Passafire winter tour 2015

The Passafire boys have made early New Year’s resolutions to hit the road by publically announcing their 2015 winter tour this week alongside Colorado-based Tatanka. Heading due south from their Georgian roots, Passafire’s first stop is in Tallahassee, Florida on January 15th; the show continues all the way up, down and around until ultimately ending […]

The Emerald Cup 2014 is here

The Emerald Cup is just around the corner, and if you’re just now hearing about it, it’s not too late! If you’re unfamiliar with this event, The Emerald Cup has been synonymous with setting the absolute highest standards for sustainable, sun-grown, outdoor cannabis and is the largest outdoor medicinal cannabis competition in the entire world. […]

Cali Roots announces final 2015 line-up

It’s finally here – the day that all reggae festival lovers have been waiting for since the conclusion of last year’s California Roots Music and Arts Festival over May’s 2014 Memorial Day Weekend. That’s right, all the bands have been selected and the public has been notified: SOJA, Iration, John Butler Trio, Cypress Hill, Pacific […]

Jah9 invades Sebastopol, California

One of the most exciting new artists coming out of Jamaica right now is a captivating young woman who goes by Jah9.  She was one of the most celebrated acts at Reggae on the River 2014; her songs are becoming more popular in the dancehalls in several countries and on Spotify playlists worldwide.  I was […]

Jehua releases his new single “Your Man”

Bassist and vocalist for renowned reggae band Natural Vibrations, Jehua Evans has branched out on his own for a soulful solo project. Jehua’s debut single “Your Man” brings with it some smooth melodies similar to those of Natty Vibes but with a subtly different sound that we hope will lead to further success for the […]

Michael Franti sold out the Belly Up

A solitary sign hung taped to the Belly Up Tavern’s will call window on November 22nd, declaring Michael Franti’s performance “SOLD OUT” for the night. What an understatement – entering into my favorite and frequently hopping rock-n-roll joint in Solana Beach had never been harder. I squeezed and twisted my way through an overly condensed […]

New label, new album, New Kingston

New York City’s prominent independant label Easy Star Records just grew a little larger last week as it announced it’s newest member of the family New Kingston. As one of the hardest working bands in the industry, New Kingston naturally fits in representing the Easy Star family with Easy Star All-Stars,  Passafire, Rebelution, Giant Panda […]

“Eye of the Storm” new single by E.N Young

San Diego-based solo artist E.N Young likes to share the stage with Tribal Seeds among other big names, but three years have passed without new music from the melodica-sporting singer, songwriter and producer. On November 18th, Young made waves for his deprived fans by not only announcing an upcoming album on the horizon, but also […]

Iration announces 2015 Tales from the Sea tour

After their huge success from the 2013 album Automatic and recent completion of the ridiculously amazing Count Me In summer tour with Rebelution, The Green along with Stick Figure, Iration announced their return to the road with a nationwide tour which they named “Tales from the Sea” with support from Stick Figure and Hours Eastly. […]

Revival releases second single “Beauty in Disguise”

San Diego-based roots reggae band Revival is gearing up for their third full-length album release and in doing so, is leaving little tastes of the record along the way. On October 28th, the eight-member band premiered their second single “Beauty in Disguise” off their much-anticipated upcoming album, following their first single “Beautiful Monster” on August […]

Radical Something accents Matisyahu

California band Radical Something sure knows how to bring some rock music mixed with some hip-hop to the beach area. When they performed at the Belly Up in Solana Beach on Sunday, Oct. 26 and opened for Matisyahu, we here at Top Shelf Reggae did not know what to expect. Was this night going to […]

California Roots 2015: Round 2 artist announcement

Everyone who’s anyone in the reggae scene looks forward all year to a meta-Memorial Day weekend known as the California Roots Music and Arts Festival. Located in Monterey, due south of San Francisco, reggae fans and festival lovers alike rejoice in three full days of fun in the sun, music and memories. Once the spectacular […]

Tribal Seeds Winter Chillin’ Tour announced

With their instruments still smoking and ears still ringing from their 2014 Representing Fall Tour with Ballyhoo! and Gonzo with Beyond I Sight, the Tribal Seeds camp just announced their west coast 2015 Winter Chillin' Tour. With female sensations Hirie and Leilani Wolfgram in tow this time around, this is definitely a tour that one […]

An exclusive interview with Stick Figure

Three of the most explosive acts in the US reggae-rock scene came together for on the “Livin’ it Fall Tour” throughout the West Coast this month. Stick Figure, Pacific Dub and Hirie sold out several venues on this tour, McNear’s Mystic Theater in Petaluma being no exception. California Roots, who have been the hands-down leaders […]

Passafire rocks out Solana Beach, CA

Passafire brought their east coast rock to the Belly Up venue in Solana Beach, CA on October 10, 2014. As part of their Fall Tour currently taking place, Passafire is traveling all around the U.S. to showcase songs off their latest album, Vines. Though the band is well-loved in the reggae-rock scene, it is really […]