NEWPORT, RI, May 6, 2010 -- The Newport Yachting Center announces that the eighth date of this summer's 13th Annual Nantucket Nectars Sunset Music Series is an entirely new concept for the venue. The Newport Waterfront Reggae Festival, featuring The Original Wailers, John Brown’s Body, Soulshot (with special guest Doreen Shaffer of the Skatalites), The Ravers and Rebel Heat, will be on Saturday, August 14th from Noon to approximately 9:30 p.m. Tickets for the Reggae Festival will go on sale starting this Friday, May 7th at 10:00 a.m. and will be available at tiered prices of $45 and $30. Tickets for all the Sunset Music Series shows can be purchased on-line at www.newportwaterfrontevents.com by using the ClickNPrint system which offers the benefit of “at home” ticket printing. In addition, those interested in tickets can call the Newport Yachting Center Box Office at (401) 846-1600.

 

“What better location in Rhode Island to do a Reggae Festival – on the waterfront, on an ‘island’ and in the peak of the summer,” said Michele Maker Palmieri, General Manager of the Newport Yachting Center. “NYC is known for its music and cultural events and we think a Reggae Festival is a natural fit and hope it becomes a summer tradition in the ‘City by the Sea.’ Of course, the music is the key ingredient and we’ve secured a powerful line-up of international, national, regional and local acts featuring a great mix of reggae, roots and ska!”

 

The only true torchbearers of Bob Marley’s legacy, for two years now Al Anderson and Junior Marvin have spread the message of “One Love” with their band, The Original Wailers. It was these celebrated musicians who toured and recorded with Marley until his death in 1981 and helped give him the platform for his explosive brand of roots rock reggae. Anderson, an American born guitarist, joined the Wailers in 1974 just before Natty Dread became Bob Marley and the Wailers’ breakthrough album in the United States. It was Anderson’s playing on hits like “No Woman No Cry” that first alerted rock fans to the Wailers’ music. Marley enrolled singer/guitarist, Marvin, in the Wailers during the sessions for the Exodus and Kaya albums, shortly before the band’s legendary appearance at London’s Rainbow Theatre in 1977. A former rock artist, Marvin’s solos on tracks like “Waiting in Vain, “The Heathen” and “Jammin” have proven unforgettable, confirming him as one of reggae’s premier instrumentalists. The Original Wailers plan a release of new material in late 2010.

 

John Brown’s Body categorizes it music as “Future Roots” with reggae as a foundation, but incorporates dub, drum and bass, dancehall, hip-hop and other musical experiments and exploration to create a sound both timeless and forward. The progressive band from Boston, MA and Ithaca, NY was recently described as “reverent and revolutionary” by New York Daily News and their latest album, Amplify, debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Reggae Chart. The 8-piece band’s killer live show has super heavy rhythms, a three-piece horn section, airtight drum and bass and “the most gorgeous melodies in all of modern reggae music”, according to All Music Guide. “I think that the strongest reggae came out of the UK in the 70's and early 80's,” explains bandleader, Elliot Martin. “It was the best produced, had the most complex songwriting; it’s the most progressive reggae that's been made. Steel Pulse, Aswad, Reggae Regular, Misty in Roots, Mikey Dread, Dennis Bovell and Linton Kwesi Johnson were doing groundbreaking stuff. I want to pick up where those artists left off. I think that's where the idea comes from—that reggae can take other forms.” John Brown’s Body has performed with a variety of groups representing a wide-range of genres, including well-known acts such as: Dave Matthews Band, The Flaming Lips, STS9, Furthur, Ozomatli, Broken Social Scene, and Jurassic 5.

 

Rounding out the Festival is Soulshot, New England’s premier Jamaican style ska, rocksteady and reggae band. Formed in 2003, Soulshot is known for its many gigs in the U.S. and Jamaica with legendary singer/songwriter/guitarist Ernie Smith, as well as work with Dalton "Screwdriver" Lindo locally. The band has performed with: Alton Ellis, Maasai, Dub Squad, Roger Robin, Wilson Blue and the Blue Roots, The Agents, Dub Station, Pressure Cooker, Agitators and the Skatalites. In fact, Kingston, Jamaica-born, Doreen Shaffer, vocalist from the legendary ska band, the Skatalites, will be Soulshot’s special guest.

