South Bend 6th Reggae/World Music Festival

- August 14th, 2010 -

2009  Festival Lineup

The Original Wailers - Featured Performers!

Bob Marley and the Wailers have sold more than 250 million albums over the past 40 years and it has been his band that has helped create this international success.  

Now many of Marley’s legendary musicians, together with other renowned reggae sessionmen, have now reformed under the title of The Original Wailers. It was these celebrated musicians who gave Marley the platform for his explosive brand of roots rock reggae, and audiences will be delighted to learn that the magic and commitment’s still there, all these years later.   

Keyboard player Earl “Wya” Lindo first joined the Wailers with Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer in 1973, at the time when the Wailers’ debut album for Island Records, Catch A Fire, was first released. “Wya” has played on classic records by Bob, Peter and Bunny, as well as the Abyssinians, Dennis Brown and many others, including U.S. bluesman Taj Mahal.  

American born guitarist Al Anderson joined the Wailers a year later, just prior to Natty Dread becoming Bob Marley and the Wailers’ breakthrough album in the US. It was Al’s playing on hits like “No Woman No Cry” that first alerted rock fans to the Wailers’ music, and lent Marley’s songs their international appeal during his career. He’s played with Peter Tosh, James Brown, Traffic, Ben Harper and Lauryn Hill.   He also produced Steven Seagal’s first album Songs from the Crystal Cave.   

Bob Marley enrolled singer/guitarist Junior Marvin in the Wailers during sessions for the Exodus and Kaya albums, shortly before the band’s legendary appearance at London’s Rainbow Theatre in 1977. A former rock artist, his solos on tracks like “Waiting In Vain”, “The Heathen” and “Jammin” have proven unforgettable, confirming him as one of reggae’s premier instrumentalists. Exodus was Junior's first album with Marley and the Wailers and it was voted ‘Best Album Of The 20th Century' by Time Magazine.  Junior has also played with Ike & Tina Turner, Steve Winwood, Stevie Wonder, Toots & the Maytals, and recently with OAR. 

Junior, Al and Wya toured and recorded with Marley until his death in 1981. This places them among the rare few – the only true torchbearers of his legacy -- which they memorably helped to create.  Now The Original Wailers, with Junior handling all lead vocals, promise to recreate musical history as they continue to spread the message of “One Love.”

Junior Marvin - Vocals, Guitar;  Al Anderson - Guitar;  Earl “Wya” Lindo - B3, Keyboards

Indika Reggae Band

TheIndika Reggae Band itself has won several music awards in the Windy City. In addition to their own high energy shows, they have also been honored to back international Reggae artists such as Dennis Brown, Frankie Paul, Sugar Minott and U Roy. The Members of Indika developed their talents on the island of Jamaica, giving them an authentic sound. They perform old Reggae favorites with new life, and add to the Reggae world with new original songs. They have performed on TV as Jenny Jones "House Band," and was invited to perform at the Apollo Theatre in New York. Look for their two award winning CD's "Proud 2-B your 'Budd'" and "Live at Exedus ll" at your local record store.

Zion Lion Reggae Band

Zion Lion Reggae Band is the "baddest" band to hit Kalamazoo. Zion Lion is a combination of several bands from the Kalamazoo area who crossed each others path along the way and decided to form what we believe to be the right mix of reggae, zouk, soukous, and afo-latin influences. Come out to see if we are playing at a venue in your town.

Duppy Conqueror's

The Duppy Conqueror’s, based out of SW Michigan, has set out to embody the heart and soul of old school reggae and ska, cirque The Wailers and The Skatalites 1963 (and they do a damn good job for a couple of white boys). As likely to be inspired by Bob Marley and Culture as they are by the Rolling Stones and The Allman Brothers, The Duppy Conqueror’s pull a surprise around every corner with their versatile song selection and charisma, these guys keep the party going strong! The Duppy Conqueror’s are 21st century Rock Steady.

Raised on Roots, Rock and Reggae, The Duppy’s were schooled on the legends of Motown Soul, Dub and Rock n’ Roll. Absorbing the modern world of music while embracing the history of roots gives the Duppy Conqueror’s a fresh outlook on this “ragged” style of dance music we call reggae. The Duppy Conqueror’s brings you Old School acoustic reggae for the modern age.

