Sold out crowds packed the cold and wet Queen Mary Events Park on Friday February 8th, for Day One of the Fourth Annual One Love Cali Reggae Festival in Long Beach, CA. Back up to three days from two last year, much like the weather, fans flooded the gates as LA-based Arise Roots could be […]
Category Archives: Top Shelf Reggae
New Orleans Jazz Festival set to celebrate 50 years | Top Shelf Reggae
New Orleans… a city rich with customs, where the American south meets Creole culture meets big band brass meets general debauchery. Tourists near and far flock to the diverse hotspot for many annual celebrations, Mardi Gras being the most regailed. Yet, just as impressive as Bourbon Street on Fat Tuesday, the New Orleans Jazz & […]
WORLD VIDEO PREMIERE: Kalalea “Universal Language” ft. Tubby Love | Top Shelf Reggae
Hawaiian artist on the rise, Kalalea, teams up with Tubby Love in his latest single “Universal Language”, recently available via Roots Musician Records. The track, mixed and mastered by roots reggae visionary E.N Young, features Kalalea preaching peace, love and unity in spite of social structures in the way – like media scares and corrupt […]
Getting to know K-Rizz | Top Shelf Reggae
Love, Knowledge, Laughter, Joy, Loss, Insecurity, Rage, Respect… The list is thorough for this outspoken middle child raised in the ‘biggest little city’ of Reno, Nevada. As we speak on the phone, the artist Kris Rodriguez (formally known as 'K-Rizz') and myself vibe instantly, going to work on describing a few of his songs as well […]
WORLD VIDEO PREMIERE: Mister Kali “Hungry” feat. Dub Gideon | Top Shelf Reggae
New Mexico native Mister Kali speaks out against America's Food & Drug Administration throughout the title track off his latest album Hungry. The song, featuring Dub Gideon, dropped mid-January off Rebel Sound Records and is stuffed with eating clean initiatives, saying he'd rather go “hungry” than eat what passes for food in this country. Mister […]
Rocky Dawuni “Beats of Zion” album review | Top Shelf Reggae
The GRAMMY nominated singer, songwriter and global ambassador and humanitarian activist, has combined passionate vocals with soothing rhythmic melodies that paint breathtaking scenes on his latest offering etitled Beats of Zion available March 8th, 2019 on Six Degrees Distribution. “Beats of Zion was born out of my desire to use my diverse global musical influences […]
WORLD TRACK PREMIERE: Kelly Hafner “Give Light” | Top Shelf Reggae
Austin, Texas is a well-known mecca for music, attracting talent from all over the globe as a result. One such up-and-coming superstar is Kelly Hafner, a soulful chanteuse whose impressive vocal range rivals that of mainstream R&B names – both past and present! Migrating to Austin after college from northern California, Hafner has since found […]
Long Beach’s Marley Festival 2019 | Top Shelf Reggae
On January 26th, The Gaslamp in Long Beach had their 4th Annual Marley Reggae Celebration. The night was headlined by The Wailing Souls and supported by The Gladiators, Roots of Mine, Survival – A Tribute to Bob Marley, Pachamama, Los Nauticals and Last Fix. The Gaslamp in Long Beach had their 4th Annual Marley Reggae […]
Why Th3rd Coast Roots is second to none | Top Shelf Reggae
From playing acoustic sets in bars to recording an album, Th3rd Coast Roots has gained incredible momentum from the moment they connected. Lead vocalist/guitarist Jayton Lening never imagined that he, who started out acoustic at local bars, would lead to creating a roots rock reggae band with unstoppable energy. When Jayton decided to dedicate more […]
Get to know LACI: the next big thing for R&B | Top Shelf Reggae
WNew up-and-coming Italian R&B/pop artist LACI (also known as Laci Kay) is a young bombshell with a powerhouse of superstar vocal cords. This phenomenal 20-year-old woman finds inspiration from well-known artists like Rihanna, Beyoncé, Katy Perry and Michael Jackson and has performed at several venues, including The House Of Blues, The World Famous Whisky A Go […]
Hangout Music Festival set to return to Gulf Shores, AL | Top Shelf Reggae
