New Kingston formed in 2006 in the basement of their Brooklyn home, when brothers Tahir (keys), Courtney Jr. (drums) & Stephen (guitar) began covering music by the likes of Bob Marley, Earth Wind & Fire, Dennis Brown, Michael Jackson, The Whispers and many more. The three brothers, under the watchful eye of their father (and bassist) Courtney Panton Sr., called themselves New Kingston to appropriately reflect a combination of their Jamaican heritage and their present lives in progressive New York City. The musical styles of both places informed their sound and songwriting.
"We used to come home from school and we'd be marched right down to the music room by our dad," said Stephen. They began performing in other basements and small backyard parties around town, all the while developing their skills and beginning to write their own original music. Talent rises to the top, and soon enough New Kingston started a heavy touring cycle supporting reggae stars such as Rebelution, The Green, SOJA, Matisyahu, Beres Hammond and Collie Buddz, while also securing spots on notable festivals such as the California Roots Festival, Reggae On The River, Summer Jam (Germany), and Uppsala Reggae Festival (Sweden), to name a few. For a while, they joined Collie Buddz to tour as his backing band, which exposed them to international audiences, while continuing their education on what it takes to make a great live show. It also helped them realize they had tons of their own original material and they quickly moved from that role to being a headliner on their own. The band's background and upbringing are reflected in their approach to the industry, as well: they are truly a U.S. reggae band, part of the movement that has revitalized and evolved the genre domestically, with a focus on digital marketing, heavy national touring, and never sticking to a stale formula for what reggae should sound like. As second generation Jamaican-Americans, they are able to just as easily hold their own with the traditional reggae scene. New Kingston self-released two full-length albums: In The Streets (2010) and Kingston University (2013). The band recently announced the signing to New York-based reggae label Easy Star Records and will release their third studio album Kingston City on January 27, 2015. The record features collaborations with Tribal Seeds, Kimie Miner, France's Dub Inc., Sister Carol, The Wailing Souls, and the late, great father of dancehall, Sugar Minott. If that guest list doesn't give you a snapshot of the combination of the old world and new horizons that New Kingston is all about, nothing will.
Based out of Laie, Hawaii, brothers Tui Avei (Lead vocals), and Tau Avei (Vocals), along with cousin Josh Brunson (Vocals) are the voices. Built on a roots reggae foundation with influences from various genres like Hip-hop, R&B, and jazz, The Late Ones' unique blend of style, and harmony shapes a youthful, yet old school reggae vibe.
Born in Gardena, California, The Late Ones harness something undeniably special. Rooted in Samoan culture, and complimented by the group's African American heritage, the familial bond between the three members transcends throughout the group's conscious lyrics and catchy melodies.
The name "The Late Ones" pays tribute to all of the late and great revolutionaries who have come and gone like Bob Marley, Tupac, Jimi Hendrix, Steve Biko, John Lennon and also present day legends including Jurassic 5, Steel Pulse, Kendrick Lamar and Ab-Soul just to name a few. It is the fusion of each revolutionary story, struggle, and message that inspires and resonates with The Late Ones' own story, struggle, and love for all genres of music.
Check out their website
here.
The Elovaters
The Elovaters are Reggae/Rock/Funk band hailing from Boston, Massachusetts. The band is fronted by lead singer/songwriter/rhythm guitarist Jackson Wetherbee who has toured internationally. The Elovaters also feature musicians formerly of New England Music Award winning bands; The Aldous Collins Band and Last Call. The sound is similar to that of UB40, The Police, Sublime and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Their show is fun, energetic and has festive crowds dancing, grooving, and singing along.
Check out their website
here.
