Cali Vibes 2024: Day One

The gentle breeze carried the scent of saltwater and anticipation as music enthusiasts from all walks of life gathered at Marina Green Park in Long Beach, California, on a balmy Friday, February 16th. The air was excited for Cali Vibes Festival 2024, a celebration of music, community, and culture under the sun-kissed California sky. The […]

Cali Vibes Fest 2022: Day Two

On Saturday, February 5th, Day Two of the Cali Vibes Festival kicked off. It was a warm day and you could feel the anticipation in the air as fans waited to get into the grounds to start yet another day of fun. Boostive kicked the day off, with amazing energy and great stage presence. Boostive […]

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 […]

Enormous Cali Vibes Fest to hit Long Beach in 2022

A new festival just hit the market…or is it? For those who have made the connection, Cali Vibes — an epic, jam-packed three-day reggae and hip hop fusion event set for February 2022 — is just a new chapter for the renowned One Love Cali Reggae Festival (that would’ve been in its sixth year if […]

Cali Roots finalizes lineup for May 2022

I don’t know about you, but the minute the world started shutting down due to COVID the second week of March 2020, the first thing I thought about was “there’s no way this will affect Cali Roots, it’s too far out”. Then, like the festival gods were listening and wanted to punish me, the announcement […]

BeachLife Festival announces stacked lineup for Fall 2021

BeachLife is BACK! For those fortunate enough to catch the first round back in 2019, BeachLife Festival in Redondo Beach stands as the ultimate weekend party that you do not want to miss! Rooted in beach culture, the inaugural fest welcomed record numbers through the gates (and, when we say ‘gates’, these are ones located […]

Julian Marley interviews days ahead of 62nd GRAMMYs

GRAMMY-nominated reggae legend Julian Marley sits down with Top Shelf Music journalist Kristy Rose, days ahead of the 62nd GRAMMY Awards in Los Angeles. Up for ‘Best Reggae Album’ for his fourth full-length album As I Am, Julian Marley shares his feelings on his first nomination from the Academy, what’s to come for 2020, how […]

BeachLife returns to Redondo May 2020

Year Two of festivals usually capitalize on where the inaugural year went right and work out the few kinks Year One went disastrously wrong. It’s a learning curve that could make or break a fest, considering music festivals are a dime a dozen these days. Some festivals, however, know how to do it right from […]

Kaya Fest 2018: Day Two

Jah Stix Jah Stix Around Day 2 Around Day 2 Bambaata Bambaata Bambaata Around Day 2 Kabaka Pyramid Kabaka Pyramid Kabaka Pyramid Kabaka Pyramid Kabaka Pyramid Kabaka Pyramid Around Day 2 Third World Third World Third World Third World Third World Third World Third World Around Day 2 Zion y Lennox Zion y Lennox Zion […]

Top Shelf Takes the Street Episode 4: Marley & Me

In this episode of Top Shelf Takes the Street, journalist Kristy Rose runs around Kaya Festival 2018 in San Bernardino, California asking attendees their thoughts on Bob Marley’s Kaya album, the Marley family tree, marijuana and more. Stay tuned for more Top Shelf shenanigans in the months to come and watch for us on a […]

Kaya Fest 2018: Day One

Around Day 1 Around Day 1 Anuhea Anuhea Anuhea Anuhea Anuhea Around Day 1 Around Day 1 Indubious Indubious Indubious Indubious Indubious Indubious Indubious Indubious Indubious Indubious Indubious Indubious Around Day 1 Around Day 1 Roots of Creation Roots of Creation Roots of Creation Roots of Creation Roots of Creation Roots of Creation Roots of […]

Experiencing Kaya Fest 2018

Driving up to the drab-colored NOS Events Center in San Bernardino does not make you feel that you’re about to experience a one-of-a-kind festival weekend amidst the most beautiful strangers you’ll ever meet. With Coachella happening the same April weekend in the desert just adjacent to Kaya's Riverside, California location and with renowned Los Angeles […]