California Roots 2023: a true bucket list event

Music festivals are a big undertaking. For many, months of planning and budgeting goes into the experience. At times, there is stress, setbacks and logistical nightmares before even getting to the gates. And I’m not talking about the music festival itself. People travel from far and wide to attend such events and the premiere music […]

Cali Vibes lineup impresses even more for 2023

Goldenvoice is bringing Cali Vibes back to Long Beach, California! The three-day reggae festival graced Marina Green Park for the first time with a new name (changed from One Love Cali Reggae Fest) in February 2022 and will be returning again this February 17th through 19th, 2023. The SoCal music festival is one of the most […]

Reggae Rise Up Maryland 2022: Day Two

Some walked, some ran, others skipped, but no one missed Day Two of the first-ever Reggae Rise Up Festival in Baltimore, Maryland. For the second day in a row, festival-goers were lucky to experience 11 straight hours of feet-moving music. Gates swung open at noon with music starting an hour later, leaving ample time to […]

Bumpin Uglies goes big with new ‘Mid-Atlantic Dub’ album

I’ll be honest: I freaked out a bit when Brandon Hardesty messaged me the other week, asking if I wanted to listen to their new album and write a review. I knew it would be amazing, but how the hell was I supposed to put their genre-defyingly awesome music into words that could actually do […]

SOJA sells out Ineffable’s new Ventura Music Hall

Ventura Music Hall spoiled me on July 23rd. The bowling alley-turned-music venue (recently opened in March 2022) welcomed Kyle Smith, The Elovaters and SOJA to the stage for an unforgettable night of reggae rock music (with a splash of punk rock thrown in). It has been about 14 years since SOJA graced a stage smaller […]

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 […]

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 […]

Reggae Rise Up Florida 2022: Day One

It had been a short five months since the last Reggae Rise Up Florida, yet the festival still managed to kick off their 2022 event with the energy and excitement that radiates from Vinoy Park each year! Music, art and community merged together with the Tampa Bay, with the scenic backdrop of St. Petersburg, Florida. Day […]

Cali Vibes Fest 2022: Day One

On Friday, February 4th, Day One of Cali Vibes Festival kicked off on a warm sunny day. It was the perfect weather to welcome all the out of town fans coming in for this massive festival. You could feel the anticipation in the air as people were walking past all the vendors, talking about which […]

Reggae Rise Up Florida 2022 is already nearing!

It’s the New Year and that means we are that much closer to another amazing reggae music festival! If you have been, you know the beauty and magic that takes place at Reggae Rise Up Florida… and, if you haven’t been before, it’s about time you come experience it. In the heart of downtown St. […]

Reggae Rise Up Florida 2021: Day Three

Day Three of Reggae Rise Up Florida 2021 was met with the same eagerness that was present the previous two days, yet something was different because the air was tinged with some stoopid-ity and a feeling of ‘elovated’ joy as the festival buzzed with energy at every turn. Tucked away in the middle of all […]

Experiencing Reggae Rise Up Florida 2021

The seemingly endless live music drought inflicted by COVID-19 has had its impact on fans, musicians, crews, promoters and everyone else associated with the live music industry. There has been a lot of articles and opinion pieces published on this over the last couple years, so this will not be belabored here. What is of […]

Reggae Rise Up Vegas 2021: Day One

Las Vegas is more known for its high-end casinos, nightlife, entertainment, fine dining and wild activities. But, reggae fans had their weekend to rock on! On October 9th and 10th, Las Vegas hosted its first Reggae Rise Up. It was so interesting to see reggae fans from all over the country gather together in the […]

SOJA teams with Rebelution & UB40 in “The Day You Came” single

Unreciprocated love… it can happen to even the most beautiful, desirable and luckiest-in-love of us. It’s the sucker punch that keeps on punching; wanting someone who doesn’t want you back is not only unfathomably disappointing and soul-shattering, it can be downright embarrassing (not you driving an hour to see someone who doesn’t always text you […]