Green 4 Life goes for roots reggae

It is coincidental, but appropriate, that the first Green 4 Life Eco-Music Festival takes place on Saturday, July 2, a day after International Reggae Day 2011. Green 4 Life will be at Rivfalls, Maggoty, St Elizabeth.

The major concert segment of the festival, which starts at 5 p.m., is strong on roots reggae, with Protoje, Admiral Tibet, Uprising Roots Band, The Jays, Marcus I, Angie Faith, Jack Radics and Bescenta all deeply rooted in the music of pulsing drum and bass, along with meaningful lyrics.

And Yolande Rattray-Wright of the Wright Agency, which is organising Green 4 Life along with Earthbound Jamaica, points out that the performers who are not immediately identifiable with roots music - among them Noddy Virtue, Lovindeer, Hezron, Stevie Face and Nesbeth - utilise roots reggae beats extensively.

"This is the rhythm that the world really loves Jamaica for, more than all the others that we have made, like ska and dancehall," Rattray-Wright said. "This is the music that fits in with the surroundings that Green 4 Life is set in - it moves your soul."

More relaxed music

She pointed out that there are artistes on Green 4 Life who go for more uptempo dancehall style beats, such as Professor Nuts, Stacious, Lady G and D'Angel. However, Rattray-Wright said they are either also very comfortable with roots reggae rhythms or - as is especially the case for the side-splitting Nuts - work mostly with mid-1980s dancehall rhythms which are much more relaxed and allow the lyrics to be heard more clearly.

Also on the line-up for the Green 4 Life stage show are Mozhai, Sunforce Band, Clifton Black, Jcee, Ihatas Dancers and Blu Grass in the Sky.

Protoje will be on home ground in one of his first major performances in St Elizabeth since releasing his debut album, 7 Year Itch, in January. His Green 4 Life performance comes ahead of a major showing at the Garance Reggae Festival later in July, where Burning Spear and Jimmy Cliff are also on the line-up. Unforgettable 'Digicel Rising Stars' standout Noddy Virtue will also be in his home parish.

Uprising Roots released their debut album, Skyfiya, in March, while Hezron is still celebrating his inclusion on International Night One of this year's Reggae Sumfest festival in Montego Bay, St James.

"It is a balanced line-up," Rattray-Wright said.

"Roots reggae is at the core and we have Professor Nuts and Lovindeer with the laughter, plus Stevie Face and Hezron with lovers' rock especially for the ladies. D'Angel, Lady G and Stacious are going to bring it on in their diva style, but all the music will be fine for children to listen to. That is very important for us, because we are a family festival."