Reggae fans can celebrate in style at the Bob Marley Birthday Bash! On Wednesday, February 6th fans will gather at 3rd and Lindsley, 818 3rd Ave. S. at 6:30 pm (doors open) to await the show at 7:30 pm.
Nathan Haddox, founder of Papa Nate Productions has put together a line-up of Reggae performers to include: MD & Cobalt Blue, Love Healers, and headliner, Uzoma Obiora.
Award-nominated and regionally celebrated, MD and Cobalt Blue has crafted a sound steeped in roots and culture Reggae music. This music is tempered with spoken word/hip-hop and said to be “dripping with soul and funk.” MD and Cobalt Blue is an authentic fusion of multiple music genres who originated in Nashville, TN. Their first album of original music is titled “Out of the Living Room.” They became popular among colleges that led them to perform at clubs and festivals prompting them to receive a nomination for the Nashville Independent Music Award for Best Soul/Funk fusion band four years consecutively. MD and Cobalt Blue present a brand of music that “promotes introspection, love, community, spiritual and social awareness and the celebration of life” through original songs and cover songs of Lauryn Hill, Sade, Stevie Wonder, Kanye West, and Bob Marley among others.
Love Healers are considered a movement, more so than a band. “It is our belief that we can heal through music so organically our music is pop, reggae with country undertones and the message is healing and love.” Love Healers have showcased their talents in many areas throughout the Metropolitan area. They will perform songs from their album of 12 songs that were written, produced and composed by lead singer Rasa Yana compliments of Neter Ka Sound Technology alongside vocalist and partner Empress Xi, which is the core of the band.
Uzoma Obiora, artist, educator, performer, producer, promoter, will headline the night as he performed throughout Virginia in the late 1980’s at house parties, recreation centers, barbecues, and a plethora of other venues. In the 1990s, Uzoma Obiora eclectic stylings and inspirations for writing, producing, and performing were well under way. As an apprentice-minded youth receiving encouragement and support for his musical direction from legendary trombonist Vin “Jr. Don” Gordon, of Bob Marley & the Wailers fame, and Jack Rubie protégé, Prezident Brown, he took part of a Caribbean Studies Program in Ochoa Rios Jamaica, 2000.
2018 saw Uzoma Obiora resume showcasing his artistic dexterity as a singer/songwriter, producer, and promoter, with a riveting performance, Rebirth: Re-emergence of Ragga-Funk-Reggae and Re-Release of Free-Ya-Self E.P. under his JumpJoy Productions and Vesey Vision Records imprints, leaving fans energized and yearning for more.
Most of his musical experiences were developed through his education encounters, and then though festivals of all kinds. His first single, 2000’s Reggae Music: “Met Mr. Marley on a Misty Morning, Steele Pulse reminds me to Chant a Psalm a Day, Burning Spear never lets me forget the Glorious Days from which I came…Just give me Reggae Music.”
Getting back into the promotion game himself, and in attendance at the Rebirth show, Papa Nate was moved to book Uzoma Obiora as the headline act for 2019’s Bob Marley Birthday Bash at 3rd and Lindsley, February 6, 2019.
To follow, Vesey Vision Records is releasing the single, “Butterfly,” and cutting footage for the subsequent video, through the JumpJoy Productions event, Lover’s Rock Reggae Lounge: An Intimate Women’s History Month Sunset Evening with Uzoma Obiora, in March of 2019. A lover and a fighter, exposer to his more overt political side comes in April, with JumpJoy Production’s A Path to Freedom Dinner Theatre: Acknowledging the 40th Year Anniversary of the Formative Release of Third World’s “Tribute to the Martyrs” Album.
Papa Nate said, “I want to do more to build the Reggae community here in Nashville.” There are many venues for Reggae music. “It seems that music entertainment is still overpopulated with R&B and others styles of music, rather than Reggae,” said Nate. With this show and the talent scheduled to perform at 3rd & Lindsley, it will be a great start to opening more doors in Reggae.
For tickets view the website for 3rd & Lindsley. For more information call 615-481-7372.
