Zion I Kings
Outstanding reggae outfit Zion I Kings has released a new album titled “Future Oceans”. The album includes 10 tracks of engaging melodic instrumental dubs. Reflecting on the new project Andrew “Moon” Bain says, “I have had the concept for this album in my meditation for quite a while. As I had been writing and working on all this new music, it just started to support that vision. Just kinda flowed that way naturally. The album has a real consistent energy from start to finish. All the same core musicians were involved. All instrumental dubs.”
Zion I Kings worked with a superb cast of musicians to round out the sound and vibe including Roberto Sánchez on drums, Pau Dangla Valls who played additional keyboards, Okiel McIntyre and Zoe Brown played and arranged horns.
The new album was announced with the single “Whale Song Skank” featuring the talented ngoni player Losso Keita. It is an ode to sea life and a deep dive into the vast dub expanse.
Zion I Kings includes multi-instrumentalists and producers Laurent “Tippy I” Alfred of I Grade Records, Andrew “Moon” Bain of Lustre Kings and David “Jah D” Goldfine” of Zion High Productions. Together they are an ever prolific and expanding crew of producers, musicians and performers whose work has spanned many waves within the genre to create a solid and unique modern roots sound that is infectious, warm, melodic and steady in any sound system. Collectively they have produced for many great artists of our day including Akae Beka (Midnite) , Sizzla, Lutan Fyah, Jah 9, Blakkamoore, Chronixx, Protoje, Loydd Brown, Ziggi Recado, Pressure and many more.
The band has pledged a percentage of their streaming profits from Future Oceans Echo to support clean oceans and beaches initiatives in St. Croix, VI, with the Good Hope Country Day School’s climate action club. Laurent “Tippy” Alfred’s daughter Tsehai attends the school and is very active with the club. It’s a student-founded and student run organization whose mission aims for a more sustainable environment for the island community.
Keith Rowe
“Miss Jamaica” (Rebel Sound Records) is the new song from Keith Rowe. The song is the first track
from his upcoming album, “Keith’s Archives.” This lead single shows influence from Keith Rowe’s lovers rock side. The soon to be released album is a collection of Keith’s previously recorded tracks that have yet to be released.
Groundation Honors Reggae Veterans on ‘One Rock’ Album
American roots reggae band Groundation has released its tenth studio album, One Rock (BACO Records/Easy Star Records).
One Rock addresses the issues of selfishness and greed that have emerged during the pandemic, while also paying tribute to the victims and honoring the many reggae legends who passed away since 2020. Groundation brought together the famous reggae vocal groups Israel Vibration, The Abyssinians, and The Congos on the new album.
Groundation wrote and arranged parts specifically for these singers, taking into account their style, range, tone, and phrasing.
Normally comprised of two guitars, drums, bass, piano, Rhodes, B3 organ, three horns and three harmony voices, Groundation also included for the first time a classical string trio on this new album.
Truckee Reggae Fest in June 2022
Truckee Reggae Fest will take place June 24 & 25, 2022 at the Truckee River Regional Park
Outdoor Amphitheater in Truckee, California.
Schedule:
Doors: Friday 3:00 pm
Ky-mani Marley
Sister Carol
Big Mountain
J-Ras
Doors: Saturday 2:00 pm
Third World
Wailing Souls
Lutan Fyah
Arise Roots
Pipe Down
Tickets at https://www.ticketweb.com/search?q=Truckee+Reggae+Fest
Reggae Star Clinton Fearon Announces New Album “Breaking News”
Acclaimed reggae musician Clinton Fearon wrote his new album “Breaking News” in just a few months during the COVID-19 pandemic. During this period, Clinton Fearon was staying at home with his wife, and together they created and broadcasted a livestreaming series that helped them to stay connected with the outside world. These experiences inspired Clinton to stay positive. But it was in contrast to the seemingly daily stream of constant bad news that the media reported, and that took its toll on Clinton. The songwriter felt the urge to fight back and wrote a collection of songs with his signature lyrics filled with common sense and compassion.
On “Breaking News”, Clinton Fearon is backed by The Riddim Source who are comprised of Xavier ‘Kubix’ Bègue (guitar), Julien ‘Manjul’ Souletie (vocals and percussions), Simon ‘Saymon’ Coutant (drums), Thomas ‘Mato’ Cirade (bass) and Muctaru Wurie (keyboards). The Riddim Source first met with Clinton Fearon in spring 2019, to record a live session for the promotion of his previous album, “History Say.” And by the summer of 2021, they started touring with the renowned Jamaican singer-songwriter and have since become his backing band.
Tour Dates:
May 20 – Sound Check Studios, Pembroke, MA
May 21 – The Stone Church Music Club, Newmarket, NH
June 4 – Nectar Lounge, Seattle, WA
June 9 – June 11 @ Creekbend Café, Hope, AK
June 17 – Star Theater, Portland, OR
6.18 – Earthdance Re/Evolution, Veneta, OR
Dub No Frontiers Celebrates Great Female Vocalists
‘Adrian Sherwood presents Dub No Frontiers’, scheduled for release July 22, 022 on Real World Records, is a platform for some of the great international female artists currently performing to unite and celebrate in dub. Producer Adrian Sherwood knew says: “Many of the singers said they felt the dub/reggae arena was a male preserve and a little intimidating even, so we decided to invite artists to perform a song of their choice, all in non-English on our rhythm tracks.”
