UCLA’s annual Jazz Reggae Festival returns in full-force for the 27th year with major headliners like Santigold and Common. The festival takes place every Memorial Day weekend on the grounds of UCLA’s Intramural Field and offers opportunities to explore new music, food and crafts. Previous performers include Lupe Fiasco, Stephen Marley and The Roots. This year, the festival features a diverse range of artists from genres of new wave to dancehall and underground hip-hop.
BARRINGTON LEVY
Born in 1964, Barrington Levy is a Jamaican reggae and dancehall artist. He began his musical career in 1977 when he formed the band Mighty Multitude. A year after that, however, Levy went on to pursue a solo career with “A Long Time Since We Don’t Have No Love.” He released four albums by 1980, one of which is called “Englishman” and received critical acclaim.
SANTIGOLD
Born Santi White, Santigold first garnered recognition in the blogosphere in 2007. Her debut album “Santogold” was released in 2008 and became critically acclaimed by popular publications like “Entertainment Weekly” and “Spin” magazine. As a writer, singer and producer, Santigold and her music fail to fall under any one category. From electronic to new wave and reggae fusion, Santigold continues to stay true to her eclectic roots with her latest work “Master of My Make-Believe.”
THE GROUCH AND ELIGH
Eligh Nachowitz, better known as Eligh, and Corey “The Grouch” Scoffern are underground hip-hop rappers and producers from Los Angeles and Maui, respectively. Together, they comprise the duo The Grouch and Eligh. As members of the underground hip-hop group Living Legends, the Grouch and Eligh is one of the most respected duos in the underground scene today and has produced more than five albums together since 1998.
ZIGGY MARLEY
Son of reggae legend Bob Marley, Ziggy Marley began his musical career playing with his father and siblings in 1979. He and his siblings went off to form the band Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers. As the leader of the band, he later pursued a solo music career, producing several albums. His second solo album, “Love Is My Religion,” was released in 2006 and won a Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album. Some of his most popular songs are “Tomorrow People” and “True to Myself.”
COMMON
Hailing from South Side Chicago, hip-hop artist and rapper Common, who performed at Bruin Bash in 2005, first debuted in 1992 with his album “Can I Borrow a Dollar?” and later rose to critical acclaim nationally. He has established himself as one of the most prolific rhymers of this era and has collaborated with artists like Lauryn Hill, Kanye West and Wu-Tang Clan. Some of his most notable songs include “I Used to Love H.E.R.,” “The Dreamer” and “Retrospect for Life.”