Alabama's award-winning Hangout Music Festival is back! Set to return to the sandy white beaches of Gulf Shores May 17th-19th, Hangout infuses everything you want out of the ideal music festival with your dream vacation. Don't believe us? Every year, Hangout Fest revamps Gulf Shores to accommodate music-lovers near and far with in-ground pools at […]
Trombone Shorty at Belly Up Tavern: Night 2 | Top Shelf Reggae
When a big name comes to the intimate venue of San Diego's Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach, regulars expect that the 'SOLD OUT' sign on to be taped to the Will Call window equally as much as they expect alcohol to be served there. It's a given. However, a sold out sign taped to […]
A good talk with Good Talk | Top Shelf Reggae
The band of brothers Good Talk stumbled into my jagged little world one morning and never left. A friend sent one track my way off of their debut album The Arrival; I was drawn into a voice I pegged right away. It was a voice I knew so well, one that I love that has played […]
WORLD VIDEO PREMIERE: Inna Vision “Back Trax” | Top Shelf Reggae
Everyone's favorite reggae-rap artist, Inna Vision, returns with a world premiere for “Back Trax” off his latest Link Up album. The LP, off Roots Musician Records, hit the charts back in June of 2018 and features instant hits like “O.G. IV”, “Real Type Of Cop” and (naturally) the title track “Link Up”. After several videos […]
KROQ’s Back To The Beach Fest returns for Year 2 | Top Shelf Reggae
Los Angeles radio station KROQ knows how to throw a party. From Weenie Roasts to Almost Acoustic Christmases, the world-renowned rock station reigns supreme as the number one sponsor of all the greatest festivals landing LA to Orange County. The KROQ stamp is a status symbal. Fact. One of their newer ventures happened last spring […]
BeachLife Fest brings legends to Redondo Beach | Top Shelf Reggae
Southern Californians are well aware how to live the beach life, especially those inhabiting a beach town. With predictable sunny skies and unfaltering chill vibes, living at the beach is as easy as it gets. And, of course, the ocean as your everyday backdrop doesn't hurt the eyes! All in all, the setting couldn't be […]
KAABOO Texas coming to Cowboys Stadium | Top Shelf Reggae
Six months ago, the fastest growing festival in the nation announced another site to call home. What was principally known as KAABOO Del Mar has now morphed into a festival conglomeration of epic entertainment proportions, encompassing the Caribbean waters and the state of Texas for 2019 on top of its sunny San Diego roots. 2019 […]
Kyle McDonald & friends perform Orchid Essentials relaunch | Top Shelf Reggae
Hey, California, that sweet heavenly high has returned! On Saturday, January 19th, Orchid Essentials re-launched their marijuana vape cartridge line with special guests at the Show Grow dispensary in Santa Ana, CA. After months of work, Orchid Essentials celebrated their return with special deals and an intimate show with reggae greats Don Carlos, Fully Fullwood […]
FOUREVER1 drops “On My Way” single with EP on the way | Top Shelf Reggae
What's better than one iconic reggae-pop superstar? Four sisters slaying the genre together. FOUREVER1, comprised of 23-year-old identical quadruplets, have taken the music business by storm after pairing with manager and producer Randy Jackson to release their introductory single “All About Tonight” back in 2016. The sister supergroup has since amiably parted ways with Jackson, […]
7 Irrefutable reasons to attend KAABOO Cayman | Top Shelf Reggae
The fastest growing festival in southern California is soon to be the fastest growing chain throughout the world. That's right, KAABOO Del Mar is branching out of its SoCal bubble following four successful years at the Del Mar Racetrack in sunny San Diego. Before the 5th Annual hits in mid-September, festival owners have proudly announced […]
Cali Roots X final artists announced | Top Shelf Reggae
The day is here. Not only has the last leg of the upcoming California Roots lineup been unveiled as of this morning, but this particular announcement ends a guessing game a decade in the making – who is to play Cali Roots 10?! Cali Roots X celebrates a wide array of artists in the reggae […]
Burritos at Tiki Bar Costa Mesa | Top Shelf Reggae
