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‘Roll-Up’ for Reggae @ Heaton Park
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Was it a surprise to see The Wailers on the bill for The Stone Roses/Heaton Park shows in June..?
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Maybe not, as its known the Roses are all partial to a bit of reggae, especially Ian but bar the Roses themselves the only band to play all 3 nights of the weekend will be one of Jamaica’s original roots reggae groups- The Wailers. Founded around Bob Marley’s music and who still today retain that original vibe of justice, unity and peace as well as their groove are the creation of founder Aston “Family-Man” Barrett, who also still plays the central figure guiding the group through renditions of Marley classics alongside  his front men like the US born ‘Danglin’ and Jamaican ‘Koolant’, whom both come pretty close to some of the originals and keep that Marley sound & sentiment well and truly alive.ÂÂ
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The origin of The Wailers goes back to the early 60’s when Peter Tosh, Bunny Livingston and Bob Marley came together originally as The Wailing Wailers, it was during recording sessions with Lee Scratch Perry and his studio band The Upsetters, that bass player Aston Barret along with Brother Carlton began to play and write with Marley establishing The Wailers Band, an instrumental group that would go on to back Bob Marley as his main backing band when both Bunny Livingston and Peter Tosh left the group in 74.
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Bob Marley and The Wailers live,79
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It was with this line up that Bob Marley, for many, produced his finest work with songs like ‘Get Up Stand Up’, ‘Trenchtown Rock’ and ‘Stir it Up’ and along with Barret and the rest of the Wailers Marley took reggae to the four corners producing albums like Exodus and Kaya with his last album ‘Uprising’ including the epic ‘Redemption song’. Bob Marley unfortunately passed away in 1981 and it was after his passing that Aston Barrett carried on The Wailers and has continued to play shows around the world since with the group.ÂÂ
A global icon and winner of several life time achievement awards Aston “Family Man” Barrett is with out doubt one of the true pioneers of Jamaican roots reggae music, from his time working with Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry playing in The Upsetters, playing with and influencing artists like Sly & Robbie to his long successful 11yr working relationship with Bob Marley and creating tracks like ‘No Woman No Cry’ as well as other much loved songs makes him one of the few true traditional reggae artists to still be playing and releasing material today, like wise with the live shows over the last few years as The Wailers have courted some great reviews and sent many home happy after an evening of Wailer’s material alongside the Bob Marley favourites, the ‘Family Man’ has managed to keep this traditional music fresh.
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Today The Wailers include Audley Chisholm on rhythm guitar, Chico Chin on trumpet along with guest vocalist Duane Stevenson and main singers ‘Danglin’ and ‘Koolant’, the former joining the group after a cameo performance in the film ‘Made in Jamaica’ with his song and local hit ‘Rat Race’.
It was last year that saw the group cover Bob Marley and The Wailers last album and one of his most commercially successful with the ‘Uprising Tour’, playing full-on reggae classics like Could You Be Loved and Coming in From The Cold pulling in some fantastic live reviews along the way. At the same time The Wailers have made firm commitments over the last few years to the World Food Program highlighting malnutrition in under-developed countries by spreading awareness and raising money with their charity ‘They Go Hungry’, again, still showing that peace and love after all these years.
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So here’s hoping we don’t need that giant tent Reni asked for at the Roses press conference back in October and we get some of that glorious sun to soak up the rock-steady sounds of those Marley Classics, ‘Uprising’ and the ‘Family Mans’ bass drifting over Heaton Park in June,…for a double slice of “One Love”.
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