S.D Promotions, a Ghanaian registered reggae promotions outfit in agreement with B.J Production a UK based company present the biggest international reggae show for the celebration of Ghana's golden jubilee show dubbed "BACK TO OUR ROOTS".
The show will feature the world renowned reggae band STEEL PULSE alongside the current chart topping MARLON ASHER aka GANJA FARMER , with local support coming from the MOBO award winner Samini and Wutah.
According to the organizers the show will be in two forms, the first will be on Friday the 16th of March at the Accra International Conference Center and the second the 17th Of March at the Trade Fair Site.
In an interview with Ghananewstoday the orginsers hinted that their reason for bringing this highly profile reggae musicians to Ghana is because they felt reggae lovers in the country has been denied the taste of root music for a long time and they think this is the right time to give the fans what they want.
"All the artist bill for the show have confirmed their participation and support and all that we are looking ahead of is a great show" said the organisers.
Steel Pulse is a well-known roots reggae musical band. They originally formed at Handsworth Wood Boys School, in Birmingham, England and comprised of David Hinds (lead vocals, guitar), Basil Gabbidon (lead guitar, vocals) and Ronald McQueen (bass). Hinds, as songwriter, has always been the engine behind Steel Pulse, from their early days establishing themselves in the Birmingham club scene onwards.
The Steel Pulse message of hope, education and activism has struck a chord with music lovers worldwide. Their international success has resulted in a Grammy award for their 1986 classic Babylon The Bandit, and nominations for subsequent albums Victims (1991) and Rastafari Cennial (1992).
In 1989, the group contributed Can't Stand The Heat to the soundtrack of Spike Lee's film Do The Right Thing. But through it all, for 32 years now, Steel Pulse has never changed its tune when it comes to its politics. The six-piece roots reggae band from Birmingham is probably the best known British reggae band, as much for its powerful, sinuous music and for a fervent and unapologetic commitment to social justice issues that form the foundation of its lyrics.
Fans who were less than enamored with the band's pop phase of the late 1980s will be happy to know that Steel Pulse purged its synth demons and returned to old-school roots reggae on their most recent album, 2004's provocatively titled "African Holocaust."
Marlon Asher, a native Trinidadian started singing at the age of 7 in the choir of his grandparent's church. The name "Asher" was derived from the 12 tribes of Israel and "Asher" is the tribe which represents December and the spirit of Christ.
His musical style is that of a conscious reggae artist and he cites Bob Marley, Dennis Brown and Barrington Levy as some of his musical mentors.
Marlon feels that reggae touches his soul and he wants to communicate that extension of spiritual soulfulness with the world. A gifted musician, Marlon teaches musical arrangement of the steelpan, the national instrument of Trinidad and Tobago, to young enthusiasts with an average age range of 7- 17years.
Marlon Asher's talent and ingenuity was revealed with the release of the song "Ganja Farmer" which became a huge hit via aggressive underground marketing. The song 'Ganja Farmer' was derived from an older selection named 'Ganja Man', which was also written by Asher. Asher maintains that he is not a ganja farmer and that the song does not promote the cultivation or use of the illegal substance. However, he hopes to create an awareness for the work that farmers do, and to be mindful, that regardless of their crop, destroying any farm takes away someone's livelihood.
Marlon has been performing throughout Trinidad and Tobago , the Caribbean as well as the United States. He has taken the stage amongst renowned performers such as Damien "Jr. Gong" Marley, Beenie Man, Shaggy, Maxi Priest, Sizzla and even R&B sensation Boys II Men. Since his debut in the United States at Reggae Carifest in July 2005, Marlon has been performing extensively in the Tri State area as well as in Miami, Toronto, Baltimore, Boston, Virginia and in 2006 he will perform his music in Europe as well as Japan and Africa.
Asher feels that he has been blessed and his future is one that will involve him singing. He said "God has his plans for me. I believe I am a messenger here to deliver a serious message. I am just waiting for him [God] to reveal his message". Asher has a message for the youth: "your talent should never go to waste with God all things are possible. Pray hard and you will succeed".
Marlon's preview album was produced by Carl "Beaver" Henderson in Trinidad. He is co-managed by brother and sister duo Geron "Big G" Woodruffe and Anje Woodruffe of Caribbean Underground Productions.
With the success of the "Ganja Farmer", Marlon has now released the love song "I love you" on the same riddim and has been performing his new tracks "Love of Jah", " Standing" and the title track of the album "Locked out".
