This summer Groundation completed a seven week, six country tour of Europe’s hottest reggae festivals, playing before crowds from 5,000 to 35,000 and sharing the stage with Zap Mama at Rototom in Italy and headlining after Black Uhuru at Summerjam in Germany. They are currently back in Europe for three weeks, then on to Brazil for the first time. When they return to the west coast, Groundation will reconnect with their California fans for two shows November 17 & 18th, then head to Hawaii November 30 through December 10th for eight more shows before heading home for some much needed relaxation.
Internationally renowned reggae group Groundation emerged from the depths of the studio with their 4th album entitled “We Free Again” in November of 2004 to critical acclaim. The music was fresh and new proving once again that they were committed to the task of groundbreaking original music. Their previous release “Hebron Gate” received worldwide acclaim including a nomination for Germany’s coveted “World Music Award”. For this most recent release Groundation united for the first time in reggae history Apple Gabriel (founding member of Israel Vibration) and Don Carlos (Black Uhuru).
Groundation was founded in the fall of 1998 when three long time musicians Marcus Urani, Ryan Newman, and Harrison Stafford came together to form the core of the pioneering sound. They were later Joined in 2000 by San Francisco based Jazz trumpeter David Chachere and the North Bay’s Kelsey Howard on trombone. Groundation saxophonist Jason Robinson has gone on to become the head of the Jazz program at UC San Diego as well as breathing new life into the Southern California Jazz scene. Drummer Paul Spina (Les Claypool, Will Bernard’s Mother Bug) has been with the group since taking over from original set player James Stafford in December 2001.
Groundation’s first full-length dub CD is set to be released this fall online and in the stores by early winter. Dub Wars combines tracks from their two most recent studio albums Hebron Gate (dub versions originally released on the LP Dragon War YTR-1220) and We Free Again. These dub versions engineered by Jim Fox (Lion & Fox) and redubed by Groundation keyboardist Marcus Urani unearth the depth of the Groundation sound.
Dub Wars’ North American release will once again be handled by the group’s growing Bay Area record label Young Tree Records. Established in 2001 by lead singer Harrison Stafford and Kris Dilbeck the label has also released works from legendary Jamaican groups The Congos, Pablo Moses, and Winston Jarrett & The Righteous Flames. Harrison Stafford also taught the first University course on the History of Reggae Music (Sonoma State University ’99-’01).
For more information, please check out www.groundation.com and www.youngtreerecords.com
For press inquiries, please contact Amy Shapas of So You Can at 831-479-0711 or
[email protected]
For booking inquiries, please contact Bob Slayton at 707-933-9790 or
[email protected]
Amy Shapas
So You Can
831-479-0711
831-479-4242 fax
[email protected]
www.soyoucan.com