We arrived to the first day of Dry Diggings later than originally planned, but we could still feel the excitement in the air as the sun began to set and Barrington Levy took the stage. The Expendables followed Barrington’s high-energy performance. They rocked the stage as always with shredding guitar solos. The beat-boxing rapper, Matisyahu […]
Category Archives: Top Shelf Reggae
The 3rd Annual KAABOO MIX-perience | Top Shelf Reggae
What to say about the third annual KAABOO Del Mar Festival… what not to say, rather? Being stationed on the coastline of sunny San Diego in mid-September is not a bad place to be in the first place, let alone reveling in celebrities and surprises, with everyone around you having the time of their lives. […]
Caleb Hart & The Royal Youths to release debut album | Top Shelf Reggae
On the heels of releasing his debut solo EP Album Island Soul on June 23rd 2017, Caleb Hart has accomplished yet another achievement with the anticipated release of origiNation album with The Royal Youths. Reggae has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I love every part of it. […]
5 reasons KAABOO Del Mar is changing music festivals | Top Shelf Reggae
For those located in other parts of the country and don't know SoCal ways, San Diego used to be a hoppin' festival hotspot. Street Scene San Diego was the main catalyst, right around the time when Coachella was gaining steam out in the desert. Those were the good ol’ days… when A-list entertainers performed literally […]
Experiencing the 3rd Annual Dry Diggings Festival | Top Shelf Reggae
When you put camping with your friends and family, tasty craft beer, and some of your favorite reggae and hip hop artists into one weekend, the result is always going to be a great one. And, that's exactly what everyone who attended Dry Diggings Fest over the Labor Day Weekend got to experience. The festival […]
Sammy J announces Mixed Feelings Tour | Top Shelf Reggae
Sammy Johnson, a.k.a Sammy J, has been making waves in the reggae scene for years with his islander vibes coinciding with his heartfelt lyrics. To be honest, the man makes the ladies melt. Watching him live is like witnessing a bunch of women in heat, all competing with each other to lock eyes with the […]
The Green releases new single “I Will” | Top Shelf Reggae
The Green has been a reggae chart fixture since the early 2000s with their breakthrough single “Love I” which dominated Hawaiian radio waves. Earlier this week, The Green has given fans some new music, and a surreal lyric video to go along with it. Their latest single titled “I Will” is off the band’s upcoming […]
New Kingston “A Kingston Story: Come From Far” review | Top Shelf Reggae
After crafting three immaculate full albums of outstanding reggae tunes, New Kingston has returned this year with a much more “mature” release, a term that is usually code for either boring or uninspiring. Come From Far is our experience; as a family, as musicians and as human beings living in a world where anything is […]
High & Mighty 2017: Day Two | Top Shelf Reggae
The inaugural High & Mighty Festival began with a bang, and the magic carried on over into Day Two in Garden Grove, California. Know-Madik took the stage first, and from what I hear, completely obliterated it with style, grace, and guest appearances. I hear this because the traffic north to OC from San Diego was […]
The Simpkin Project “Hustling” acoustic video | Top Shelf Reggae
Southern California's own Simpkin Project have released the acoustic music video for their recently unveiled deep cut “Hustling” from the upcoming, highly anticipated album titled Beam of Light. Their new album is set to be released on September 29th, 2017 and will be filled with their usual highly melodic reggae-blues sound. “This album is our […]
2nd Annual Rootfire at the Park announced | Top Shelf Reggae
Returning in its second year to Cocoa Riverfront Park, Rootfire at the Park has officially taken shape! Extended to three days this November 10th-12th in Cocoa, Florida, RATP 2017 stands as exponentially more than a typical music festival – it’s a true outdoor experience. Lineup aside, this particular fest thrown by Rootfire, Deuterman Productions and Ineffable […]
Hirie “Sun and Shine” official video ft. Eric Rachmany | Top Shelf Reggae
