Bob Marley "King of Reggae" Birthday Celebration @ Lee's Palace, Saturday

The Pressure Drop & Bless Up selectas will be spinning reggae gems on vinyl in Bob Marley's honour at Lee's Palace on Saturday.

The 20th Anniversary of "King Of Reggae" Birthday Bash – Toronto’s longest-running Bob Marley birthday tribute takes place on Saturday, February 7th at Lee’s Palace (529 Bloor St. West), featuring Reggaddiction, Kairo McLean & Friendlyness, Pressure Drop & Bless Up selectas and more starting at 9 pm!

NuFunk Concerts proudly presents the city’s largest and longest-standing celebration of Bob Marley’s legacy. This iconic annual event showcases top-tier reggae talent while giving back to the community through food donations in support of the Parkdale Food Bank.

Join us at Lee’s Palace for an unforgettable night of live reggae. Enjoy a full set from the 10-piece powerhouse Reggaddiction, along with special surprise guests. The event also features exciting prize giveaways and a vibrant craft market. Tickets are $23.53 advance and available right here.

Hail up to Pressure Drop Selectors — DJs Guv’nor General and Chuck Boom. True legends of the Toronto reggae scene, from their early days at The Embassy in Kensington Market to their long-running annual Boxing Day Fundraiser. Over the years, they’ve shared stages with icons like Sister Nancy, Junior Cat, Stranger Cole, Carol Brown, Dub Connection Sound System, Jah Tubby’s, and Deadly Dragon Sound System featuring Screechy Dan.

No strangers to the Bob Marley Birthday Tribute, we’re blessed to welcome them back once again—spinning strictly 45s: roots reggae, rub-a-dub, dancehall, dub, rocksteady, and ska—fully powered by the 15,000-watt Bless Up Sound System. 

Check out the event preview clip along with some vintage Bob Marley footage.

Remembering keyboardist Earl "Wire" Lindo on his birthday

Remembering Wailers keyboardist Earl Lindo with a few recordings and video clips including Bob Marley's "Redemption Song." 

Dave "Robbo" Robinson talks about Stiff Records and much more

Listen to Stiff Records mainman Dave Robinson talk about working as a photographer, band manager and label honcho. 

You can catch Dave Robinson on his UK speaking tour. Read an interview with Dave Schulps right here.

Happy Bob Marley Day!

Remembering the late great Bob Marley with the Lee Perry-tweaked gem "Who Is Mr. Brown" on the Upsetter label. 

Celebrate Bob Marley's birthday at Lee's Palace on Saturday (February 11) from 9pm till 2am!

Soul Jazz issues Studio One Ska Fire! singles box for RSD

The limited-run Studio One Ska Fire! box includes ska gems from Bob Marley, The Maytals, Lee Perry & The Skatalites.  

Here's the scoop... 

Soul Jazz Records are releasing the Studio One Ska Fire! box set, a limited-edition one-off pressing exclusive for Record Store Day 2021 on July 17. The collectors seven-inch box set includes 10 amazing and super-rare Studio One ska tracks on five 7” singles, all produced with separate inner sleeves. Featuring The Skatalites, Lee Perry, Toots and the Maytals, Bob Marley and The Wailers, Don Drummond, Jackie Opel, Derrick Morgan, The Ethiopians and more – a who’s who of the biggest names in reggae history! Rare and classic original ska tracks from Jamaica's no.1 record label, all recorded by Clement ‘Sir Coxsone’ Dodd at Studio One Records. All tracks have been digitally remastered and the singles come housed in a thick, heavyweight card box.

Check the track list following the clips of Lee Perry's "Open Up," The Skatalites (Rolando Al & The Soul Brothers) "Something Special" and The Regals' "Shammy Back"

RECORD 1

A: Bob Marley and The Wailers – Rude Boy

AA: Derrick Morgan – It’s Alright

RECORD 2

A: Don Drummond – Don D Special

AA: The Maytals – A Man Who Knows

RECORD 3

A: The Skatalites – Something Special

AA: Lee Perry – Open Up (aka Cook Book)

RECORD 4

A: The Regals – Shammy Back

AA: Bob Marley and The Wailers – Diamond Baby

RECORD 5

A: Jackie Opel – The Mill Man

AA: Ethiopians – I Am Free

See Antibalas w/ Zap Mama @ Koerner Hall, Saturday

In honour of Bob Marley's birthday, here's a 2013 Antibalas peformance of Rat Race on KEXP.  Photo by Marina Abadjieff

Bob Marley vs. James Brown

There's no mistaking the James Brown inspiration on the Wailers' amped up Black Progress. 

RIP Amiri Baraka, 1934-2014

Amiri Baraka performs Wailers from Ron Mann's 1982 documentary Poetry In Motion below. 

Jay Douglas @ Harbourfront, Saturday

Jamaica To Toronto star Jay Douglas kicks off Harbourfront's Island Soul fest tonight at 7:30 pm.

Acclaimed Lee Perry doc hits Toronto Friday

Along with being one of the most important figures in the evolution of modern Jamaican music, visionary producer, performer and prankster Lee "Scratch" Perry is also among the most enigmatic.
To try getting a handle on Perry's colourful and often crazy life story where Bob Marley, Paul McCartney and The Clash play support roles, American filmmakers Ethan Higbee and Adam Bhala Lough traveled to Switzerland five years ago for a first-hand account of his 70 years on earth. They wound up with The Upsetter: The Life and Music of Lee Scratch Perry a revealing feature-length documentary which puts Perry's far-reaching influence into proper perspective while charting the last 35 years of reggae music and culture.
The Upsetter screens as part of the monthly Undercurrents at the Underground series at Toronto Underground Cinema (186 Spadina) on Friday (October 7) at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $10 at the door.
 

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