A whole lot of Marley for Cali Roots
Ziggy Marley will be the headliner for the Friday portion of the California Roots Music and Arts Festival on Memorial Day weekend at the Monterey County Fair & Event Center.
Good Vibez Presents, the organizers behind the Festival, made the announcement last week. The three-day festival will take place May 2426 this year. With the addition of Marley, Bob Marley's oldest son, the festival has a decidedly strong Marley family presence. Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley headlines the Saturday lineup, with Stephen Marley presenting a special acoustic set just prior to Damian's set on the main stage, referred to as The Bowl at this festival.
There are two main stages with staggered set times so you don't have to miss a thing. Plus there are surprise pop up sets that normally feature acoustic performances from the festival artists.
It's very exciting to have the Marley sons all together at this edition of Cali Roots, following the release of the critically acclaimed biopic “Bob Marley: One Love”, which Ziggy co-produced with his sister and mother. While many early reggae masters are revered within the Jamaican-created musical form's community, it's safe to say Bob Marley was the lightning rod who elevated the music. He brought it to larger audiences and inspired other international artists to perform his songs.
Today the music has blossomed into a multi-dimensional, world-wide inspired fusion of different styles. And at Cali Roots they've created a distinct brand that focuses on not only the pure form, but the fusion of reggae with rock, funk, new wave, hip-hop, Hawaiian and other island's musics.
The lineup is now complete, with Rebelution, a perennial festival favorite, returning to headline and close out the festival on Sunday night. Other top names include E-40 and Too Short, Burning Spear, Lupe Fiasco, Ice Cube, Pepper, Collie Buddz, The Expendables, J Boog, Xavier Rudd, Tribal Seeds, The Green and more.
The full lineup can be found at www.californiarootsfestival. com as well as all the festival information you need. Threeday passes, along with newlyreleased single-day tickets are available now.. From my experience I find this family-friendly festival to be one of the more joyous events held on the Monterey Peninsula. Young and old party down together and dance and sing away the blues, putting the world at large out of sight and out of mind.
“I look forward to Cali Roots weekend all year long,” says Dan Sheehan, festival producer and