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Rootfire: Progressive Roots

Unsung Heroes: Ralph DuJour aka Ralphtafari

One of the real musical giants in our area is bandleader/bassist for Crucial Fiya reggae band, Ralph Dujour, out of Raleigh, NC. Ralph plays with passion and to those who see him live, expresses the ground-up presence of the bass. For years, Ralph and his band, Crucial Fiya, have been performing their original music, touring and backing reggae legends such as Frankie Paul, Everton Blender, Glen Washington, Johnny Osborne, Turbulence, Mikey Dread, The Itals, The Meditations, Luciano, Fanton Mojah, Anthony B.,… Read More

By CARL BLACKMON on FEB 1, 2023

First Listen Premiere: ANORA -“Mama”

By BROOKE KING on JAN 24, 2023

Vinyl Giveaway: Bunny ‘Striker’ Lee “Who Wants Some?”

Win a copy of Bunny ‘Striker’ Lee’s “Who Wants Some?” vinyl LP courtesy of VP Records. Enter below.

Bunny ‘Striker’ Lee aka ‘The Gorgon’ is heralded as one of the great Jamaican music producers of all time and a true titan of his industry, earning the title ‘The Hitmaker From Jamaica.’… Read More

By BRADEN BECK on JAN 20, 2023

Irie Souljah – ‘What It Feels Like’

Irie Souljah Delivers New Single ‘What It Feels Like’. OUT NOW!

Download / Stream

Jamaica by way of Spain Reggae artist Irie Souljah delivers his new single ‘What It Feels Like’, a romantic poppy Reggae track full of upbeat feel-good vibes.… Read More

By GUEST POST on JAN 15, 2023

Unsung Heroes: Ric Williams

By CARL BLACKMON on DEC 29, 2022

First Listen Premiere: Pure Roots – “Higgler Move”

By BROOKE KING on DEC 17, 2022

Echoes from the Northern Most Point of the Caribbean: The Impact of New Orleans on Jamaican Popular Music

Colloquially, New Orleans has been called the northernmost point of the Caribbean. But what does that mean beyond its role as a major port of trade?

In the late 1940s and 50s, the piano kings of New Orleans were lighting a fire that would eventually be called rock and roll.… Read More

By MADDIE RUTHLESS on NOV 29, 2022

Unsung Heroes: Chris “Peanut” Whitley

When I first started learning keyboards as a teenager, I would hear stories from other musicians about this great keyboard player named “Peanut” who lives in Virginia and has played for all the reggae greats. Through the years, I heard the music he produced with singers, and would see him play with acts like Culture and The Itals, as well as many others.… Read More

By CARL BLACKMON on NOV 21, 2022

Album Showcase: SunDub – “Spirits Eat Music”

Bump up your speakers and make you believers in good vibes again

— SunDub “Jump and Dance”

Last week, Brooklyn-based SunDub released a reggae masterpiece. Titled Spirits Eat Music, like the lyrical excerpt above says, this collection of pure reggae perfection will brighten moods, kindle consciousness and prompt boogie. As… Read More

By DAVE SHIFFMAN on NOV 16, 2022

Album Showcase: The Movement – “Always With Me”

My introduction to The Movement occurred over a decade ago with their 2008 album, Set Sail. Instantly, this album vaulted to one of my favorites of all time, where it remains today, now amongst more recent LPs from these rising reggae-rock stars.… Read More

By DAVE SHIFFMAN on NOV 8, 2022

VIP Ticket Giveaway: Cali Vibes Festival 2023

Rootfire is giving away a pair of 3-day VIP passes to Cali Vibes Festival 2023.

California Vibrations “Cali Vibes” is taking place on Presidents’ Day weekend Friday, February 17 through Sunday, February 19, 2023, at Marina Green Park in Long Beach, CA.… Read More

By GUEST POST on NOV 3, 2022

Unsung Heroes: Amani Smith

In the late eighties and early nineties, if you wanted reggae music, it was probably coming from RAS Records, straight out of Washington D.C. They had a mail order catalog (pre-internet) and were the publisher for a lot of the famous acts coming out of Jamaica at the time.… Read More

By CARL BLACKMON on OCT 25, 2022