gangalee” has been his main driving force to success.

Now, before driving you all nuts, here’s the history of the word and the man called Gangalee. Follow mi! “Gangalee” is an old Jamaican rural term for an unruly, uncontrollable, bad person. As old people would say, “A soon cool yuh ’cause yuh a gwan like yuh a gangalee.” Continue reading

SPANNER BANNER V13#3 1995

SPANNER BANNER  The Chillin’ is Over

by Karie Russell

There are many unique things about the Reggae industry. One is the unusual monikers some artistes go by. For example, the list of artistes who make up Reggae’s “musical tool box.” There is Screwdriver, Pinchers (Jamaican slang for a bird-beak pliers,) and Pliers. And, of course, no tool box would be complete without a spanner (wrench)–as in singer Spanner Banner.

Now, apart from being both linked with this tool box scenario, Spanner Banner and Pliers are otherwise connected on two counts. They are brothers and they are both signed to the same recording company, Island Jamaica.

Pliers’ career is already somewhat successfully cemented as he is part of the “wicked” hit duo, Chaka Demus & Pliers, who has had such hit songs as “Murder She Wrote” and “Tease Me,” which went gold, selling some 400,000 copies.

Spanner Banner (born Feb. 6, 1959, in Rock Hall, St. Andrew, and christened Joseph Bonner), on the other hand, has not been as successful as his brother; but he has, and is having, his fair share of success as a singer and songwriter. Continue reading

YAMI BOLO – V13#3 1995

Yami Bolo – Burning up the Charts From Jamaica to Japan

by Howard Campbell

The conviction Yami Bolo shows as he belts out Bob Marley’s “Heathen” reflects the singer’s coming of age, a conviction that is further enhanced by his commitment to the perfect sound, even during rehearsal. Four takes and a “turn it up little more deh bassie” and Yami Bolo is ready to rock.

Bolo was at the Tuff Gong headquarters rehearsing for the Feb. 6 Bob Marley concert at the Bob Marley Museum for which he was one of the top acts. While the event was a tribute to one of his heroes, the fact that he was billed as one of the evenings stars meant that Yami Bolo is finally being given the recognition that had proved so elusive to him at home.

A jocular, laid-back six-footer with a ready smile, Bolo is the typical Roots man. At home in cut off jeans and Reebok sneakers, he has reason to be satisfied with the route his career has taken in the last 12 months, and as humble as he is, isn’t afraid to say so. “Things a come on good, y’know,” the 24-year-old remarked prior to tuning up. “Right now, we jus’ a concentrate on all that is good for ’95; we’d a like win all awards ’cause we put we heart inna this project.” Continue reading

Reggae History…'80s & '90s…Read the Music!