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'The Reggae Nights Summer Concert Series'

By KEITH RYAN CARTWRIGHT

Moving rhythms. Good vibes.

It's the return of "The Reggae Nights Summer Concert Series" hosted by the Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission at James Island County Park.

The first of the four-part series will feature Hope Massive on Saturday. Gates open at 7:30 p.m., and the twilight concert begins an hour later.

"Live reggae in an outdoor park setting seems to be the perfect combination for a successful concert event," said Matt Rosenbrock, event coordinator.

The series started in 1992 with steel drum bands and Caribbean music. However, over time it has evolved into a reggae series, due in large part to the festival's growing demand here in the Lowcountry.

This year there will be a few noticeable differences from years past.

There will be more vendors offering food and crafts, which naturally will be highlighted by a few vendors offering Caribbean-style food.

The most notable difference also is the fact that promoters have added an additional performance to this year's schedule.

"This year we've added one more concert to the series," said Mandi Sandstrom, publicity coordinator for the series.

"In the past, there has only been three concerts, but this year there are four with the one being held at North Charleston Wannamaker County Park."

Aside from this Saturday's performance, the reggae at the James Island County Park series also features Eclectic Roots Ensemble on July 19, and Dubconscious on Aug. 16. Mystic Vibrations will perform on Sept. 20 at Wannamaker County Park in North Charleston. This will be the first time such an event will be hosted at the North Charleston county park location.

The beautiful outdoor setting — which normally enjoys an average crowd of between 1,500 and 2,000 attendees — is the perfect locale for old-school reggae with a new-school attitude.

Tickets are available at the gate. The cost is $6 for adults. Children 12-and-under are admitted free. Annual gold passes also will be honored. Fans are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs, but outside coolers are prohibited. Food to be sold will include kettle corn, ice cream, pizza and more. Beverages will be sold on site.

For more information, visit www.ccprc.com/reggae or call 795-4386.

PROVIDED/CCPRC

Hope Massive, a five-piece roots reggae group from North Carolina, will open a summer reggae series at James Island County Park on Saturday night.

Hope Massive

When: Saturday, gates at 7:30 p.m., show at 8:30 p.m.

Where: James Island County Park, 871 Riverland Dr.

People music for the people.

That's how Hope Massive, an international five-piece roots group from North Carolina, surmises its sound that draws upon classic roots and vintage dance-hall music.

Formed in 2004, the band's influences draw from progressive thoughts and positive actions as opposed to any particular artist.

Formed back when the core members — General West, Smoka Jones, Ilye Ites, Nik Ites and Captain McPharrin — all attended Appalachian State University, the band has toured as far away as Japan and added a bigger crew of musicians — Cortez Paschel, Pete "Bubblin" Brown, Roots Iric and O.C. Irie — to the group's ever-expanding fold.

The group is noted time again for being unique and original. A description in "The Village Idiot" stated, "Even if reggae isn't your thing, at a Hope Massive show, you will not be able to stop yourself from getting out of your seat and dancing."

Last year a "Mountain Xpress" news review expanded upon the "Village" description: "The immensely danceable, soul-stirring Hope Massive blends roots and dance hall, reggae and world music to create a groovy feel-good whole. While each of the five members boasts an impressive musical resume, it's their collective creation that's forged this new rhythmic musical consciousness."

PROVIDED/CCPRC

Eclectic Roots Ensemble adds a touch of blues and jazz to its reggae sound. The group will perform the night of July 19.

Eclectic Roots Ensemble

When: July 19. Gates at 7:30 p.m., show at 8:30.

Where: James Island County Park , 871 Riverland Dr.

Self-described as "reggae music for the 21st century and beyond," Eclectic Roots Ensemble is a multi-instrumental roots and reggae outfit with a rather distinguishable hint of jazz, rock and blues.

Formed in the winter of 2001, the ERE band has played throughout the Southeast.

Intent on "uniting humanity" the band — Cortez Paschal (who also performs with Hope Massive), David Canis, Antione Williamson, Lewis Dixon, Reggie Vickers, Scott Kelly, Ryan Donald and Denis Isaacs — uses positive rock, orchestrated lyrics, melodies and dancing feet to "reach out and teach" its audience.

Dubconscious

When: Aug. 16, Gates at 7:30 p.m., show at 8:30.

Where: James Island County Park, 871 Riverland Dr.

"Be the change you wish to see in the world," in a twist of irony the sacred mantra for Dubconscious, the only returning group among the four headliners for this year's reggae series (and with good reason).

Returning because of an overwhelming popular demand the Athens, Ga.-based band has fully embraced its role as a torchbearer, of sorts, ever since releasing the band's feel-good debut - "Word of Life" - five years ago.

"Dubconscious has crafted something that has rarely been done successfully: a dub reggae collective that picks at the resounding characteristics of the genre and fashions them for 21st century consumption," read a review in Hittin' the Note Magazine.

"From vibrant upbeats, to heady dub reverberations, Dubconscious traverses the spectrum laid by the genre's forefathers by embracing a mantra filled with expressive positivism and acute social consciousness."

Some critics have gone so far as to cite the similarities between Dubconscious and the reverential Bob Marley and the Wailers, a soulful collision of Motown and Jamaican music.

Mystic Vibrations

When: Saturday, Sept. 20

Where: Wannamaker County Park, 8888 University Blvd.

So much for old credo: Age before beauty.

Of this year's four headliners, Mystic Vibrations is by far the veteran performers. The group has been together now for more than a dozen years, and the band's strong roots began in Jamaica. Mystic Vibrations was brought stateside in 1992 by co-founder Ric Williams.

The band is a four-piece rhythm section — Andrew Whitaker, Wil Curry, Janae Davis and Williams — that has released three wellreceived albums, including "People Get Ready" (1993), "Busy Street" (1999) and "Live in Finley Park" (2002). Mystic Vibrations is currently finishing up its fourth project, "Stop Dis War."

Although they've performed with everyone from Burning Spear and Yellowman, to Third World and The Wailers, the group's carefully selected name — Mystic Vibrations — rings true. The band is more apt to be influenced by an explosion of creativity, bounding progress, as well as artistic and conscious vision as opposed to an already influential artist.

According to the band biography, "their music speaks of love, unity, peace amongst all mankind, and the trials and tribulations of oppressed people."

Keith Ryan Cartwright is a Colorado-based freelance entertainment journalist.