ARTIST SPOTLIGHT 2021
THE NAYA ROCKERS (FEAT. AKIRA & SARAH B.)
CONSERFEST 2021 presents the legendary NAYA ROCKERS on the main stage at Yellow Kittens Tavern* on 8/8/21 this summer!
“The Naya Rockers are an international unit, anchored by US-based drummer Nathan Sabanayagam, Jamaican Keyboardist Ozu’ne Sundalyah and Netherlands based bassist Bunn Riley originally hailing from Suriname. The core of the band is complemented by UK based keyboardist Caroline Williams and Canadian guitarist Adrian Dunn.
This music collaboration began over 12 years ago in Halfway Tree Kingston, Jamaica, where Swiss filmmaker Markus Egloff documented the daily musical rituals of performing and recording at the home of veteran guitarist and producer Earl “Chinna” Smith. Egloff released “The art of making music a way of life” a film featuring over 70 Jamaican musicians and singers.
This team is dedicated to bringing the highest level of musicianship of stage show all around the world. Together and individually the Naya Rockers have spent the past two decades touring and recording with the foundation of reggae including: Toots and the Maytals, Augustus Pablo, Barrington Levy, Ky-Many Marley, Culture, Kenyatta Hill, Big Youth, Junior Reid, U-Roy, The Congos, Johnny Clarke, Junior Kelly, Black Uhuru, Tanya Stephens, Ken Bothe, Max Romeo, Horace Andy, Gregory Issacs, Junior Delgado, Freddie McGregor, Luciano, The Wailers Band, Bob Andy, The Mighty Diamonds, Eek-a-Mouse, Richie Spice, Spanner Banner, Sista Akabu, Twinkle Brothers, Etana, Queen Ifrica, Chakademus and Pliers, Collie Buddz, Joseph Israel, Yami Bolo, Orthodox Issachar, Fred Locks, Lutan Fyah, Lt. Stichie, The Toasters, Blue Magic…” ~ nayarockers.com
Craig “Akira” Fujita and the fabulous Sarah B. will be at the mic. Akira, himself, hails from Massachusetts and is the frontman of reggae outfit, Pressure Cooker, and has had a long list of collaborations, including reggae superstars, 10 Ft. Ganja Plant. Sarah Brindell. is a “songwriter, arranger, producer, pianist, and vocalist. She has touring credits around the world. She has shared the stage and recorded with many renowned artists including Norah Jones, Carole King, and Raul Midon. Her original songs can be heard on many television shows including MTV’s Made.”
*With the return to in person gatherings, we have decided to partner with this event, hosted by Yellow Kittens, in place of hosting a virtual event. We’d love to see all of you there rocking your ConserFest merch and getting your boogie on. Spread the word!
ARTIST SPOTLIGHT 2020
WILL EVANS
CONSERFEST 2020 welcomes the incredible and multi-talented Will Evans to lead the way on the virtual main stage this summer!
“Will Evans has spent the last decade as the primary songwriter and frontman for the New England based Roots Rock outfit Barefoot Truth. After four albums and 50+ million plays on Pandora & Spotify, he embarked on his solo journey – and has since released three additional full-length albums and toured extensively.
His most recent album “Rise” was nominated for three categories by the New England Music Awards: Album of the Year, Roots Act of the Year, and Video of the Year (“Family Tree”). The album features deeply personal topics of humanity, compassion, and a reflection of the current political times.
A lifelong surfer and environmentalist, his songs speak to the importance of connecting with and protecting the earth. At a time when many are looking for words of inspiration and reassurance, “Rise” delivers a collection of socially conscious songs filled with messages of love, possibility, and inclusion.
In 2018 and 2019, Will joined his good friend Trevor Hall as a member of his touring band and as a frequent supporting act. Together they performed to passionate crowds across North America and Europe. Trevor Hall is featured on “Hoka Hey,” the album’s opening song.
In his live performances, Will displays a technical mastery of live-looping skills to showcase his background in percussion mixed with layers of acoustic guitar and soulful vocals.
Will has shared the stage with many top artists including Crosby & Nash, Grace Potter, Bruce Hornsby, Rusted Root, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Trevor Hall, Nahko, Xavier Rudd, Donavon Frankenreiter, Ryan Montbleau, Railroad Earth and members of Dispatch.” (willevans.com)
ARTIST SPOTLIGHT 2019
ADAM EZRA GROUP
CONSERFEST 2019 is proud to welcome the Adam Ezra Group to the main stage for this summer's "Music on a Mission" celebration of conservation awareness and action on Block Island. One of the hardest working performance bands in show business, AEG has played among so many incredible artists who share their energy for performing live, energizing and connecting fans, and changing the world through their music.
