UMOJA Reggae Celebration

Sunday, April 26, 2009; 3:00 pm
Outdoors on the MCLA Quad 

The intense energy and raw sound of these bands are just too powerful to be indoors! Storming the outdoor stage with a magnetic blend of rhythm and harmony, The Alchemystics,  Black River Sound, and Robanic Reggae Band will bring everyone to their feet.  Add student DJs Jameek Clovie '10 and Victor Joyner '08 and you have a day not to be missed!

Co-sponsored by MCLA's African, Latino, Asian and Native American Association (ALANA), UMOJA Reggae Celebration is the culmination of a month-long celebration of multicultural diversity on the MCLA campus.

Formed in the fall of '03, with the belief that hip-hop could expand beyond the boundaries of radio formulas, The Alchemystics created a sound that reflected their love of heavy rhythms and truly original music. They do this with authority born from experience; members have backed musical legends like The Abyssinians, Tony Rebel, Atlantik, and Rupee, and have shared the stage with Spearhead, Busta Rhymes, Jurassic 5 and The Skatalites.

The band's collective experience reads like an encyclopedia of music. Members have studied percussion with masters in Cuba, played flamenco in San Francisco, won awards in orchestras, toured the caribbean playing soca, and graduated with honors from Berklee College of Music. Their unique sound and explosive energy is addictive and enveloping; a night never ends without the whole crowd dancing and shouting out responses to emcee Phaze's calls.

With a melodic fusion of Reggae, Hip Hop and Motown, Black River Sound has an unparalleled charisma that captivates listeners and leaves audiences wanting more. Hendricks siblings Jon, Holly, Julianna, Sarah, and Josiah were raised in a musical family of ten that grew up on several different continents, traveling the world playing music and performing. This experience contributes to the diverse and multi-cultural sound that is manifested in their music.

The band is rounded out by a rhythm section  lineup of bassist/songwriter Seth Deysher, seasoned Boston-area session musician and Berklee graduate Brent Sirois on drums, and Mike Solfiell on keys, ukelele, and mandolin.

"Black River Sound has fused a unique style that challenges mainstream music and opens the door to a variety of new possibilities." -Worcester Magazine 

The only authentic reggae band in upstate New York, Robanic Reggae Band plays a wide and colorful range of Caribbean music including old-school reggae, traditional rock-steady, ska, calypso, contemporary lovers rock, as well as the hottest new dance-hall sound from Jamaica. The five-member ensemble is made up of talented musicians with decades of experience.

"Everybody knows, or should know, about Jamaica's Godfather of Rock Steady, Alton Ellis, lead singer of the Robanic Reggae Band." -Buzz, Caribbean Lifestyle Magazine 

To buy tickets, call 413.662.5204.
To become a member and support this great work, call 413.662.5224.
For more information, call 413.664.8718.