Reggae enthusiasts and artists hailing from the Northern California region and afar gathered together on the dusty banks of the Sacramento River at the Rio Ramaza Marina, RV and event park to celebrate the third annual Sacramento One Love One Heart reggae festival. Located at 10000 Garden Highway, notably in the same spot as this past August's first annual Sacramento Hempfest, which promoted cannabis consumption and awareness (something which has been synonymous with reggae music and Rastafari culture), it was the perfect secluded setting for such a festival. About a mile out from the event site, handmade red, green and yellow signs dotted the highway, letting festival attendees know they

Hawaii/SoCal-based bands Iration and Pepper made a stop in Sacramento on May 12, 2011, with each group performing their fusion of reggae, dub and rock for a very receptive audience at music venue Ace of Spades. The well-attended show was another in a streak of many at AOS, which is quickly becoming the go-to venue for mid-sized artists. Take a look at their site for some upcoming shows, which include performances by Fitz and The Tantrums, Deftones, and Mickey Avalon. Here are some shots from the Pepper show: 

The bar for underground hip-hop music has been set for 2011. “Heroes In the Healing of a Nation” is the newest collaborative album by Zion I, comprised of producer and DJ AmpLive and MC Zumbi, and the Grouch of Living Legends. The album, which drops on March 22, is the follow-up to the first Zion I/Grouch collaboration, “Heroes In the City of Dope.” Zion I and the Grouch will be touring to share the album from March 19 to May 1, making a stop in Sacramento at the Tropicana Club March 21 thanks to FUSE and TheMashUP.net. The album is a working masterpiece, blending elements from all sides of the musical spectrum: Latin ,dubstep, reggae and more with the traditional but eccentric hip-hop

  or·gone  n.  A universal life force, a cosmic unit of energy, the creative force in nature.   Orgone  n.  A nine piece soul/funk ensemble from Los Angeles.  A staple on the Festival circuit (High Sierra Music Fest, Moe.down, South by Southwest, Jazzfest, to name a few) Orgone has opened for the likes of Al Green and Sharon Jones, and toured with the Roots and Greyboy Allstars. "With a rooted sense of funk, soul, afrobeat, deep rhythms and an intimate understanding of dj culture as well as each others' individual talents, Orgone seamlessly slides through multiple styles and dynamic performances. The group continuously injects whatever they play with a heavy brand of raw funk power." (o

I’ve been using the word “fantastic” a lot lately, a bad habit I picked up upon moving to California this year. I am trying to quit, but The Slackers show last night deserves no lesser superlative. The languid reggae sound of their albums betrays the intensity and raucous atmosphere of a live concert. Harlow’s was packed with a crowd that included those sporting pork pie hats, the “flannels” and even a few groovy baby boomers sipping their wine responsibly. Of course, also attending was the obligatory drunk girl in jeggings and high-heeled boots that would later storm the stage for an impromptu “performance.” We’ve all heard reggae or rock-steady before, but to witness the perfect fluidi

You should be just about mended back to health from your New Year’s hangover, so come to Harlow’s on Jan. 2 for another night to party and stave off that post-holiday depression for a few more hours.   Call it ska, call it reggae, call it jazz, call it what you will: The Slackers are bringing it all to Harlow’s on J Street Sunday night. This year makes 20 that the Brooklyn-born sextet has been rocking-steady both the east and west coasts, and now we get a taste of the slackness here in Sacramento.  Tickets are $12 at the door. Show starts at 8 p.m http://www.theslackers.com/ http://www.myspace.com/theslackers  

The Grouch brought friends from the Living Legends and Rhymesayers Entertainment on Thursday night for the fourth annual How the Grouch Stole Christmas tour at the Tropicana in Sacramento. The line stretched far outside the Tropicana on Thursday, as some fans had to wait over an hour to just get into the venue. Although this is the third time the tour has come to Sacramento, it was the first time at the Tropicana and the sound quality, minus some occasional feedback, and stage provided a perfect atmosphere for the show. The show opened with Los Rakas, a reggae and dance-inspired hip-hop group whose members are originally from Panama. Although the group uses mainly Spanish lyrics, the lan