“Adam Ezra Group has graduated from being at the top of the Boston music scene to breaking nationally in a big way. Adam Ezra's passion for smart, well written lyrics combined with the band’s tight musicianship and powerful live performances are catching the ears of fans across the country.
The band's live show is now legendary. Adam and the group ignite the stage with a captivating charisma that has often been compared to that of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. Jack Casey, the General Manager of WERS, Boston’s #1 radio station for new music commented, “After 2 hours of almost nonstop playing, Adam Ezra gives everything he has to the audience. Not since Springsteen and Bono have I seen a lead singer with his talent and charisma.”
Ezra’s songs often revolve around the common thread of finding the courage to follow one's own unique path through life. This thread is pulled from Adam’s life of traveling the world and helping others find their path and driving force through music and activism.
The Group has been touring non-stop and packing venues across the country including the Mercury Lounge in New York City, Shubas in Chicago, The Roxy in Los Angeles, The Belly Up in Aspen, and their now legendary, sold out show at the Paradise Rock Club in Boston (where the band had one of their fans, Tom Hamilton of Aerosmith, join them on stage). After having shared the stage with Jason Mraz, Rusted Root, Bela Fleck, John Hiatt, Robert Randolph and the Family Band, Ziggy Marley, Little Feat and many others, AEG has been building their fan-base exponentially. The band has been a festival favorite around the country, including appearances at Oyster Ridge (WY), Rothbury (MI), Wildflower (TX), Nateva (ME), Earthfest (MA), and The Download Festival (MA). With their new release underway the Adam Ezra Group will continue their national tour with new music and a momentum that is catapulting them towards being one of the country's most talked about bands.” (last.fm)
ARTIST SPOTLIGHT 2018
THE ROWAN BROTHERS
ConserFest 2018 is excited to announce that the legendary Rowan Brothers will be playing the main stage this summer!
The Rowan Brothers are Chris and Lorin Rowan. Equally singing and playing guitar (along with frequent mandolin), the brothers have been making their mark on the folk and bluegrass scene since their beginnings in the early 70's in San Francisco, CA. Brothers, and often bandmates and collaborators, with older brother and music legend, Peter Rowan, this not-to-be-missed duo bring such mastery and experience to the stage and to their captive audiences. Over their career, Chris and Lorin have collaborated with a multitude of great musicians, such as mandolin icon David Grisman, and Jerry Garcia and Phil Lesh of the Grateful Dead, and have brought a freshness and vision to bluegrass music. The Rowan Brothers' music has always been infused with notes from other genre influences, most notably reggae music. In recent years, the Rowan Brothers have directed their focus to bringing more of their beloved reggae inspiration to their bluegrass foundation.
ARTIST Spotlight 2017
ROOTS OF CREATION
ConserFest 2017 welcomed the Roots of Creation to the main stage last summer. It was a performance not-to-be-missed!
"From addictive reggae pop songs to consciously charged roots rhythms and berzerk electronic improvisations, the grace and precision with which Roots of Creation execute their bass-heavy works is overwhelming. Their roots are tinged with rock, their rock brushed with electronica, and they’re as likely to dash off into a 10-minute guitar-led groove as they are to perform righteous vocal songs that resonate like the roots-rock classics of old.” — Homegrown Music Network
Whether on the festival circuit, performing at jam favorites like Gathering of The Vibes, Wakarusa, Camp Bisco, and Closer to the Sun, or sharing the stage at sold out shows with some of their diverse influences including Slightly Stoopid, The Wailers, Fishbone, and Michael Franti, reggae/rock/dubtronica band Roots of Creation (RoC) offer up a high-energy, infectious experience. Recognized as a Top 20 artist on the Relix/Jamband radio chart, a festival staple, and an internationally touring powerhouse, RoC have been awarded “Favorite Jam Band” by Cider Magazine and “Best Band In New Hampshire” by the New England Music Awards. RoC mix their jam-reggae hybrid sound with homegrown roots, guitar-heavy rock, and lead singer/guitarist Brett Wilson’s introspective and conscious laden lyrics.
Named after a Sublime song on the B-Side of the Badfish CD single, Roots of Creation is made up of founding members, guitarist/lead singer Brett Wilson, keyboardist Tal Pearson, and drummer Mike Chadinha. The trio came together at Franklin Pierce College in New Hampshire where they embraced the state motto, "Live Free or Die," in their music and message. Today the original trio is joined by newest members Billy Kottage (Reel Big Fish) on trombone, rhythm guitar, keys and harmony vocals, Andrew Riordan on saxophone, synth and harmony vocals, and Nick Minicucci on bass guitar.
