RASTAFARI ROOTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD: STEEL PULSE, BURNING SPEAR, AND LUCKY DUBE DELIVER REGGAE'S BEST

SUNDAY, AUGUST 11, AT 7:30 PM

KCRW's World Festival 2002

Jamaican singer Burning Spear makes his Hollywood Bowl debut with his dub reggae sounds; South African star Lucky Dube joins the bill; and England's innovative Steel Pulse, also in their Bowl debut, perform for the World Reggae concert on Sunday, August 11, at 7:30 p.m.

Backbeat Live pre-concert performances take place one hour prior to the concert at the Patio, and are free to all ticket holders. The August 11 session features reggae music from Ghana with Rocky Dawuni.

Known as one of Bob Marley's favorite bands, Steel Pulse began performing on the British punk circuit in 1975 as part of the "Rock Against Racism" movement. With an innovative blend of straight-ahead reggae, flamenco, and Euro-pop, Steel Pulse's music still contains the potent pleas for social reform that have solidified the band as an institution on the international reggae scene.

One of Jamaica's most respected roots artists, Burning Spear has been delivering his characteristic emotive and spiritual sounds since 1966. Part Rastafarian preacher, part historian, Burning Spear has released a host of albums over the years illuminating Rastafarianism in song and sharing his beliefs with an avid public.

Lucky Dube started his singing career in his traditional Zulu mbaganga style before moving to reggae in 1984 to express his anger against apartheid. Armed with a three-octave vocal range, Dube intertwines African musical forms with roots rock reggae in his high-energy performances.

World Reggae is the fifth concert of KCRW's World Festival 2002, which was created in partnership with KCRW (89.9 FM/National Public Radio). The six concert series will conclude with The Beat of Brazil on September 8.

One of the most brilliant, respected artists in Jamaica's history, BURNING SPEAR, formed in 1969, distinctively merges plaintive and political dub reggae sounds. From Jamaica, Burning Spear (a.k.a. Winston Rodney) took his influence to the U.K in the '70s, mixing spells of jazz with roots and traditional reggae and, as a result, becoming the father of the Rastafari movement in Britain. The Grammy-winner makes his Bowl debut this summer.

Since the late 1970s, LUCKY DUBE (pronounced: Doo BAY) has been a fixture on the African reggae scene. One of South Africa's best-selling artists and one of its most outspoken performers, he initially sang in the traditional Zulu mbaganga style, before moving to reggae in 1984; he became internationally recognized after his 1987 release, Slave, and began touring the world. Dube's engaging and celebratory live performances have made him a crowd-pleasing favorite. This is his Bowl debut.

Since the late 70s, England's STEEL PULSE has been one the most prolific and successful reggae bands. With ancestors from the West Indies, they became known as a favorite of Bob Marley because of their authentic island sound, merging calypso, mento, ska, bluebeat, and reggae. They initially found it difficult to get booked at clubs in England, until they endeared themselves to punk rock bands, and began opening for the Clash, Generation X, XTC, and the Police. Over the years, the band has experimented with progressive sounds, and has ultimately returned to their roots and original styles. This marks the Bowl debut for Steel Pulse.

EDITORS PLEASE NOTE:

Sunday August 11, 7:30 PM

Hollywood Bowl (2301 N. Highland Ave. in Hollywood)

World Reggae

STEEL PULSE

BURNING SPEAR

LUCKY DUBE

ANNE LITT, host

KCRW's World Festival

Backbeat Live pre-concert performances take place one hour prior to the concert at the Patio, and are free to all ticket holders. The August 11 session features reggae music with Rocky Dawuni.

Tickets ($1 - $70) are on sale now at the Hollywood Bowl box office, by calling Ticketmaster at 213.480.3232, at all Ticketmaster outlets (Robinsons May, Tower Records and Ritmo Latino locations), or online at hollywoodbowl.com. Groups of 12 or more may be eligible for a 20% discount, subject to availability; call 323.850-2050 for further details. For general information or to request a brochure, call 323.850.2000.

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