Cali Roots 2019: Day One

It’s always a cathartic experience, gracing the Monterey Fairgrounds gates for yet another Memorial Day Weekend at California Roots Music & Arts Festival. Unlike any other year, expectations were peaking for the 10th Annual to get underway (the milestone dubbed ‘Cali Roots X’ for good measure). Also unlike any other is the feeling of togetherness, not […]

Being at Bayfest San Diego

There’s nothing like a family reunion. Now imagine one without any family drama, surrounded by endless familiar faces on a beautiful day sprawled across the breathtaking lawns of San Diego’s Embarcadero Marina Park North, with the monumental Coronado Speedway looming in the distance, boats passing by on the water and the palatial highrises of the […]

A chat with The Late Ones at California Roots 2019

Top Shelf Music journalist Kristy Rose sits down with The Late Ones, a hip hop meets island reggae trio out of Hawaii, at California Roots 10 ahead of their late night afterparty performance in Monterey, California. With a new single available as of that day, The Late Ones were excited to share music, upcoming summer plans […]

BeachLife Fest 2019: Day Two

Day Two BeachLife Festival was upon Redondo Beach: one exciting day in the books, capped by Grateful Dead icon Bob Weir, and another yet to come for this first year fest. Saturday on the ocean brought with it perfect weather on May 4th, 2019. Attendees lined the entrance fence as opening band Latchkey Kid serenaded the early birds already inside. […]

Steel Pulse sits down with Top Shelf Music

Steel Pulse members David Hinds and Selwyn Brown sit down with Top Shelf Music journalist Keela Sweeney following their Day One BeachLife Festival performance in Redondo Beach, California. With their long-awaited Mass Manipulation album out as of May 17th, Steel Pulse chats about the inspiration behind the album that took 15 years in the making […]

Back To The Beach Fest: Day Two

Around Day Two Around Day Two Lowlives Lowlives Lowlives Lowlives Lowlives Lowlives Lowlives Around Day Two Around Day Two Teenage Wrist Teenage Wrist Teenage Wrist Teenage Wrist Teenage Wrist Teenage Wrist Around Day Two Around Day Two Around Day Two Story Of The Year Story Of The Year Story Of The Year Story Of The […]

BeachLife Fest 2019: Day One

Around Day One Alinea Alinea Alinea Alinea Alinea Alinea Alinea Alinea Alinea Alinea Around Day One Around Day One Anuhea Anuhea Anuhea Anuhea Anuhea Anuhea Anuhea Anuhea Around Day One Around Day One Roots of Creation Roots of Creation Roots of Creation Roots of Creation Roots of Creation Roots of Creation Roots of Creation Roots […]

Back To The Beach 2019: Day One

Around Day One Around Day One Around Day One The Drowns The Drowns The Drowns The Drowns The Drowns Around Day One Around Day One The English Beat The English Beat The English Beat The English Beat The English Beat The English Beat The English Beat The English Beat The English Beat The English Beat […]

Roots of Creation talks BeachLife Fest & beyond

East coast jam band Roots of Creation has been hitting the road hard for some time now, accumulating quite a following for their unique take on the reggae-rock movement. After gaining critical success with their Grateful Dead tribute album Grateful Dub, RoC is about to perform alongside Dead frontman Bob Weir this weekend — on the same […]

A talk with BeachLife band Tomorrows Bad Seeds

The turnover rate for bands in the reggae-rock scene is unfortunate. Over the past few decades since the genre got popularized, bands have risen to the tippy top (cough, Stoopid, Reb) as others dissipated faster than vape smoke, rendering themseles a minor blip on the reggae-rock radar. RIP to all those fallen soldiers. You did […]

Sabroso Taco Fest 2019: Day Two

Around Day Two Plague Vendor Plague Vendor Plague Vendor Plague Vendor Plague Vendor Plague Vendor Plague Vendor Around Day Two Around Day Two Around Day Two Face to Face Face to Face Face to Face Around Day Two Around Day Two Around Day Two Around Day Two Around Day Two Around Day Two Around Day […]

Attending Reggae Rise Up Florida 2019

Some people embark on trips and adventures alone or with family members. For some of us, a vacation is usually traveling for live music. I had far too many bags packed, yet was ready to set out on my short two-hour journey from southwest Florida to stunning St. Petersburg. Planes landing, parking garages filling, normally quaint […]

Sabroso Craft Beer & Taco Fest to hit Dana Point

There are few things better than tacos, beer and punk rock music… let alone an event celebrating all three. Hitting three U.S. cities in April comes Sabroso Craft Beer & Taco Fest, bound to hit the sandy shores of Doheny State Beach of Dana Point this upcoming April 6th and 7th. Unlike the latter two […]

A moment with Mike Love at One Love Cali Reggae Fest

One Love Cali Reggae Fest 2019 brought a new era of reggae musicians, all bringing back the true roots sound! One such talented artist was the amazing and eccentric Hawaiian native Mike Love. Back in May of 2018, I attended the Trevor Hall show at The Observatory Theatre in Santa Ana; opening for him was […]