In 2012, RoC won the Cider Magazine Award for “Favorite Jam Band,” and in 2013, won the New England Music Award for “Best Band In New Hampshire.” In 2014, the band released “Summer in the 603” with The SSP (Super Secret Project), a parody video of NH. The video went viral, hitting major news outlets and surpassing 75K views. The band’s intent is to deliver a true rock show cleverly disguised as a reggae dance bash with psychedelic and energizing lights. Since hitting the top 20 on the Relix/Jamband radio charts, RoC has toured internationally playing over 1,000 shows coast to coast, encouraging audience taping of shows amassing nearly a quarter of a million downloads of their live performances on music archive site, archive.org, and building a loyal and engaged fanbase, one by one. Relix Magazine describes their live show as one “that erupts on stage, severing artist-audience barriers while summoning fans to join them in an awakening.” It’s no surprise then that the band has released three live albums and one live DVD, in addition to two studio albums.
On April 22nd, 2016, Roots of Creation will release Livin Free, a project that frontman Brett Wilson calls their “biggest ever.” Releasing via the band’s own label, Bombshelter Records, and distributed by ILS/Caroline/Universal Music Group, Livin Free is a nod to the New Hampshire state motto. It marks the band’s third studio release, but it’s so much more than an 18-track LP. In addition to digital and retail CDs of the LP, Livin Free will be available as a 3-disc deluxe collection with both dub/remix and acoustic versions of 14 of the LP’s tracks in digital and CD formats. The CD formats as well as limited edition, hand-numbered (1/500), splatter/colored, double 12” vinyl, will be available via Amazon and select retail stores on May 6th. The iTunes pre-order for both the standard LP and deluxe collection will begin on March 18th and include instant downloads of tracks “Struggle,” “Row Jimmy” (Grateful Dead), and “3x A Lady.”
Livin Free features guest performances by Melvin Seals (Jerry Garcia Band), Marshall “Ras MG” Goodman (Sublime, Long Beach Dub Allstars), the Rubblebucket horn section, Billy Kottage (Reel Big Fish), Bill Carbone (Zach Deputy, Max Creek), Grammy-nominated Pato Banton (Sting, UB40), and Mighty Mystic. Additionally, the album welcomes guest production by Yeti Beats (Rebelution, Slightly Stoopid) on “3x a Lady,” and Ras MG on “Struggle (Ras MG Remix).” Livin Free was produced by Brett Wilson, and co-produced by Pete Peloquin and Roots of Creation. The album was executive produced by Omen8 Production and the “RoC Pledgers,” fans who supported the band’s recent PledgeMusic campaign which surpassed the goal by 36% (and climbing). All songs on the LP were engineered and mixed by Pete “Boardz” Peloquin (Gov’t Mule, OAR), except a handful by Craig “Dubfader” Welsch (G. Love, John Brown’s Body), Yeti Beats, and Roger Lima (Less Than Jake). The album was mastered by Grammy winner and 8-time Grammy-nominated mastering engineer Jay Frigoletto (Alice In Chains, Black Eyed Peas).
Prior to the LP’s release, a maxi-single/EP of the album’s first single, “Struggle,” will be released on March 4th. This includes four unique versions of the song, one featuring Melvin Seals and Marshall “Ras MG” Goodman, another featuring only Melvin Seals, one remixed by Ras MG, and finally a solo acoustic version by Brett Wilson. “I never imagined that after listening to legendary artists like Sublime and Long Beach Dub Allstars religiously in my youth, that I would ever be collaborating with Ras MG,” says Brett Wilson. "He is a true musician. He pushed me to the max and inspired me to keep my ears open to new sounds and ideas.”
Roots of Creation is now on tour, and this spring will perform select dates on the “Spring Blackout 2016 Tour” with The Expendables, Passafire, and Tunnel Vision. They’ll also perform select dates with Organically Good Trio (ft. Paul W. of Slightly Stoopid), Mighty Mystic, and Spiritual Rez.
ARTIST Spotlight 2016
EASY STAR ALL-STARS
ConserFest 2016 welcomed the legendary Easy Star All-Stars to the main stage.
"Blending musical versatility, instrumental prowess, beautiful vocal harmonies and a premier rhythm section, the Easy Star All-Stars have established themselves as one of the top international reggae acts on the scene today. Thanks to their best-selling tribute album releases, Dub Side of the Moon (2003), Radiodread (2006), and Easy Star's Lonely Hearts Dub Band (2009), the remix album Dubber Side of the Moon (2010), as well as original releases Until That Day EP (2008) and First Light (2011), the Easy Star All-Stars have built a growing, dedicated fan base throughout the world, bringing together fans of reggae, classic rock, dub and indie rock into one big family." (www.easystar.com)