On December 22nd, Burritos the Band headlined a show at The Tiki Bar in Costa Mesa. The show opend up with Los Nauticals, who got the crowed warmed up and ready for the night. Next came Tunnel Vision; it’s always awesome to get to see these guys play. The night closed out with Burritos the […]
Spliff Vision: New Year, new vision | Top Shelf Reggae
San Pedro's Spliff Vision is ready to ring in the New Year with new music! Recently released singles include “Feeling Of Love” and “Feeling Of Dub”, the dub version of the aforementioned. Although not the first recorded works from the band, both of these tracks were recorded at California Sound Studios in Lake Forest, CA and produced […]
Unbelievable Coachella 2019 lineup unveiled | Top Shelf Reggae
The bellweather of all music and arts festivals really went big for their 20th annual. That's right, Coachella – one of the grandfathers of the modern festival movement – returns to the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California for a celebration two decades in the making. Ever since its inaugural year in 1999, Coachella walked […]
TreeHouse! teams with Dan Kelly in “Natural High” single | Top Shelf Reggae
It's always a breath of fresh air when speaking with Jeremy Anderson, frontman, multi and majorly talented musician and founder of TreeHouse!, a reggae-rock band out of Myrtle Beach, SC. If it's cold where you are right now, TreeHouse's latest track “Natural High” is about to warm up your soul with its summer breeze and palm […]
Envision 2019 coming to Costa Rica | Top Shelf Reggae
Attending a festival is a mental escape, to say the least. But, can you even imagine a life-changing musical weekend experience in an exotic foreign setting? That's next level. Enter, Envision Festival – Costa Rica's fastest growing music and arts festival! Stationed at the southern tip of the country on the Pacific side, Envision offers […]
Josh Heinrichs & Dread Kennedy at I & I Brewing | Top Shelf Reggae
On Thursday, December 13th, Josh Heinrichs and Dread Kennedy played acoustic sets at I & I Brewing in Chino, CA. I & I is always one of my favorite places to see a show. Add some holiday hype, Josh Heinrichs and Dread Kennedy, and you have a great mid-week show to be around friends a […]
Roots of Mine fundraises with “Anna” single | Top Shelf Reggae
Nothing is more heartwrenching than watching your loved ones struggle, especially when it comes to health. Roots of Mine, a reggae-rock band out of Los Angeles, dedicates their latest single “Anna” to those battling cancer and debilitating diseases, with 100% of the profits going to cancer charities! The song, despite delivering hope to those afflicted […]
Reel Big Fish is back with ‘Life Sucks… Let’s Dance’ album | Top Shelf Reggae
What to say about Reel Big Fish… besides being ska music pioneers, these cheeky gentlemen led by the wittiest man alive, Aaron Barrett, continue to remind us that the aging genre is far from dead. The Orange County brass-heavy band bombarded into the mainstream when they broke it big in 1997 with their summer hit […]
Sammy Johnson shines in ‘Moonlight Lovers’ EP | Top Shelf Reggae
Sammy Johnson's latest EP, Moonlight Lovers, is a tasteful blend of vibrant drums, twinkling guitar strums and soulful backdrop vocals that provide an overall essence of loveliness, enriched with Johnson's own touching harmonies. Moonlight Lovers is an EP bound to make the heart flutter, head nod and hips sway throughout its entirety. Each track glides […]
Tropidelic at Revolution Bar & Music Hall NYC | Top Shelf Reggae
A funky explosion of brass mixed with a little hip hop hit the Revolution Bar & Music Hall in Amityville, NY as the six-piece band of Tropidelic took the stage. The band made a stop on their tour to rock with Long Island on December 8th, joined by performers who reflected the bands ranging genres: […]
Common Kings “One Day” EP review | Top Shelf Reggae
Coming off their successful GRAMMY-nominated album, Lost In Paradise, Common Kings resurrects with a victorious EP One Day that features the likes of acclaimed reggae artists Stephen Marley, Matisyahu, ¡MAYDAY! and Kat Dahlia. This EP highlights the lightheartedness of Common Kings through their joyful reggae rhythms juxtaposed to the social commentary in their lyrics. The mix of […]