Local musician Bryan Nichols, of the reggae band ZuhG, opened an independent music store in the Westfield Downtown Plaza on Nov. 13. The store only stocks local musicians’ albums, the work of other local artists and apparel. Apparel includes styles by 215Grass, Calibis Clothes, Hippy Tree, Dome Apparel and independent craftspeople on consignment. In The back of the store, which is named ZuhG Life after the band, serves as a space for music lessons. “It just kind of happened” Nichols said. He had been booking live music for the mall when management offered him a space to open a music store. “We’re Sacramento’s local music shop” said Aaron Hoberman, a roadie who also operates the store

With the release of its sixth album, “Atomic Clock,” the Zion I crew hit Sacramento State last night, astounding students and fans with their reggae-inspired hip-hop performance. Openers Random Abiladeze and The Holdup failed to draw the crowd in on Thursday at Sacramento State’s ballroom, but the headliners from Oakland, CA, had no problem filling the building and eventually selling out the venue. The crew performed two shows in Sacramento last night, the first being an in-store signing and performance at Dimple Records two hours before the show at Sacramento State. Zion I is an underground hip-hop group from whose music focuses mainly on spiritual and individual growth, while still

Keller Williams made his triumphant return to Sacramento on Thursday night in front of a packed house at Harlow's. If the success of last night’s show is any indication, we won't have to wait another dozen years before his next visit.  The place was already jumping when I arrived a little before 8:30, and fans kept pouring in to the one-man jam band’s first set, which began just after 9 p.m.  Keller came on stage alone, as he is wont to do, strapped to an acoustic guitar. A stand to his right held an electric bass, in playing position, ready to be fingered. A stand to his left held an electric guitar, ditto. Behind him were several other electronic noisemaking implements, including a Mac

On Wednesday, July 21, international reggae music star Pato Banton performed at Harlow’s in midtown with the Now Generation Band. Although Pato is currently listed as being on tour promoting a new album, members of the Now Generation were quick to point out that he is always out spreading the word of unity and happiness. Originally from Birmingham, England, Pato Banton has produced no fewer than 17 albums since the mid 1980s. Several of his albums are regarded as reggae classics, and his dub recordings with the Mad Professor are often said to be the gold standard for dub reggae. His performance in Sacramento was followed by one tonight at River Ranch, just outside of Alpine Meadows, in t

Internationally known reggae music artist Pato Banton will perform at Harlow’s on Wednesday, July 21, supported by the Now Generation band. The show is scheduled to begin at 10pm and is limited to people age 21 and over. A Pato Banton performance is a must-see event for those who enjoy music of any sort. His ability to reach out and interact with the crowd makes his shows more of an experience than a mere show. Pato Banton calls people on stage to sing with him, invites fans into the green room, and is known for his after-show prayer and acknowledgment circles where he recognizes everyone and everything that has added positively to his life. Pato Banton’s personal story is compelling. Ri

 The world’s most popular reggae singer came to Sacramento Sunday and played a show in front of 4,000 ecstatic fans.   This, in and of itself, doesn't seem like it would be all that noteworthy.  Big stars play shows in Sacramento, if not all the time, at least semi-frequently.  I mean, John Mayer is coming to the Sleep Train Amphitheater in August, right?  And Carrie Underwood is coming to Arco in a couple of weeks.   But Matisyahu, the Jewish reggae artist whose album, "Bright Side of Life," has been at the top of Billboard’s reggae charts for six weeks, didn't play at Arco for $45 a seat, or Raley Field for 35 bucks a pop, or even Harlow's for 18 a ducat.  He played for free, on the

What better way to spend a sunny afternoon than on the steps of the State Capitol.  On Sunday, May 2d, the Jewish Heritage Festival drew large crowds to experience the food, culture, and arts.  The headliner, internationally known musical performer Matisyahu, shared his blend of reggae, urban beats, and flavorful world music with the crowd that not only embraced him, but also each other, thus demonstrating how, on this day at the Capitol, music was indeed the best policy.  A variety of cultural dance performers, speakers, and even the Sacramento Kings' mascot, Slamson, were on hand.

