Ras Marcus Benjamin’s 60th Birthday Bash to Feature Denver’s Top Reggae Performers
Ras Marcus Benjamin's 60th Birthday Bash
Reggae on the Grass, Mobb Family Enterprises, Mile High Reggae, and Boogie Groove Entertainment Presents; Ras Marcus Benjamin’s 60th Birthday Celebration at Your Mom’s House Denver. Saturday, March 21st 2020, come join us in celebrating one of Colorado’s favorite local reggae icons. The evening will feature performances by some of the area’s favorite reggae bands, artists, and DJ’s, and will be hosted and MC’d by Rasta Stevie. There will be live music from Red Sage, Judge Roughneck, Rough & Tough, DJ BloodPresha, Spellbinder, GXLDIE, Iron Roots, One Drum, and the Colorado Binghistra.
Doors: 7pm // Show: 8pm-2am (21+)
Tickets: $10 Presale // $15 DOS
Happy Hour >> 4PM-7PM >> ½ Off All Drinks
(includes Top Shelf)
RSVP on Facebook: Here
Ras Marcus Benjamin is one of the founding fathers of what is today, a booming reggae scene in Colorado. He has lived in the state for over three decades and has dedicated that time to helping grow our music scene in many ways. Ras Marcus has worked as a performer, promoter, booking agent, music manager, producer, and everything in between. He is a well known dub poet and has been writing, recording, and performing dub poetry for many years. Dub Poetry combines the spoken word tradition of the original Beat Poets with the songs and chants of Reggae music. Ras Marcus has many singles he has released as well as a full-length album. He is the only American Dub poet to put out a full-length album. His most recent project is managing the Boulder based reggae band that’s got everyone talking, Stylie.
MC Rasta Stevie “The World Emcee” has been an integral part of the Colorado reggae movement for over three decades as well. He has been holding down the reggae scene in his hometown of Durango for well over 20 years now as a radio DJ and is known across the state for hosting and MC’ing all types of reggae events. Rasta Stevie is one of the masterminds behind Reggae on the Grass, along with DJ BloodPreshah. His Heart Beat of Zion radio show has been on air for more than 35 years now.
Red Sage is quickly becoming one of Denver’s best known reggae bands. The group consists of 5 core members who have all gathered a great deal of experience playing live shows around Colorado. The group maintains a steady schedule of performances across the state and they are constantly working to push boundaries in the genre. Red Sage was named one of Colorado’s Top Acts by Denver Westword in 2018 and they continue to receive respect and recognition for their original style everywhere they play. Their full-length studio album “Pick Up the Pieces” was released in 2017 and is available on all platforms.
Judge Roughneck is Colorado’s premier ska band. They are loved and welcomed by every reggae enthusiast at reggae shows around the state. Ska and reggae have always gone hand and hand and Judge Roughneck compliments any band well on stage. They have been performing their eclictic mix of original ska and reggae tunes together since 1995 and continue to perform regularly across the state. Judge Roughneck has performed alongside some of the biggest names in the genre, such as UB40, the Skatalites, Steel Pulse, and more. Judge Roughneck has produced 4 full-length albums: Pick You Up, True, Skankin’ Naked, and Rude One’s Money Making Scheme.
Rough and Tough
Rough and Tough is a live loop performance project by Ras Iffical and Wylie “Crazy Horse” Jones of Dubskin. They will be performing a loop set this evening that is sure to leave you in a dub infused daze. Wylie Jones has been keeping a heavy schedule of solo shows with his own loop showcase all around the state this year. When he is not busy mashing loops at our favorite breweries, he can be found playing the keys on stage with big name local acts, such as the Reminders, Rastasauraus, and of course, Dubskin.
A man who needs no introduction, DJ BloodPreshah is a long time Colorado reggae DJ. He is a well known on air radio personality, a founder of Reggae on the Grass, and a seasoned selector of crucial reggae tunes. He is a frequent host of KGNU’s Reggae Bloodlines, Reggae Transfusion, and Dub Palace radio hours. When you are not listening to him on the radio, you can usually find him behind the wheels of steel for just about every major reggae show that comes through Denver. DJ BloodPreshah is a top-notch DJ, event organizer, promoter, and educator for all of us on the subject of reggae and similar genres.
Spellbinder
Spellbinder is one of the driving forces behind Denver’s growing dancehall sound system scene. He is a long-time MC who is capable of producing a steady stream of lyrical madness on the microphone. He produces and releases his own music regularly and has recently joined forces with Denver Vintage Reggae Society to host Level the Vibes at the Black Box, where they perform under the shared name of Capital Hill Hi-Fi. Spellbinder is a powerhouse of music production and has released 10 albums of his own that are all available on his website.
GXLDIE
Like father, like son, GXLDIE is the direct descendant of Ras Marcus Benjamin himself. He creates his own music and performs as a rapper with a progressive style. He will be performing some of his own original music at the show and is sure to be gaining a lot of new fans when he does.
Iron Roots is a high altitude roots reggae/dub band from the town of Pinecliffe, Colorado. The group came together in 2015 and has released several singles, videos, and live recordings that can all be heard on SoundCloud. The band has performed at venues around the state such as Herman’s Hideaway, the Wood Cellar, and the Skylark Lounge.
One Drum is a roots reggae band from the Front Range. They have opened for some of the reggae greats, such as Isreal Vibrations and Lee Scratch Perry. Their new EP “Lionz Den” was released in 2019 and is a testimony to their unique blend of roots reggae and world music sounds. The band has also released several singles and live videos that exhibit their solid performances together as a band.
Colorado Binghistra
The Colorado Binghistra is a drum and percussion group that practices traditional Nyabinghi drumming and chanting. Nyabinghi drumming is a cultural music form that imitates the heartbeat. Drummers chant and maintain a constant rhythm for several minutes at a time in what is known as a “groundation” ceremony. With its origins in Uganda, this meditative form was developed to “chant” against the oppressive colonial regime. In Jamaica, the Nyabinghi was an expression of resistance, used to invoke the power of Jah against the oppressor.
Your Mom’s House is Denver’s premier intimate music venue located in the heart of Denver in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. The venue has been an important part of the local music scene since its opening and continues to maintain a friendly and comfortable atmosphere for performers and concert attendees alike. Your Moms House is a great place to see up and coming local talent as well as touring acts on their Denver stops.
“Denver’s Best New Independent Venue. You’ll feel right at home, just like Your Mom’s House.”