 

Newport’s own, The Ravers. founded by Eric "Boofish" Barclay, Carey Bowman and Adam Alechio, has been playing its reggae-influenced music to local, enthusiastic crowds for more than two decades now. Current members include: Carey Bowman (vocals), Adam Alechio (guitar), Ray Gennari (bass), Doug Ernest (drums), Steve Cerilli (keys), Curt Ramm (trumpet), Dan Moretti (sax) and Gerard Ramm (Sax). Rebel Heat is another popular local reggae band based in Smithfield, RI.

 

The rest of the Nantucket Nectars Sunset Music Series line-up to-date is as follows:

 

DATE  |  PERFORMER  |  TICKET PRICES

 

Sat., June. 26  |  John Hiatt and The Combo  |  $45 preferred/$30 standard

Opening Act: Adam Ezra. Courtyard Stage: Marc Douglas Berardo.

 

Fri., July 2  |  BOZ SCAGGS  |  $77 preferred/$62 standard

Opening Act: TBD.  Courtyard Stage: John Fuzek.

 

Sat., July 17  |  CAKE  |  $50 preferred/$35 standard

Opening Act: TBD. Courtyard Stage: Kim Lamothe.

 

Sat., July, 24  |  THE BLIND BOYS OF ALABAMA   |  $40 preferred/$25 standard

Special Guest: The Duke Robillard Band. Courtyard Stage: Ed McGuirl.

 

Thurs., July, 29  |  THE INDIGO GIRLS  |  $50 preferred/$35 standard

Opening Act: TBD. Courtyard Stage: Emily Smith and Synergy.

 

Fri., July 30  |  George Thorogood & The Destroyers  |  $47 preferred/$32 standard         

Opening Act: TBD. Courtyard Stage: John Windle.

 

Fri., August 6   |  The Machine Performs Pink Floyd With Interstellar Laser Show  |  $35 preferred/$20 standard                                     

Courtyard Stage: The Acoustic Duo. (No opener due to it being a 3 hour show.)

 

The Newport Yachting Center is located on the waterfront in the heart of historic downtown Newport right off America's Cup Avenue. For each night of the Nantucket Nectars Sunset Music Series (except for The Machine concert and The Newport Waterfront Reggae Festival), the gates will open at 5:30 p.m., music starts on the Courtyard Stage at 6:00 p.m., the opening act/special guest begins at 7:00 p.m. on the Main Stage, and the headliner starts at approximately8:00 p.m.

 

The gates for The Machine concert will open at 5:30 p.m., music starts on the Courtyard Stage at 6:00 p.m. and the headliner starts at approximately7:00 p.m. (no opening act). Gates open for the Newport Waterfront Reggae Festival at noon with the first of the three acts (Rebel Heat, The Ravers and then Soulshot) on the Courtyard Stage starting at 12:30 p.m. The headliner acts for the Reggae Festival (John’s Brown’s Body and then The Original Wailers) will be featured on the Main Stage and start at 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., respectively. A reserved tiered ticket must be purchased for venue entry for this Festival. Each ticket will guarantee a reserved seat for the Main Stage (tented area) and grant access to the Courtyard Stage which is open air. The Festival will end by approximately 9:30 p.m.

 

In addition to Nantucket Nectars, the Series’ other major sponsors include: Miller Lite, Dunkin’ Donuts, SVEDKA Vodka, Bacardi Rum, Popsicle, Newport Marriott, Matlet Group and Sovereign Bank.

 

For more information on the Nantucket Nectars Sunset Music Series, please go on-line at www.newportwaterfrontevents.com or contact Michele Maker Palmieri, General Manager at the Newport Yachting Center, 4 Commercial Wharf in Newport, at (401) 846-1600, Ext. 222.

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There’s something for everyone at the Newport Yachting Center’s Newport Waterfront Events. The 2010 line-up includes the 29th Annual Knorr Great Chowder Cook-Off (June 5), the 13th Annual Nantucket Nectars Sunset Music Series and the 10th Annual Newport Summer Comedy Series (both held throughout the summer), Newport WineFest (August 20-22), the Newport Arts Festival (August 28-29); the 13th Annual Newport Waterfront Irish Festival (September 4 -6), the 40th Annual Newport International Boat Show (September 16-19), the 22nd Annual Stop & Shop Tastes of Rhode Island (October 2-3) and the 18th Annual International Oktoberfest (October 9-11). All the events are held at the Newport Yachting Center where all events meet the waterfront and downtown Newport activities are often a part of the pre- or post-event. Visit us at newportwaterfrontevents.com, become a fan on Facebook at facebook.com/waterfrontevents, or follow NewportEvents on Twitter for the latest news, announcements, contests, and exclusive discounts and offers.