The Big Takeover
Since 2007, the New York six-piece The Big Takeover has been fulfilling the mission implied intheir name: packing clubs in the city and upstate and building their brand and reputation on the road and in the studio. A far cry from the pop-punk of American ska, The Big Takeover take their cues from Desmond Dekker and the first wave of Jamaican pop music as well as from the soulful energy and sophistication of Motown. At the center of this tight, grooving ensemble is the live-wire singing and deceptively subtle songwriting of the Jamaican-born NeeNee Rushie, a power house performer who makes the audience feel like accomplices more than spectators.Traditional and experimental, The Big Takeover's global blend reveals deep fluency in reggae and world music, hints of soul, and a pop classicism that is their own thing entirely. In New York's musically hopping Mid-Hudson Valley, they are only the band around that is welcomed and honored at all the major national-circuit rooms: the indie/experimental haven of BSP in Kingston, the jazz and blues gem that is the Falcon in Marlboro, the classic rock mecca of the Bearsville Theater in Woodstock. The Big Takeover packs them all. On the road, the band has played nearly 700 shows, sharing stages with The Original Wailers, Jefferson Starship, Eek-a-Mouse, English Beat, the Slackers and more. The band was selected to participate in a Converse Rubber Tracks Session in Brooklyn NY. Most recently, the band toured around the US on their 4th studio record "Silly Girl", in August of 2017. In October 2017, 'Silly Girl' was placed on Relix/Jambands.com charts They are currently working on an upcoming EP in the studio.
Check out their website
here.
The Duppy Conquerors
The Duppy Conquerors, are dedicated to the spirit of Bob Marley's Music.
Duppy Conquerors are the quintessential testimonial to Bob Marley. Named after Bob Marley's hit song entitled "Duppy Conqueror," the term Duppy Conqueror means "killer of bad spirits," and that they are! The Duppy Conquerors will, "Lively up yourself," as you're jammin' to Bob Marley's music! Collectively, Duppy Conquerors have performed or shared the stage with: The Wailers, Ziggy Marley, The Skatalites, Jackie Mittoo, U-Roy, Black Uhuru, Mikey Dread, Sugar Minott, Sly & Robbie, Gregory Isaacs, Dennis Brown, Yellowman, Eek-A-Mouse, Steel Pulse, Toots & The Maytals, Roland Alphonso, Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace, Lloyd Knibb, Laurel Aitken, Lord Tanamo, Gil Scott Heron, Babatunde Olatunji, Richie Havens, and many more!
The Alchemystics
Fueled by their passion to explore beyond the edges of traditional musical boundaries and their diverse ethnic and musical backgrounds, the Alchemystics blend reggae, politically infused hip-hop, gritty soul, hard-driving rock, and pulsing Jamaican, Cuban and Trinidadian rhythms into an utterly unique and distinctively original new sound. The result is modern-day roots music with global appeal - an alchemy of ancient musical traditions; intricate, intelligent wordplay; elementally raw soul; irresistible hooks; deep, driving rhythms; and old-school vocal harmonies - fired by the Alchemystics' unique blend of intensity, passion, and sheer artistic chemistry into a powerful, contemporary, and unmistakable sound.
Check out their website
here.
Gorilla Finger Dub
Gorilla finger is a 6 piece reggae band from Southern Maine. The groups sound is an aggressive take on roots reggae while maintaining a very relaxed atmosphere. Originally inspired by the late Bob Marley the band quickly fell into it's own releasing an original record titled cool it down. Over the last 7 years the band has shared the stage with many top ranking acts such as Ziggy Marley, J Boog, Steel Pulse and Inner Circle.
Check out their Facebook
here.
Green Lion Crew
At the controls of a potent dancefloor experience that draws from reggae dancehall, hip hop and the synthy beats of urban electro, producer/DJ Green Lion is a sonic craftsman at home both on the decks and in the studio. Honed in the heated atmosphere of Jamaican sound system culture and a constant schedule of live club and concert dates in the United States, all Green Lion productions-on record, over the air or live and direct-are energetic affairs designed to set bodies in motion. Green Lion's movements are coming fast and furious now as charting success and critical acclaim for recent productions with reggae and crossover tastemakers such Chronixx, Kabaka Pyramid, Beenie Man, Mr Williamz and Collie Buddz lock in spots on international sales charts and heavy rotation on commercial radio around the world.
Check out their website
here.
