Rootz Underground, known for their signature blend of contemporary roots reggae with rock, dub and jazz influence, releases their highly anticipated debut album Movement on March 4th, 2008 on Riverstone Records/Mystic Urchin via Ryko/Warner Music Group.

Rootz Underground is the ultimate live music experience, harkens back to the classic reggae bands of the 70’s and 80’s (Bob Marley and The Wailers, Steel Pulse and Third World). Their fresh fusion of musical genres and beautiful instrumentation has scored them #1 hits and a devoted fan base in their home of Jamaica. In March, the band sets sail to tour the United States with Gregory Isaacs and perform at this year’s South by Southwest Music Festival in Austin, TX.

Their debut album Movement serves up rich sounds full of careful layers with universal and honest lyrics. The songs have a serious rock music sensibility with breakdowns into hard-hitting grooves, intense builds and smooth transitions back to the one-drop reggae rhythm. The album’s compelling hit “Victims of the System,” remained #1 on Jamaica’s MTV Tempo Cross Caribbean Countdown for so long that they had to retire the video. The current tune “Hammer,” produced by the reggae/dancehall genius Bobby Digital, has been steadily making impressions in Jamaica. It’s new video recently debuted on Jamaica’s Entertainment Report on TVJ and is currently being serviced in the US. This 14-song set is an eclectic mix that will appeal to a wide range of music enthusiasts.

They have become a favorite of the Marley family and were asked to join them at their annual Welcome To Jamrock show in Kingston this past December and will continue more dates with them in the future. On March 15th, the band will make their Texas debut at the SXSW Music Festival as the headlining act at Flamingo Cantina on an eclectic showcase with other genre bending “reggae” artists. Line up is below.

Saturday 3/14 Flamingo Cantina
1:00 a.m. – 2:00 a.m. – Rootz Underground (Jamaica)
12:00 a.m. – 12:40 a.m. - Grimy Styles (Austin, TX)
11:00 p.m. – 11:40 p.m. - Dokkebi Q (London, Korea, Japan)
10:00 p.m. – 10:40 p.m. - Cherine Anderson (Jamiaca)
9:00 p.m. – 9:40 p.m. – Katchafire (New Zealand)
8:00 p.m. – 8:40 p.m. – Mau Mau Chaplains (Austin, TX)
DJ QUEEN MAJESTY ALL NIGHT

Original post by matt

Posted: March 4th, 2008 under Matt Sonzala, Music Festival, Latest News.
Comments: 1

The fires hath been quelled on the Norwegian metal scene. Fifteen years ago, it was awry with stories of church burnings and rituals ruling the hills and fjords of the northernmost parts of one of the worlds northernmost nations as some of the genres most noted performers, took to actually acting out some of the depraved things they sing about.

Burning churches, and such.

Scandinavian metal is extreme, but the artists of today have come to realize that it doesn’t necessarily have to become a lifestyle choice.

So they persist, and this year at SXSW we are very happy to announce that we are presenting the cream of the crop (at the least the ones who never burned churches and can still get Visas) from the Scandinavian metal scene.

Seeing the light of day for literally the first time in months, right here in Austin, TX, Enslaved, Sabaton, Avatar, Goat the Head and 1349 will all share the stage at Red 7 Patio on Friday March 14th.

As long as no one throws a goat head at the police station across the street, everything should be fine.

Original post by matt

Posted: February 19th, 2008 under Matt Sonzala, Music Festival, Latest News.
Comments: none