Southern California's songstress Hirie has returned to the spotlight and is turning up the heat in her new single and music video for the brand new track titled Sun and Shine featuring lead vocalist and guitarist of Rebelution, Eric Rachmany as well as Nahko Bear as Hirie's accomplice. Tags: videos, sugarshack sessions, rebelution, music video, […]
High & Mighty 2017: Day One | Top Shelf Reggae
Walking through the gates of the first annual High and Mighty Festival presented by KLOS was more like entering into the festival you've always dreamed of: free beer in an extensive craft beer garden to the right, a towering Yo-yo swing ride to the left, and two side-by-side stages waiting patiently in the distance to […]
The 1st Annual High & Mighty Fest | Top Shelf Reggae
Last weekend, on September 5th and 6th, KLOS presented the very first annual High & Mighty Fest in sunny Garden Grove, California. The line-up consisted of a perfect combination of some of the most talented reggae, rock, and hip-hop artists. However, this festival had a lot more to offer than just a great weekend of […]
Dirty Heads announce Swim Team Fall Tour | Top Shelf Reggae
In anticipation for the new Dirty Heads full-length LP Swim Team out October 13th, fans get to know where the band is headed first! Once the last of sweet summer is gone, the DH crew is hitting the road with indie rock band The Unlikely Candidates and one of the most enigmatically captivating bands on the […]
Krooked Treez release new video for “Dr Kevorkian” | Top Shelf Reggae
Joined by renowned turntablist of the GRAMMY Award-winning band Slipknot, and saxophonist for the band The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Southern California’s own Krooked Treez released their brand new video for the track “Dr. Kevorkian.” Directed by Krooked Treez’s own Oscar Brown, this skillfully bass-heavy, hip-hop and reggae fused track shows the band’s versatility. Demonstrating a […]
The Ellameno Beat unleashes “Surface” album | Top Shelf Reggae
Living at the beach usually accompanies a laidback vibe – whether you're a surfer, a sun tanner, a yogi, or a yacht clubber. American reggae bands on both coasts envelope this sun-kissed energy, placing their unique imprint on promoting peace, love, and unity in between songs about day-drinking and night-crawling. One group in particular who […]
Simpkin Project announces new album Beam of Light | Top Shelf Reggae
Orange county’s Simpkin Project possesses a sound that seamlessly utilizes reggae, blues, rock, and Americana. Beam if Light, the band’s upcoming LP, features the six band guitar-fuzz-driven, drum-pounding songs that their fans have grown to love. The LP, produced by Rellee Hayden, is due out on September 22nd, 2017 under on VP Records’ Dub Rockers. Pre-orders […]
Oregon awaits 10th Annual Beloved Sacred Art and Music Festival | Top Shelf Reggae
Oregon's most unique EDM and world music party, the Beloved Open-Air Sacred Music Festival, is about to go down less than two weeks away! Tucked away in a serene and stunning forest-meets-the-coast enclave a few miles east of Tidewater, the four-day unity fest is gearing up to spread harmony, consciousness, and equality to all who […]
The Dubplates “Box Full Of Steel” album review | Top Shelf Reggae
The Dubplates’ new album Box Full Of Steel is concurrently refreshing and reminiscent. The Charleston, South Carolina based group doesn’t seem to care about proving themselves as genre bending or cutting edge since their songwriting, and musical sincerity shines beyond anything real. The Dubplates is undoubtedly playing the heck out of their songs in concert, […]
Protoje “Blood Money” official music video | Top Shelf Reggae
Blood Money is the latest release from Jamaican reggae singer Protoje. The song lyrics provide hard-hitting, raw and unapologetic commentary on the current state of Jamaica, touching on recent grievances and social injustices that have afflicted Jamaican society. Protoje describes the air of discrimination, classism, and oppression prevalent in the Jamaican political landscape, calling out […]
Dirty Heads at SOMO Village | Top Shelf Reggae
