Memorializing Katastro’s Andy J. Chaves at Tempe’s Marquee Theater

Wednesday at the Marquee Theater in Tempe, AZ was a night to remember and memorialize the ever-talented, ever-unique and ever-charismatic Andrew James Chaves of Arizona indie-meets-hip hop-meets-reggae supergroup Katastro. Chaves, Katastro’s founding member and frontman, passed away in a tragic car accident on May 12th, 2022 in Newport Beach, CA, stunning the community and forever […]

California Roots 2022: Day Four

The fourth and final day of Cali Roots 2022 was one for the books. We laughed, we cried, we danced, we loved, we sang, we vibed and we all connected on a level that no one can describe quantitatively without sounding a little ‘woo-woo’. Simply put — it was magic. We were magic. Day Four […]

Rage Against the Machine & Run The Jewels wake up Buffalo

Rage Against the Machine moved into Buffalo with the fury of a Lake Erie storm on Monday, July 25th… I make this metaphor to convey the elemental fury with which this band demolishes an arena.  There are few acts today that match their energy and this show is 30 years after their first album came […]

Leeds Festival ready to rivet the UK for 2022

Leeds Festival 2022 will take place on Friday the 26th through Sunday the 28th this August at Bramham Park in Leeds. This is one half of the iconic Reading and Leeds Festivals that takes place over the bank holiday weekend. This festival duo is known for having the same lineups and similar festival activities — […]

Being at Bayfest San Diego 2022

Southern California is no stranger to live music; hosting hundreds of festivals throughout the year is a steeple of the palm tree riddled lifestyle. Despite these high numbers, there are some festivals locals, transplants and vacationers alike won’t want to miss.  Bayfest is one of those festivals.  Waterfront Park in downtown San Diego annually welcomes […]

Machine Gun Kelly takes Mainstream Sellout Tour to Oakland

On Tuesday July 19th, Machine Gun Kelly’s Mainstream Sellout Tour hit Oakland Arena with special guests Avril Lavigne and WILLOW. The anticipation for this tour was extremely high due to all three artists releasing new albums prior to hitting the road together, all featuring a collab of some sort, as well as Colson Baker (aka, […]

California Roots 2022: Day Three

Cali Roots Day Three arrived with a bang Saturday. Despite Rebelution’s blow-out 90-minute light show spectacular of a set the previous night, over 14,000 reggae lovers of all genres and walks of life lined up on Fairground Road and entered with newfound energy, fresh outfits and all the love in the world. The sun was […]

Tropidelic drops “People Talk” single with Brother Ali

Cleveland reggae-fusion quartet Tropidelic quietly dropped their newest single “People Talk”, featuring the illustrious Rhymsayers emcee Brother Ali, off their forthcoming album All The Colors — due out August 5th. The release follows closely on the heels of their respective Cali Roots performances over Memorial Day Weekend and precludes their Sleeping Giant Summer Tour, featuring […]

California Roots 2022: Day Two

“I’m gonna get you high today, ’cause it’s Friday; you ain’t got no job… and you ain’t got shit to do…” Even though Ice Cube’s set wasn’t until Sunday, the famous words resonated Friday at Cali Roots and the pep in our step and stars in our eyes confirmed that magic was in the air. […]

10th Annual Dancefestopia revealed for fall in Kansas City

High energy is the best way to describe Dancefestopia in Kansas City. With more than 150 artists over the span of six days, September 6th through 11th, there is plenty to keep you busy at this 100% local, independently operated and funded music festival — one of the few remaining in the United States. If […]

California Roots 2022: Day One

Cali Roots 2022 came and went, and we are all the better for it. All the waiting, wishing, praying was worth it — just like we had faith it would be. Patience was a small price to pay for what we experienced Memorial Day Weekend and those hugs, smiles, laughs were the currency. Most of […]

An interview with Amy Sheehan of California Roots

Join us as Top Shelf Music journalist Allie Adams interviews Amy Sheehan, Operations Manager for California Roots Music and Arts Festival 2022. Amy has been a pivotal part of the festival’s growth towards becoming the FIRST green-certified festival in California. In this interview, Allie focuses on the festival’s green initiatives and why that is so […]

A chat with Atmosphere at Cali Roots Fest 2022

Who doesn’t love a good Atmosphere show? One half of the hip hop duo sits down with Top Shelf Music’s Alexia Johnson at California Roots Festival 2022, ahead of his big Bowl Stage performance. Tune in to hear what Slug thinks of the popular hip hop-meets-reggae Memorial Weekend event in Monterey, his summer plans to […]

This Ain’t No Picnic coming to Pasadena in August 2022

In the fine words of Sheryl Crow, “this ain’t no disco” and “it ain’t no country club, either”. That’s right, because alternative rock is harder and here to stay. In this same vein, the fine festival producers over at Goldenvoice introduced This Ain’t No Picnic to high acclaim, set to grace the Pasadena Rose Bowl […]

Almost one month before Lollapalooza 2022

It’s that time of year again in Chicago! No, we’re not talking about the green-dyed Chicago River for St. Patty’s Day… we’re talking GREEN Day and 170+ other musical artists taking the nine stages at Grant Park for the annual (and utterly massive) international music festival known as Lollapalooza! Four days of impressive lineups and […]