Hovering over the stereo, record, play and pause buttons engaged, waiting to unleash the spinning of the tape deck the second that favorite new song starts on the radio. Notepad open to the right as the order of the latest mixtape is charted out, this one guaranteed to prove those tastemaker skills to its unexpecting recipient.… Read More
I’m sitting on a plane on my way back to the Midwest. I’m coming from the bright West Coast where I attended California Roots Festival in Monterey, California, for the fourth year in a row. The sunburn is finally starting to fade from my cheeks and chest, but I have memories of this blissful weekend that have not yet faded (although some are a bit hazy—largely due to the herb smoke that came at me from every direction over the course of three days, which was great if you ask me).… Read More
Part 1.
Three years ago yesterday I sent a message to the Rootfire email list offering to give away a piece of audio equipment. The list was in its infancy with 35 people total (today it’s around 3,600).
This was the message:
APC 40 Giveaway Details – Feb 2, 2013
We hope to expand the perception of reggae, dub, roots, downbeat, etc- into a mixtape series which blends the genres into a stream that sounds like progressive roots music.… Read More
Straight out of Kingston, Jamaica, Raging Fyah brings their first mixtape of albums Judgement Day and Destiny hosted by Jah Warrior Shelter Hi-Fi. Raging Fyah will be on a west coast promo tour starting in Santa Cruz and ending 11/24 in Brooklyn, NY.… Read More
Issue #7 turns the page on a new chapter at Rootfire. It was the first time we really asked to hear from you, and the stories you sent in were incredible. The whole thing started with Keenan Donath, who introduced Fortunate Youth's new single "My Love", but it reached new heights with all the amazing messages you sent during our vinyl and concert ticket giveaways.