Combining a wide range of musical influences with acoustic instrumentation, The Duppy’s emerged in the summer of 2008 as one of SW Michigan’s premier party bands. The groups approach to music is enriched by over 30 years of combined musical experience, which gives the Duppy Conqueror’s the ability to express themselves as artist and still pay homage to musical greats by sharing their gift of song with fans young and old alike.

The Duppy Conqueror’s will keep you dancing and singing along all night, with melodies that stay with you like a fond childhood memory. Simply press play on one of their albums or see them perform live. The Duppy’s will turn even the hardest core “Back Woods Good Ole’ Boy” into a reggae fan.

More Than Sunday (MTS)

The festival grounds need to be blessed before any acts. A brief musical worship will be said by a modern contemporary praise band. This is an awesome band which comprises of men and women. They are all talented in playing instruments and have voices which you have never heard before. MTS started in 2005 as the praise worship team at Westminster Presbyterian Church in South Bendto bring contemporary Christian music to their congregation.  MTS leads Saturday evening worship services at Westminsterand has become a missionary arm of the church into our community by performing at other area churches, Geneva Center, the South Bend parks concert series, Art Beat, Crop Walk, and the Juvenile Correctional Facility, hence truly promoting the Christian message of "More Than Sunday!"  The praise worship services occur at Westminster on the first, third, and fifth (when they occur) Saturdays of each month.  Service begins at 7:00pm with casual bible study at 6:30pm.  Other events in which MTS participates are posted on the church website www.wpcsb.org.

Allan Ngumuya

Born in 1966 in Blantyre Malawi, Africa on 8th of August; 4th born in the family of 8.Generally Allan Ngumuya’s music is quoted to be the soul music of Malawi, it is the type of music that mostly soothes and comforts the heart broken, mostly, the rising of death due to HIV and Tuberculosis epidemic. He sings in five different languages, and his genre goes as far as Southern African tradition of Zulu, Reggae, ballads and Southern Gospel country. He has the talent of fusing these genres or even sings them in their originals sound. Allan ngumuya singing career dates back 1980, when he was at Malamulo Primary School. He was attending a boarding school. He admired Malamulo choir and a quartet called “Take His world Quartet” which one of the members (Steve Nkosi) was his friend, they use to share the same guitar own by Joe Mfune. Allan Ngumuya started to learn and play by ear basic chords tought by the late Steven Ndiche, later formed his own quartet. Allan Ngumuya went to Bilila M.C.D.E. center, Lilongwe Commerce secondary, later he finished his high school at Lunjika Seventh Day Adventist Secondary School in 1989. His first recording was Chikondi cha Mulungu 1989, which did not make any head lines. His second album was Mtanda which some of the songs come from the first album, this album did not make any head lines until 1992 when Pastor Wame from Salima preached on the radio, one of his song was used on the inter-rude and closing of the radio programmed. From then on, people started loving his music. Third album 1993 was Kweza Maso; Fourth album was Misonzi 1994 which become a household album. He was crowned as the best music artist on entertainer of entertainers in Malawi 1994. Fifth album was Kodi Yesu Asamala? 1995, the sixth album was Umkonde yesu 1997. Allan Ngumuya thought of going to United States of America for further education and it materialized in 1998. He recorded his seventh album Tidzikumbukira in 1999, which also made a huge head lines in Malawi. His eighth album was Mbiri Ya Mtanda 2000. His ninth album was I’ve got hope in which Jabulani made it in Malawi 2003. Tenth album was Mathew seven verses Seven 2005. His eleventh album He Touched Me has just come out 2009 and this is pure southern country gospel style, just to prove his love for country music. This album also shows his maturity and growth in music, since he went to Nashville Tennessee to record this at a professional level. If you listen to his latest album you will appreciate his transition. While Allan Ngumuya has been recording his albums in the USA, he has been also continued his education. He is a graduate of Masters Degree in professional communication from Purdue University in Fort Wayne Indiana (IPFW). He also has a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration, and also an Associate Degree in Video Technology and broadcasting. He is an achiever in life not a quitter. That is what he known by his fans. The good thing is, his love for singing still stays the same.