[ LOVERS ROCK ]
Veteran Freddie McGregor makes his Hawaii debut tonight.
Reggae to da max
GET READY to skank the weekend away, as a pair of concerts tonight and tomorrow present a legendary reggae artist direct from Jamaica and some of the best roots music Hawaii has to offer.
With a recording career spanning more than four decades, Jamaica's Freddie McGregor makes his Hawaii debut at Volcanoes Nightclub tonight. He first set foot in the studio at the age of 7, and has written, recorded and performed around the world ever since.
Freddie McGregor with Ooklah the Moc and Red Degree
Where: Volcanoes NightclubWhen: 9 p.m. today
Tickets: $30
Call: 528-7071
"Reggae at the Tower"
With Melodious Solutions, Thick Tubes, Natural Vibrations, Red Degree, T.H.C., Forward and The LambsbreadWhere: Kapono's
When: 7 p.m. tomorrow (doors open at 6 p.m.)
Tickets: $18
Call: 536-2100
"There's no ending in sight," said the 47-year-old when reached by phone in Florida earlier this week. "There will be years to come when I can kick back and relax."
For now, McGregor continues with a hectic tour schedule, which took him throughout much of Europe earlier this year and will send him to Canada next month. With over three dozen albums to his credit, including favorites like "Big Ship," "Freddie Sings Jamaican Classics Vol. 1" and "Lovers Rock," the songwriter/producer/concert promoter continues to make his mark on reggae music worldwide.
"I'm hoping that come 20, 30 years from now, a lot of people will find a lot of original material by me that they want to cover," he said. "Each album represents a different time, a different place, a different era, a different situation."
A number of McGregor's eight children have also gotten into the music business, helping him run his record label, Big Ship, and embarking on recording careers of their own. One of his five daughters, Yeshemabeth, is also scheduled to make the trip to Hawaii.
He's not looking to pass the torch to his kids, he said: "It's already been passed."
A number of McGregor's children are already acclaimed producers in Jamaica, and he plans to return home later this summer to continue working with them on new material that's expected to be released by the end of 2004.
While this weekend marks his first concert performance in the islands, McGregor will also celebrate his birthday here on Sunday, which makes the trip even more special to him.
"I can't wait," he said with a chuckle. "One thing I'm sure, no one should miss this one. I'm expecting to see all the people who have been waiting for all these years.
"We're going to lay it down properly. ... We come in full squad!"
tomorrow, Kapono's hosts "Reggae at the Tower," a showcase of reggae bands from both Oahu and Kauai.
Local favorites Natural Vibrations and T.H.C. will be joined by Melodious Solutions, Red Degree and Thick Tubes, with Forward and The Lambsbread making the trip from Kauai to perform on stage at Aloha Tower Marketplace.
Presale tickets are still available for the show at $12 each, and are available at Cheapo's, Rainbow Music & Books, Jelly's, Harry's Music, Hungry Ear and the Liquor Collection.
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