The first track to be released from the project, ‘Meri Awaaz Suno (Hear My Voice)’, is written and performed by Rita Morar, who was introduced to Adrian by Asian Dub Foundation’s John Pandit G.
For Morar, “Dub No Frontiers” felt like the perfect fit. “As an independent female artist I wanted to write something that conveyed both my vulnerability and my strength, how through our music we are uplifted and become empowered.”
Peter Harris’s cover painting of Afeni Shakur Davis sets the visual tone of the record and both the LP and CD come with a 12-page booklet featuring more of his paintings of inspiring women from the world of literature, politics, law, civil rights and medicine, such as Claudia Jones, Flo Kennedy, Barbara Jordan, Claudette Colvin and Mary Seacole.
Julian Marley Announces NEW EP and Upcoming Tour
Renowned reggae artist Julian Marley has announced his upcoming EP, “1692”, scheduled for release in September on Monom Records. The first single is an electronic take on the 1967 rocksteady single “The Tide Is High.” Originally written by John Holt and performed with his legendary vocal group The Paragons, Marley’s new version brings the beloved classic back to its Jamaican roots, over a bouncy dancehall beat provided by producer and Monom Records manager Alexx Anteaus.
Julian says about the single: “I did ‘The Tide is High’ because I’m a fan of John Holt…because he’s one of my teachers. The song is a nice song…You know, it always gives me an uplifting feeling. We love to pay respect to our teachers and our elders. So, you know, this one is for uncle John, ya man – much blessings.”
British-born Julian “JuJu” Marley is the son of Jamaican musical legend Bob Marley and Barbadian mother Lucy Pounder. Julian is a roots reggae musician, singer-songwriter, producer, and humanitarian. The 1692 EP and “The Tide Is High” single follow Julian’s 2019 album, As I Am.
2022 Live Dates
May 27: Anselmo Valencia Tori Amphitheatre – Tucson, AZ
May 28: Mandalay Bay Beach – Las Vegas, NV
May 29: BottleRock – Napa, CA
June 4: Everland Presents: The Concert for Climate – Stockholm, Sweden
June 11: Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater – Vail, CO (The Wailers featuring…)
June 18: Spark In The Park – Hazel Park, MI
July 2: Summerjam Festival – Cologne, Germany
July 4: Antibes, France
July 5: Marseille, France
July 6: Montpellier, France
July 9: Reggae Festival – Ostroda, Poland
July 13: Bataclan – Paris, France
July 15: Les Wattsfestival – Plains, Switzerland
July 19: Parc Du Vissoir – Trélazé, France
July 22: Circolo Magnolia (Estivo) – Segrate, Italy
July 23: Bababoom Festival – Fermo, Italy
July 24: Beach Party – Cerveteri, Italy
July 26: Jazz Cafe – Manchester, UK
July 28: Jazz Cafe – London, UK
July 29: Roots Rock Reggae Gibraltar Reggae Festival – Gibraltar
July 30: Reggaeland UK – Milton Keynes, UK
Aug 5: Festival – Bretagne, France
Aug 6: One Love Festival – Wiesen, Austria
Aug 11: Lucerna Bar – Prague, Czech Republic
Aug 12: One Love Reggae Festival – West Sussex, UK
Aug 12: Fort De St Pere – Saint Pére, France
Aug 13: Nologo Festival – Saint-Malo, France
Aug 14: Nis Jazz Festival – Nis, Serbia
Aug 16: Rototom Sunsplash – Benicássim, Spain
Aug 17: Rototom Sunsplash – Benicássim, Spain
Aug 20: Maré de Agosto Festival – Santa Maria, Portugal
Aug 22: Parksnäckan – Uppsala, Sweden
Aug 23: Berns STHLM – Stockholm, Sweden
Aug 24: Nöjesfabrikan – Karlstad, Sweden
Aug 25: Vulkan Arena – Oslo, Norway
Aug 26: Pustervil – Gothenburg, Sweden
Aug 27: KB – Malmo, Sweden
Aug 28: Amager Bio – Copenhagen, Denmark
Aug 29: Train – Aarhus, Denmark
“Dreadtime In Dub” from Mosiyah
“Dreadtime In Dub” (Rebel Sound Records) is the new song from Mosiyah. This is the dubbed out version of Major Mackerel’s song “How Long” from the recent “Dreadtime Riddim”.
Hailing from Orlando, Florida, Mosiyah started learning dub music under the guidance of the late dub maestro Doctah X. From there he started mixing sounds using analog and digital equipment.
Houston Reggae Jam Jam Festival 2022
Houston Reggae Jam Jam Festival will celebrate Jamaican Independence on Saturday, August 6, 2022.the lineup includes DeMarco, Yaksta, Everton Blender, Tanto Metro & Devonte, Shurwayne Winchester, and more.
Author: World Music Central News Room
World music news from the editors at World Music Central