Reggae Radio and Concert Photos by Reggae MAX

Rootz Underground played the Soul Rebellion 2009 charity concert on March 24 at The Jungle in Negril Jamaica to benefit schools in Westmoreland Parish as part of the Soul Rebellion Buy A Brick program for school construction.

Soul Rebellion is gaining some respect after three solid years of successful charity reggae concerts and this year BET was there to record the event as part of a special they are doing to showcase the great work done by this charity group of primarily foreign citizens.

The evening concert was held after a day of celebrations and fund raising on the beach. The Tuesday Night concert was a success and Rootz Underground put on a spirited and energetic performance with over an hour of high grade reggae and roots inspired music.

Rootz Underground is originally from Kingston Jamaica but they spend lots of time in America these days. It was a bit of a homecoming for the band since their performance at Reggae Sumfest 2008 and hard through the entire performance.

Download the entire Rootz Underground concert and listen at home like you were there live.

Download Rootz Underground Live at the Jungle

I had the unique opportunity to stand on stage with Beenie Man during his entire show in rural Whitehouse Jamaica and it easily one of the most energetic reggae dancehall concerts I have been to in Jamaica. "The Doctor" as he is known to his fans is a Jamaican dancehall icon and when Beenie Man puts on a show he puts on a show. The over capacity crowd was gathered on a cricket field and there were at least 1500 to 2000 people in attendance in rural Jamaica where they don't get many major headline acts to put on a show.

The people of Whitehouse Jamaica came out in force and the place was jamming all night long. Beenie belted out his top dancehall hits of the past 15 years and the crowd sucked up every second of it they could. The show was non stop and Jamaicans partied it up for hours with the King of Dancehall as he strutted from one side of that small stage to the other.

Things were so informal that just about anyone ended up on stage after long and at one point there was an actual fight on stage that Beenie Man himself had to breakup. It was hot and the crowd was pumped up. I guess tempers flared but Beenie put things to rest fast and the party went on without a hitch.

It was a show to remember for me and the people of Whitehouse.

Beenie Man Photo Gallery

Beenie Man Videos

Beenie Man at Whitehouse Part 1

Beenie Man at Whitehouse Part

Bunny Wailer is a living legend and founding father of reggae music. He's been in the music business for as long as many of his fans have been alive and he put on a show like you could not believe. As sole surviving Wailer and reggae roots legend this man has done his fair share of reggae shows and this was a great concert for Bunny Wailer.

Bunny ran through a list of his power songs and some of reggae musics biggest hits in an energy packed set that just screamed raw fire. Bunny is almost as old as dirt but he kicked it across the stage like a teenage boy strutting his new suit and he was having fun for sure. The Smile Jamaica Africa Unite Concerts are in tribute to an old friend of Mr Wailer and Bunny paid his respect to Bob and Marley Clan during his set.

Bunny Wailer at Smile Jamaica Photo Gallery

Bunny Wailer at Smile Jamaica YouTube Video

Damian Marley may be the younger son of Bob Marley but he is one of the most popular of his children and a crowd favorite in his home country of Jamaica. Damian and his brothers honored their father and the historic show he did in 1976 with the Smile Jamaica Africa Unite reggae concert held in February 2008 in Oracabessa Jamaica at James Bond Beach.

Damian was on stage with brothers and family at different times throughout the show but his solo performance was what lit the stage up and had the venue rocking. His unique rapid fire style and hard hitting lyrics are familiar to every Jamaican and the entire crowd was singing along during his entire performance.

Damian Marley Photos

Damian Marley Videos

Stephen Robert Nesta "Raggamuffin" Marley performs at the Smile Jamaica Africa Unite 2008 Concert event in Oracabessa Jamaica on February 23, 2008 at James Bond Beach. Stephen Marley is an original member of the Melody Makers along with brother Ziggy and sister Cedella and tonights show was a reunion of sorts with all the original members on stage again for the first time in a decade or more.

Stephens performance at Smile Jamaica comes in a year where he took a grammy for top reggae album with his latest release "Mind Control" which has been at the top of the charts for most of 2008 and find Stephen at the top of his game in all respects. The show was awesome and Stephens tight production skills could be seen early in the day when he, Julian and Damian came on stage for the sound check. Stephen was in complete control and a perfectionist about his equipment setup and sound.

It was incredible to catch a glimpse inside the life of the Marley offspring and Stephen is certainly a proud and protective father. The entire Marley entourage took up three Coaster buses and there were a dozen kids all arriving hours before the two day festival started. Stephen had his kids on stage with him during the sound check and then again for the show that evening. Some of the Marley children were waving flags and singing along with the family performances throughout the evening. Stephen seems very protective of his private life and children and insisted no photos of him or his kids be taken after he discovered me on stage with them during the sound check where I was hanging out with my new friends on the stage crew and not supposed to be. I got a few photos of Stephen and sons before their manager told me to put the camera away.

Stephen was obviously upset by the camera and I was taken aside by him and Damian after the sound check where they told me exactly how they felt about people taking things from them without proper permission to do so. I was scolded for not having a press pass and told I could keep the photos I had but I was not to take any more until show time. It seems they want to protect the kids and themselves from having a photo taken of them off guard and having to be "camera ready" at all times. I overstand the situation after my reprimand and the following explanation I received from their stage manager who refered to Stephen as "King".

Stephen performed with Ziggy and Cedella for some Melody Makers hits and then moved into some collaborations with his brother Damian before tackling a few of his fathers songs at the end of the evening for what turned out to be a great set.

Stephen Marley at Smile Jamaica Photo Gallery