Boston Reggae Scene - August

http://theedge.bostonherald.com/musicNews/view.bg?articleid=153343&format=text

Reggae, set, go! Summer’s right for triple shot of island music fests
By Chris Faraone
Friday, August 18, 2006 - Updated: 12:11 PM EST

Compared with most northern cities, Boston is a reggae metropolis. With roots reggae and dancehall venues such as Bill’s Bar and the Western Front, Beantown’s proximity to the ocean (never mind the water temperature) and thousands of spliff-toking college kids, one might even say Boston put the “mon” in commonwealth.
This summer proves the point. The next two weeks bring three Jamaican sound blowouts at the Bank of America Pavilion: tomorrow’s Reggae Sunsplash; the Roots Rock Reggae Festival on Thursday; and the One Love Harborfest on Aug. 31.
“The opportunity to have all three festivals came around the same time,” said Boston reggae personality Paul Parara, whose Ingenius Concepts is promoting the shows, “we didn’t think that this would actually happen. But then Sunsplash came back after a 10-year hiatus, so we just tied them all in as the Waterfront Reggae Festival.”
Fans can buy a ticket to one show for $35, to two for $60 or to all three for $75.
Parara admits that promoting this convergence of shows is a challenge with most college students still on summer break. But he’s encouraged by Boston’s long-term love affair with reggae, a romance that dates back to 1972 when the cult movie “The Harder They Come” starring Jimmy Cliff became a staple at the former Orson Welles movie theater in Cambridge, where it screened regularly for years. According to Parara, VP Records, which produces many of today’s reggae hits, believes Boston is the biggest American market for reggae after New York and Miami. And each of the festival shows offers fans something different.
“Sunsplash and Roots Rock (Reggae Fest) will be a little more relaxed, dreadlocks-slowly-swinging-through-the-air type of shows,” said DJ G-Smith (real name: Gerry Smith), who hosts the reggae program “Rockers” on WERS-FM (88.9). “They’ll be like your quintessential hippie-type reggae festivals.”
The three festivals offer something for fans of every shade of reggae, Smith said, from Bob Marley-type roots styles to more aggressive dancehall flavor.
Sunsplash is the rootsiest, most traditional of the fests. Its lineup includes Toots & the Maytals, the group credited with first using the word “reggae” in a song, veterans Third World and Maxi Priest and British stars UB40.
Different reggae generations come together at Thursday’s Roots, Rock, Reggae Fest to pay tribute to the late Bob Marley. Two of the international reggae legend’s most prolific sons, Ziggy, 37, and Stephen, 34, share the stage with the reclusive Bunny Wailer, the last living member of the original Wailers trio of Bunny, Bob Marley and Peter Tosh.
“Bunny Wailer is a reggae legend dating back to Bob Marley’s days,” Smith said. “This is a rare opportunity. He hasn’t been here in years, so it’s going to be great for his older fans to finally get to see him.”
Roots Rock Reggae, the most eclectic of the festivals, also features Ozomatli, a California group that blends reggae, hip-hop and Latin sounds into a politically charged repertoire.
Finally, there’s the One Love Harborfest.
“Dancehall is the primary difference at One Love,” Smith said, referring to the quick vocal delivery and jumpy club beats that are sure to crash down at the final show.
“But there’s more to it,” Smith said. “Buju Banton also does a culture set, which is kind of like new reggae that sounds more rootsy. And Capleton mixes it up throughout his performance, too.”
The bill also features Gregory Isaacs, who has maintained his popularity after creating the lovers rock style of reggae in the ’70s.
“You can’t go wrong with any three of these shows,” Smith said. “I can honestly say that I think older reggae fans would even enjoy themselves at the One Love fest. Sure, it’s gonna be more hype and there might be a younger crowd, but nobody should be scared off by dancehall. It’s just a really good time. It’s all just reggae.”
Reggae Sunsplash tomorrow; Roots Rock Reggae Festival, Thursday; One Love Harborfest, Aug. 31, at the Bank of America Pavilion. Tickets are $35 for one show, $60 for two shows, $75 for three shows, plus service charges. Call 617-228-6000.