S.D Promotions, a Ghanaian registered reggae promotions outfit in agreement with B.J Production a UK based company present the biggest international reggae show for the celebration of Ghana's golden jubilee show dubbed "BACK TO OUR ROOTS".
The show will feature the world renowned reggae band STEEL PULSE alongside the current chart topping MARLON ASHER aka GANJA FARMER , with local support coming from the MOBO award winner Samini and Wutah.
According to the organizers the show will be in two forms, the first will be on Friday the 16th of March at the Accra International Conference Center and the second the 17th Of March at the Trade Fair Site.
In an interview with Ghananewstoday the orginsers hinted that their reason for bringing this highly profile reggae musicians to Ghana is because they felt reggae lovers in the country has been denied the taste of root music for a long time and they think this is the right time to give the fans what they want.
"All the artist bill for the show have confirmed their participation and support and all that we are looking ahead of is a great show" said the organisers.
Steel Pulse is a well-known roots reggae musical band. They originally formed at Handsworth Wood Boys School, in Birmingham, England and comprised of David Hinds (lead vocals, guitar), Basil Gabbidon (lead guitar, vocals) and Ronald McQueen (bass). Hinds, as songwriter, has always been the engine behind Steel Pulse, from their early days establishing themselves in the Birmingham club scene onwards.
The Steel Pulse message of hope, education and activism has struck a chord with music lovers worldwide. Their international success has resulted in a Grammy award for their 1986 classic Babylon The Bandit, and nominations for subsequent albums Victims (1991) and Rastafari Cennial (1992).
In 1989, the group contributed Can't Stand The Heat to the soundtrack of Spike Lee's film Do The Right Thing. But through it all, for 32 years now, Steel Pulse has never changed its tune when it comes to its politics. The six-piece roots reggae band from Birmingham is probably the best known British reggae band, as much for its powerful, sinuous music and for a fervent and unapologetic commitment to social justice issues that form the foundation of its lyrics.
Fans who were less than enamored with the band's pop phase of the late 1980s will be happy to know that Steel Pulse purged its synth demons and returned to old-school roots reggae on their most recent album, 2004's provocatively titled "African Holocaust."
Marlon Asher, a native Trinidadian started singing at the age of 7 in the choir of his grandparent's church. The name "Asher" was derived from the 12 tribes of Israel and "Asher" is the tribe which represents December and the spirit of Christ.
His musical style is that of a conscious reggae artist and he cites Bob Marley, Dennis Brown and Barrington Levy as some of his musical mentors.
Marlon feels that reggae touches his soul and he wants to communicate that extension of spiritual soulfulness with the world. A gifted musician, Marlon teaches musical arrangement of the steelpan, the national instrument of Trinidad and Tobago, to young enthusiasts with an average age range of 7- 17years.
Marlon Asher's talent and ingenuity was revealed with the release of the song "Ganja Farmer" which became a huge hit via aggressive underground marketing. The song 'Ganja Farmer' was derived from an older selection named 'Ganja Man', which was also written by Asher. Asher maintains that he is not a ganja farmer and that the song does not promote the cultivation or use of the illegal substance. However, he hopes to create an awareness for the work that farmers do, and to be mindful, that regardless of their crop, destroying any farm takes away someone's livelihood.
Marlon has been performing throughout Trinidad and Tobago , the Caribbean as well as the United States. He has taken the stage amongst renowned performers such as Damien "Jr. Gong" Marley, Beenie Man, Shaggy, Maxi Priest, Sizzla and even R&B sensation Boys II Men. Since his debut in the United States at Reggae Carifest in July 2005, Marlon has been performing extensively in the Tri State area as well as in Miami, Toronto, Baltimore, Boston, Virginia and in 2006 he will perform his music in Europe as well as Japan and Africa.
Asher feels that he has been blessed and his future is one that will involve him singing. He said "God has his plans for me. I believe I am a messenger here to deliver a serious message. I am just waiting for him [God] to reveal his message". Asher has a message for the youth: "your talent should never go to waste with God all things are possible. Pray hard and you will succeed".
Marlon's preview album was produced by Carl "Beaver" Henderson in Trinidad. He is co-managed by brother and sister duo Geron "Big G" Woodruffe and Anje Woodruffe of Caribbean Underground Productions.
With the success of the "Ganja Farmer", Marlon has now released the love song "I love you" on the same riddim and has been performing his new tracks "Love of Jah", " Standing" and the title track of the album "Locked out".