Sure, there was a rabbi or two, kosher food and people passing out the newspaper Kabbalah Today. But Sunday's Jewish Heritage Festival seemed more like a Matisyahu concert than a festival celebrating Jewish culture. The American, Hasidic Jewish reggae artist is known for his top-40 hit "King Without a Crown," and "One Day," an official 2010 Winter Olympics Anthem. He's also known as a great live performer. It was a much larger audience than last year's festival, several thousand people lining in front of the west steps of the Capitol, with hundreds more sitting on and behind the steps. The line for a falafel sandwich was a wait of more than 30 minutes at one point. Vendors - including e

Going into the Blue Lamp on Friday night, the bouncer underwent his normal procedures of checking IDs and collecting cover fees. Noticing my notebook, he asked, “Is this your first SambaDa show? You are not going to need a book, I can guarantee that.” Although not a book for reading, it was difficult to find a moment when I even wanted to stop to take some notes. The energy surged from the very first beat. The Band's collage of instruments was fascinating, from large gourd shakers covered in shells, to tambourines and triangles. These supplemented the bass, guitar, and overwhelming amounts of percussion instruments, which are the backbone to almost all of their songs. The audience was in

"People are probably going to give me [s***] about this," said Sol Peligro lead singer Sam Miranda. "Watching John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever [at] eight years old, I thought, 'This guy is cool.'" Though his band Sol Peligro plays reggae-influenced cumbia music -- not disco -- Miranda points to this moment as the first time he knew he wanted to be in a band. Friday night, Sol Peligro will be headlining a Concert in the Park that includes Retrograde Revolution and La Noche Oskura (click links for MySpace). Retrograde Revolution sounds like a Yellowman-influenced reggae/hip hop outfit, while La Noche Oskura combines punk and ska to sound like a Mexican Sublime. Miranda formed Sol Pel

Freddie McGregor, the Grammy-nominated international reggae legend who has been performing since the '70s, is bringing his soulful rhythm to downtown Sacramento. The concert will be held at 8 p.m. Wednesday at Queen Sheba's Ethiopian Restaurant on 1704 Broadway. Originally from Clarendon, Jamaica, McGregor has sang, played and produced reggae music with many different styles throughout the years, including Rastafarian, lovers rock, ska and rocksteady. The height of his national recognition came in the early 1980s, when he released the hit song and album "Bobby Babylon." Other popular titles include "Big Ship," "Push Comes to Shove," "Just Don't Want to be Lonely" and "I was Born a Winner,

The Sacramento Unity and Diversity Music Festival originaly Scheduled for May 2nd was rained, so we were forced to reschedule. Festivites were ready to get started bands were lined up, vendors and food booths were ready to go. People started lining up at the gate and down it came.. The City of Sacramento allowed us to cancel this event and come back with more strength and blessings. We know this is going to be a one of a kind festival, one that Sacramento has never seen. There will be Reggae, R&B, Salsa, Soca, Gospel Rap, Praise Dancers, Rock, and Dance Toops. We are working to bring All of Sacramento together with one rythem, one beat, one LOVE. You can purchase your tickets online at www

This Friday, Shakedown is scheduled to headline a Concert in the Park that includes The Kinetics, a traditional Jamaican Rocksteady group, and Syncro, a "Surf/Dutch pop/Shoegaze" band (click on any band's name to visit its MySpace page). Shakedown has won "Best Sacramento Band of 2007" from former alternative rock radio station KWOD 106.5, and the single "Love to Get Love" has been featured on a GEICO commercial. "We released the last record (New Sound Delivery, 2007) in haste because we had a lineup change, and wanted to show people what we had," said Shakedown lead singer Mark Kinyon. Twelve years, four albums and several lineup changes since their debut, the members of the Sacramento