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 […]

Sweet roots music with Stephen Marley & Skip Marley in Paso Robles

On June 4th, Paso Robles County was blessed with a legendary performance by GRAMMY Award-winning reggae artist Stephen Marley and his nephew, Skip Marley. Stephen Marley and Skip paid tribute to father/grandfather, Bob, playing hits like “One Love”, “Jammin’” and more to remember his great contribution to reggae music. Skip started off the night making […]

Treehouse! releases “Grave Situation”, feat. Mellodose

What’s a good phrase to describe the current state of the world? TreeHouse! and Mellodose would say “Grave Situation” — the namesake of their new collaborative single. An anti-war anthem with a timely message, delivered in familiar dub stylee, “Grave Situation” highlights the existential plight of humanity and the ever-churning war machine that rules the […]

WORLD TRACK PREMIERE: Solrise “Donde”

Spanish artist Solrise is back in action with their rootsy summer single “Donde”. Based out of Barcelona, this European reggae sensation is quickly becoming a global reggae heavy-hitter, evident in this world premiere of “Donde” — a dubby, jazzy track with Latin flair. In case you have yet to start some summertime vibes, Solrise has […]

Cali Roots presents 5th Annual Lake Tahoe Reggae Festival

Summer is heating up in South Lake! California Roots has partnered with Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Lake Tahoe to bring you a reggae lineup of straight fire to the famed venue on the water. Pan-reggae heavy-hitters Slightly Stoopid, Dirty Heads, SOJA, Tribal Seeds and Common Kings join forces with hometown-and-beyond favorites Fortunate Youth, Artikal […]

WORLD VIDEO PREMIERE: Doralee “Seu Sorriso (Your Smile)”

Los Angeles-based, island-infused singer-songwriter Doralee adds beautiful visuals to her soft, sweet “Seu Sorriso” single! Meaning ‘my smile’ in Portuguese, this track is all the bossa nova sugar you need to get your summer going. Bossa novo music and sprawling beach scenes? Yes, please. Doralee shines as she dances and sings, super innocently, around a […]

BeachLife Festival 2022: Day One

BeachLife Festival is in 2022’s rearview mirror. Regardless, the buzz surrounding its success is still heard regularly. The highly-anticipated convergence of music, art and community where the Pacific Ocean meets the Redondo Beach shoreline kicked off Day One with the return of Jim Lindberg of Pennywise — a BeachLife staple performer. Day One festival-goers were […]

Bobby Hustle drops “Fade Away” single, feat. Josh Heinrichs

Sometimes, things in life just kind of happen, whether you plan it that way or not. Certain ventures sort of fall into place how they were supposed to and go on to have a life of their own, regardless of your plans for them. One good example of this phenomenon is the new song “Fade […]

The stress-free, fun-filled weekend at BeachLife 2022

This year’s BeachLife Festival perfectly reflected the famous picturesque lifestyle of southern California. Spanning the weekend of May 13th through the 15th in Redondo Beach, festival-goers experienced the warmth of the California sun, the cool breeze of the Pacific Ocean and the swaying shade of palm trees, all while listening to a variety of 50 […]

Mighty Mystic makes colossal waves with ‘Giant’ album

Do you take your roots with a side of riffs? Paired with a soulful piano ballad? Dished up with 90s R&B basslines? The Massachusetts-bred, Jamaican-born Mighty Mystic delivers his “Hard Roots” version of reggae: a musical cornucopia in which he seamlessly joins roots reggae and timeless themes with more modern, mainstream sounds and lyrics.  Songs […]

The Movement sells out yet another night in St. Petersburg

On Saturday April 30th, The Movement came back to St. Petersburg’s Jannus Live again for yet another sold-out show, alongside reggae rock’s finest, Pacific Dub and Seranation. It was sold-out long in advance and fans showed up early, trying to catch the bands before the show. Everyone was hyped for the night to begin and […]

In memoriam of Andy J. Chaves, beloved artist gone too soon

Andy J. Chaves, the dynamic and ever-unique founding member of Tempe, AZ-based indie/alternative band Katastro, has died at 32. Known for his hard-hitting verses, overflowing charisma and spectacular style (in both fashion and overall swagger), the untraditional vocalist always marched to the beat of his own drum. The very drum that fellow band member and […]

WORLD VIDEO PREMIERE: Pipe Down “Smile”, feat. Rilen’ Out

Reggae is relatable anywhere. Take it from island reggae band Pipe Down, strumming sweet and sultry reggae tunes on a snow-covered Lake Tahoe mountaintop wearing a Hawaiian T-shirt. It doesn’t get much cooler than that… well, except for the fact that the official video for the track is premiering exclusively today on Top Shelf Music! […]

Gary Dread & Rick Haze release “Running” music video

Reggae trap artist Rick Haze pairs with The Movement’s Gary Dread in this new video by Raised Fist Propaganda. Talk about an all star collaboration! As Haze laments he’s “so sick and tired” of the lies and deceit, Dread brings the roots vibes till the “fat lady sings”. They’re “running”, but where exactly are they […]