Rebelution & Skip Marley kick three days of reggae in Orange County

The night of August 7th kicked off Night One of a three-day reggae concert series at Costa Mesa’s Pacific Amphitheatre, with Rebelution, Skip Marley, and Niko Rubio taking centerstage.

Niko Rubio opened the night with her sultry trip hop-meets-reggae vibe.

Niko Rubio was a nice way to start the evening, with a younger, more pop-influenced sound that gave the lineup a little variety as people made their way to their seats. Next up was Skip Marley, grandson of reggae legend Bob Marley. Skip performed his own music while also paying tribute to his grandfather’s legacy that had the crowd singing along. There was something especially cool about hearing those well-known Bob songs in a live setting, especially performed from his own bloodline!

To close the night, Cali reggae heavyweights Rebelution played a mix of older favorites and newer songs, giving fans plenty to enjoy. The Santa Barbara natives still sound just as amazing as they did when the band formed over 20 years ago!

One of the best parts of Rebelution’s set was hearing songs from the OG albums, such as Courage To Grow and Bright Side of Life; the lyrics are like second nature to true fans. The newer material fit naturally into the set, too, with people dancing, singing, holding their loved ones tight, and just enjoying the summer night under their miraculous stage.

With lighting full of laser beams and a giant, lit-up, phoenix-like bird that took over the stage, Rebelution dazzled Costa Mesa. It was the kind of night where the music and the warm weather under the stars was an ideal Friday outing for OC locals of all ages.

Photography by Celeste Basich

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