Rebel Roots
“Rebel Roots is a band right now in Chicago who is hot, burnin’ a fire everywhere you go, it’s all about Rebel Roots.” (DJ Slacky J, WLUW FM 89.3)
Rebel Roots plays organic, raw, soulful roots, lovers, dub and dancehall reggae with an undeniably international and positive vibration. Uniting musicians from three continents and five nations, Rebel Roots’ mission is to build bridges of compassion and understanding across racial and cultural communities in Chicago and beyond.
Born and raised in the mountain village of Catadupa, Jamaica, frontman and lead vocalist Eddy Graham lends a uniquely authentic island voice to this talented group of multicultural musicians. With members reigning from Jamaica, Poland, Ethiopia, Ghana, and Chicago, Rebel Roots cooks up a special blend of musical and cultural influences that converge to form an infectiously funky reggae experience. This Chicago-based band is steadily gaining a reputation for its energetic and dynamic live shows at clubs and festivals in and around the Chicago area…
Rebel Roots was the only local band featured at the Congress Theatre’s 1st annual One Love Euro Reggae Festival in November 2009, where they followed reggae legends and GRAMMY award winners Inner Circle (“Bad Boys”). Rebel Roots has also shared the bill with such giants as Culture and Beres Hammond, and has performed as the backing band for such greats as Singing Melody as well as for other touring reggae and soca artists from Jamaica and Guyana. In 2008, Rebel Roots joined forces with Rasta Kelly in opening for Junior Reed (of Black Uhuru) at the 16th annual International Festival of Life, and also opened for European reggae stars Vavamuffin at the 29th annual Taste of Polonia Festival. The band has also appeared at the Taste of Chicago, Navy Pier, Chicago Caribbean Festival, Chicago World Music Festival, and Rock Island Reggae Festival (YaMakaMyWeekend), and has been featured at clubs such as Exedus, the Dark Room, Reggie’s, and the Beat Kitchen-- to name a few.
“Their music is universal, and their live shows are off the hook-- never failing to bring people together on the dance floor.”
CONTACT: Leszek Janowski 773.510.4637 or Andy Miller 773.213.1104
SELECTED PAST PERFORMANCES
- Dark Room (opening for and also backing band for Singing Melody and Jovi Rockwell), October, 2010
- Taste of Polonia , September 2010, 2009, 2008
- Rock Island Reggae Festival (YaMakaMyWeekend), August 2010
- Harambe Festival (Hyde Park), August 2010
- Taste of Chicago Taste Stage, June, 2010
- Jeff Fest May, 2010
- Logan Square Auditorium (opening for Funkadesi), March 2010
- Exedus II, March, April, July 2010
- Beat Kitchen, March, 2010
- One Love Euro Reggae Fest @ Congress Theatre (with Grammy award-winners Inner Circle), November, 2009
- Milwaukee Avenue Arts Festival, August, 2009
- Navy Pier Beer Garden, June, 2009
- International Festival of Life (opening for Junior Reed of Black Uhuru), July 2008, and also 2009 and 2010
- African-Caribbean Festival (Union Park, Chicago) (together with Culture and Beres Hammond), August, 2009
- Chicago World Music Festival, September 2009 and 2008
Instrumentation
from Jamaica- Eddie Graham on lead vocals and guitar
from Poland- Mike Bochanek on bass
from Ghana- Joseph Sarpong on keyboards
from Chicago- Andy Miller on guitar
from Chicago- Casper or Shaun on drums
from Chicago- Carter Gilbertson on vocals
(And depending on the event/venue, other performers may include from Ethiopia- Ahadoo (AKA Tewdros Aklulu) on keyboard, from Chicago- Ryan Mayor and Chris Edwards on percussion.
CONTACT; Leszek Janowski (773)510 4637 or Andy Miller (773)213 1104
Discography
“Rebel Roots” was released January 1, 2009 (full length album- 11 songs, 60 minutes of music)
Select tracks are currently streaming at www.sonicbids.com/rebelroots and www.myspace.com/rebelrootsmusic
The cd has received air play on WLUW FM 88.7, WNUR FM 89.3, WHPK 88.5 FM, and Polskie Radio WNVR AM 1030.