NZ Musicians To Pay Homage To Bob Marley

Reggae music has always found favour in the music market of New Zealand, and 35 years after the death of reggae star Bob Marley the country continues to pay homage to the man and his music, the Jamaica Observer writes.

Some of New Zealand’s biggest musical stars will come together in Tauranga to pay their respects to Marley with an outdoor concert on 9 December.

According to concert organisers, the Marley – NZ All-Stars Celebrate the Legend concert will be held at Wharepai Domain to recognise and celebrate the late singer’s legacy. Boh Runga and Tiki Taane will join musicians such as Ria Hall, Logan Bell (Katchafire), Laughton Kora (Kinetic, Kora), Jason Kerrison (OpShop, Babysitters Circus and Fungi), Anna Coddington, Fran Kora (Kora) and P Diggs (Shapeshifter) to perform Marley’s biggest hits. The Modern Maori Quartet is expected to open the concert.

Internet reports quote concert promoter Jackie Sanders saying the concert would be “unique and special”.

“His music continues to influence and have an impact on our lives,” Sanders says. “He was a lover and a fighter. His themes of love, family and togetherness still resonate as strongly as his cry for social justice and revolution.”

According to Wikipedia, the 1979 Bob Marley concert at Western Springs Stadium is credited with having a huge influence of the growth of reggae in the country and inspiring many prominent reggae artists.

Marley died in 1981 at the age of 36.

Original article by Jamaica Observer, August 14, 2016.