Sonnymoon, a musical duo from Allston, Mass., will be peforming at this year’s JazzReggae Festival on Jam Day. The band released its debut album on Christmas Day in 2009.
Courtesy of Gordon Hendrick
Most of the JazzReggae Festival lineup has been released, and students are now able to purchase their tickets to both Jam Day and Reggae Day. The annual event is held during Memorial Day weekend at UCLA’s Intramural Field. Here is a preview of some of the featured artists who will perform at the festival.
Bobby Womack
Bobby Womack is an R&B, soul, rock “˜n’ roll, doo-wop, gospel and country artist, and has been recording music since the early ’60s. He was the lead singer of his family’s musical group The Valentinos. Some of his more notable tracks include “Lookin’ for a Love,” “That’s the Way I Feel About ‘Cha,” “Woman’s Gotta Have It” and “If You Think You’re Lonely Now.” Womack will release his new album “The Bravest Man in the Universe” in June ““ his first album of original material since 1994’s “Resurrection.”
Cris Cab
Cris Cab, who began playing the guitar at the age of 9, is currently on a college concert tour and will perform a mix of original and cover songs on Reggae Day. His current single “Good Girls” from his EP “Foreword” has a catchy hip-hop sound mixed with reggae. At a young age, Cab covered songs by Marvin Gaye and Bob Marley while adding his own Caribbean-sounding beats.
Gary Clark Jr.
Guitar player Gary Clark Jr. recently performed at Coachella and will grace the stage during Jam Day. The Texas native mixes blues roots with contemporary soul and hip-hop in his music. Clark has been compared to guitar icons like Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan. His recent work includes the release of his EP “Bright Lights” in 2011.
Selah Sue
Belgium native Selah Sue idolizes soul, funk and reggae artists Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu and Bob Marley. Sue balances gigs at local clubs on the weekends while attending high school during the week. Featured on Cee-Lo Green’s track “Please,” Sue also produces her own records in home studios and friends’ houses. Sue’s music has been responded to by thousands of fans and industry professionals such as Prince, who offered her a supporting slot at one of his shows in Belgium. Sue’s music incorporates a blend of electric rock, organic hip-hop and soul-funk.
Shaggy
Highly recognized for two of his songs, 1995’s “Boombastic” as well as 2000’s “It Wasn’t Me,” Shaggy returns to the stage on Reggae Day at this year’s JazzReggae Festival to perform some old-school tunes. The Jamaican American reggae singer and rapper recently worked with Egyptian star Tamer Hosny in recording the song “Smile” in January. He also recently rereleased “Summer in Kingston (Lava Edition).”
Tarrus Riley
Son of reggae artist Jimmy Riley, Tarrus Riley began his music career in 2004 and released his debut album “Challenges.” Many of his songs have become anthems on Jamaican radio as well as in several Caribbean territories. Riley recently released “Mecoustic,” an acoustic album, this year and will go on a spring tour in Europe with The Blak Soil Band.
Alison Hinds
Touted as one of the leading artists of soca music, a style of Caribbean music from Trinidad and Tobago, Alison Hinds has appropriately been called “The Queen of Soca.” Affirmation of her title is apparent in her 2007 debut solo album “Soca Queen.” One can only speculate as to whether she will be making a guest appearance during Shaggy’s set, or vice versa, as the two collaborated on Hinds’ 2010 album “Caribbean Queen.”
Sonnymoon
Anna Wise and Dane Orr, collectively known as the musical duo Sonnymoon, hail from Allston, Mass. The band is perhaps most well-known for its cover of Drake’s “Houstatlantavegas.” The duo’s debut album was released on Christmas Day in 2009. “Golden Age” is a nine-track production teeming with soulful beats and experimental sounds.
Compiled by Marjorie Yan, A&E senior staff, myan@media.ucla.edu