A sell-out crowd came out last week to experience Dirty Heads, SOJA, The Green and RDGRNGLD at the SOMO Village in Rohnert Park. Packed with 3,000 fans, the show was the venue's first sell-out since Second Octave began hosting outdoor concerts there two summers ago. RDGLDGRN was a great addition to this epic lineup, helping to […]
DARENOTS unleash “Murda Whistle” video | Top Shelf Reggae
Toronto-based band DARENOTS are at it again, this time visually displaying their antics in the video for their latest single, “Murda Whistle”. Set to black-and-white and featuring disorienting blurs, the video weaves between an insider look of the band members themselves and what life is like for them on the road. Specifically, what life is […]
Experiencing Katchafire’s Legacy Tour | Top Shelf Reggae
New Zealand natives and legendary roots reggae band Katchafire has been busy traveling the nation this past year on their Katchafire Legacy Tour: Celebrating Twenty Years of Fiyah! The tour started in the spring of 2017, where they hit several states spanning from the east to west coast with Hawaiian reggae band, Inna Vision. This […]
Jimmy Cliff celebrates “Life” in new video | Top Shelf Reggae
Dr. Jimmy Cliff is renowned to be reggae's first global superstar, garnering himself a GRAMMY, the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame and numerous other merits along the way. Now at the age of 69, Cliff continues his commendable career by celebrating the present in his new “Life” single and music video. The track hit digital […]
Stick Figure “In This Love” official video | Top Shelf Reggae
Stick Figure released a music video for “In this Love” off of their latest album Set in Stone, in support of their New Year’s Eve show announcement. “In This Love,” comes from the musical imagination of Scott Woodruff and creates a vibrant sonic soundscape and the music video reflects just that. The Rasta gradient overlay […]
Introducing the 1st Annual Desert Oasis Music Festival | Top Shelf Reggae
The Empire Polo Club in Indio, California is not only home to year-round polo tournaments, but also to a handful of choice music festivals since 1993 – most notably Coachella and Stagecoach. Tucked away in the Coachella Valley near Palm Springs, the grounds transform annually into a cultural experience immeasurable to any other (depending on […]
The Broken Crowns Tour with Matisyahu and Common Kings | Top Shelf Reggae
Internationally recognized reggae artist Matisyahu has announced his upcoming “The Broken Crowns Tour” featuring support from Orange County rock-reggae outfit Common Kings and brand new Matisyahu produced project Orphan. Matisyahu had this to say about the new group: “Orphan is a new band I signed currently living and making music out of my home. All […]
A sit down with Easy Star All Stars at Cali Roots 2017 | Top Shelf Reggae
Kristy Rose of Top Shelf Reggae catches up with Easy Star All Stars before their premiere set at the 8th Annual California Roots Music and Arts Festival. The band's Cali Roots performance kicks off an entire west coast tour, so learn the details about that, their next project and their thoughts on chilaquiles. And, don't forget […]
Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley – R.O.A.R. video | Top Shelf Reggae
Coming this July 21, youngest son of reggae legend Bob Marley, Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley will release Stony Hill, the artist's first solo album since 2005’s Grammy Award winning Welcome to Jamrock. In advance of the album release, Damian Marley has shared a brand new video for the single “R.O.A.R.” and fall tour announcement. Tickets […]
Cali Roots 2017: Day Three | Top Shelf Reggae
The final day of California Roots 2017 had arrived, but what a Sunday Funday it turned out to be! With the best music on the horizon, everyone arrived at the Monterey Fairgrounds stoked. First up was Ballyhoo!, followed by RDGLDGRN on the Bowl Stage and Roots of Creation kicking off the OG Stage. Jah9 poured […]
The Holdup release new single “Solid” | Top Shelf Reggae
Since the critical acclaim success of their 2011 debut album titled Still Gold, reggae and music lovers have been clamoring and anxiously waiting for new music from California based reggae band The Holdup. Since releasing their debut album the band has garnered a great deal of commercial success and moved on to sell tens of […]