Dirty Heads gets it ‘Kraken’ in Apopka, Florida

One of the best lineups I’ve seen all year hit a brand-new amphitheater in Apopka, Florida on July 16th! A lot of people traveled from all over Florida to check out the Let’s Get It Kraken Tour, with alt reggae heavyweights Dirty Heads headlining over SOJA, Tribal Seeds and more. The local Florida band that […]

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 […]

The Black Seeds unleash ample ‘Love & Fire’ in new LP

Summertime, feeling fine. Love& Fire, The Black Seeds’ seventh full-length studio album, is a sunny and bright collection of 10 easy-listening, dubby tracks with ‘beach day’ written all over them. The New Zealand eight-piece dropped the record June 17th via Proville Records/Kartel Music Group in Europe and New York-based reggae label Easy Star Records in North […]

The Elovaters talks with Top Shelf at Cali Roots 2022

Top Shelf Music journalist Allie Adams interviews The Elovaters at California Roots Music and Arts Festival 2022. The Elovaters formed in 2014 and have released two full-length albums and an award-winning EP. Defy Gravity was the group’s first big record in 2018 after signing to not-for-profit record label Rootfire Cooperative. Debuting at #1 on the […]

An ultimate “Showdown” with Stick Figure & Collie Buddz

On July 15th, Stick Figure dropped yet another new single off of his soon-to-be released full-length album, this time teaming up with Bermudan reggae star Collie Buddz to produce “Showdown”. An epic anthem of pursuit and focus that has a rougher, more grittier feel to it than most other Stick Figure songs, “Showdown” follows previously-issued […]

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 […]

Bobby Hustle lives high life in “Fade Away” video, ft. Josh Heinrichs

Have you ever seen a music video and immediately felt envious of the people in it? That’s how the new music video for Bobby Hustle’s latest single “Fade Away” featuring Josh Heinrichs hit me when I saw it. It’s a weed smoker’s dream, basically! Spliffs getting lit up left and right, Josh taking rips off […]

Stick Figure’s Smoke Signals Tour lights up Cocoa Beach, FL

The Smoke Signals Tour 2022 with Stick Figure, Collie Buddz, Iya Terra and The Elovaters is setting the world on fire with some of the best reggae music from some of the top reggae rock bands altogether. Stick Figure showed up to Cocoa Beach with Collie Buddz and Iya Terra, and the fans traveled from […]

A chat with Cydeways at California Roots 2022

Top Shelf Music journalist Allie Adams interviews Cydeways at California Roots Music and Arts Festival 2022. The band talks about upcoming projects, tour and are even surprised by Atmosphere‘s own “Slug”! You never know who’s gonna walk into the Cali Roots media room! From the band’s website: “Cydeways [is] an alternative band out of Santa […]

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. […]

Get “Caught Up” by The Olés’ new single

Love can be quite the monster; it has a knack for affecting the mind in manners that we still don’t truly understand. It can leave you utterly infatuated with someone. It can leave you totally captivated by who they are and who they have the potential to become. You feel it so hard in those […]

WORLD VIDEO PREMIERE: Kirsty Rock “Light It Up”

Kirsty Rock, lauded member of the international reggae supergroup Easy Star All-Stars, brings her own soulful, earthy reggae sound to life in the official video release of “Light It Up”. The music video — filmed in a literal secret cave in the lush Green Mountains of Vermont — was a collaboration between co-producer and composer […]

A chat with international reggae sensation, Dub Inc.

French reggae band Dub Inc. stole the show in Solana Beach Sunday night at the Belly Up Tavern, opening for Mike Love and his backing band, The Full Circle. This was the last night in California for the seven-piece, after a full tour of California beginning in Monterey at Cali Roots on Memorial Day Weekend. […]

Stephen Marley brings Babylon by Bus Tour to Saratoga

On Thursday June 9th, Stephen Marley — son of the legendary Bob Marley — brought his Babylon by Bus Tour to Saratoga’s Mountain Winery. The tour had just kicked off at Cali Roots Festival and continues on, featuring different reggae acts depending on location. Tonight’s show featured Skip Marley, grandson of Bob Marley, as well […]