Groundation

About This Event

On Saturday, September 26th the Community Center for the Performing Arts proudly welcomes Groundation to the WOW Hall. With support from Sol Seed. GROUNDATION has performed in over 35 countries on 5 continents taking the main stages at world renown reggae festivals including Germany’s Summer Jam, France’s No Logo, and Brazil’s Republica do Reggae. The group has released 10 studio albums to critical acclaim and their 2003 release Hebron Gate has made many industry lists of the greatest reggae albums of all time. GROUNDATION’s latest studio album, One Rock keeps their sound and legacy moving ever forward with 9 powerful songs featuring complex arrangements, moving melodies and lyrics that touch on the human condition, the human spirit and the state of the world. Always a group to respect their elders, on this album GROUNDATION makes history once again collaborating with the legendary reggae vocal groups Israel Vibration, The Abyssinians and The Congos. More than two decades into a storied career, GROUNDATION has helped define American roots reggae, while building a large and loyal following in Europe, South America, Australia/New Zealand, and the US where they have been a consistent major headliner and festival attraction for the last 18 years. GROUNDATION formed in 1998 when Stafford started a roots reggae/jazz fusion group with fellow students at the Jazz Performance program at Sonoma State University. Stafford’s interest and knowledge of the reggae genre led to him developing and offering a course he taught at Sonoma State called “The History of Reggae Music.” Reggae legends like Joseph Hill of Culture and historical icons like Abba Melchezadek (Haile Selassie’s private secretary) amongst others came and shared their personal experiences with the classes. GROUNDATION’s first two albums, Young Tree and Each One Teach One, established their unique roots sound, while also commencing collaborations with foundational reggae artists. Each One Teach One features the vocalist Marcia Higgs and the Nyabinghi drumming master Ras Michael. In 1999, while in Jamaica, Harrison met the legendary studio engineer Jim Fox, who did extensive production and recording for RAS Records, including their most iconic releases. This was the beginning of a longstanding relationship between GROUNDATION and Lion and Fox recording studios. Subsequently Fox re-mastered Young Tree and Each One Teach One and he recorded and mixed Hebron Gate (2003) the album that solidified their unique and jazzy approach to their music. Fox has continued working with GROUNDATION on their subsequent releases helping to shape their sound on We Free Again (2004), Upon The Bridge (2006), Here I Am (2009), Building An Ark (2012) and A Miracle (2014). Together they built a catalog of genre-bending, deep, progressive roots reggae music. GROUNDATION’s visual artwork has also had a consistent look and feel headed by Giovanni Maki, Stafford’s childhood friend. Giovanni has created the album graphics and visual designs for GROUNDATION from the group’s inception. They have had a number of personnel changes over the years, but with Harrison Stafford at the helm, GROUNDATION continues to bring reggae into new worlds. Their album, The Next Generation (2018) opens with a full jazz big band (featuring 12 horn players). This album won Reggae.fr’s “Best Roots Reggae Album of 2018,” This award was voted on by over 16,000 media members, musicians, producers and fans. Following tours throughout Europe, South America and the United States in 2022 in support of their new studio album One Rock, GROUNDATION returned to the road in 2023 after the release of Dreaming From An Iron Gate, a reimagining of their 2003 release Hebron Gate which saw the group performing the entire album from front to back thrilling fans throughout Europe, North America, and Brazil. The journey continues in 2024 and beyond as GROUNDATION spreads their message of hope and music to the four corners of the world. Learn more online at YouTube, Facebook, Instagram or at www.groundation.com GROUNDATION feat. The Congos – One Rock GROUNDATION – We Free Again (LIVE) OPENER: SOL SEED Born of the woods, rivers, and waterfalls of Oregon, Sol Seed is a reggae-fusion collective known for weaving heavy reggae grooves with hip-hop, rock, soul, and psychedelic world-music textures. With multiple diverse singers, didgeridoo and a locked-in rhythm section, their sound moves effortlessly from hypnotic one-drop and dub explorations to explosive, guitar-driven rock climaxes. At the heart of Sol Seed is a simple guiding intent: Connection. Every show is crafted as a shared experience where the crowd becomes part of the music – a traveling family tree rooted in positivity, reflection, release, and the deep-roots spirit of the Pacific Northwest. Sol Seed first planted itself firmly in the PNW scene in the early 2010s, quickly earning a reputation as one of Eugene’s most exciting live acts. Their 2012 album “Grown Deep” and subsequent releases helped them rack up a run of local accolades, including the longest-held yearly “Eugene’s Best Band” title in the city’s history. Touring relentlessly in their beloved tour bus, Falkor, they built a grassroots following from the Northwest to the Southeast, bringing their high-energy, community-minded show to venues, festivals, and block parties across the country. The band’s studio work deepened with the albums Family Tree and The Spark. Family Tree showcased their playful, stylistically diverse side, while The Spark (2017) leaned into a moodier, rainy-day reggae palette – heavier dub, more minor-key textures, and lyrics responding directly to the social and cultural moment. Tracks like “Respect,” “One Step,” “Chant Down,” and “Boom Shot” highlighted Sol Seed’s ability to balance dancefloor pressure with pointed, thoughtful messaging. Their live Sugarshack session of “Family Tree” became one of the channel’s most-viewed videos, surpassing 9 million views and introducing the band to listeners around the world. Over more than a decade on the road, Sol Seed has shared stages with reggae scene heavyweights including The Marley Family, Rebelution, Stick Figure, Slightly Stoopid, Tribal Seeds, Groundation, The Black Seeds, Katchafire, and many more. After a short hiatus to focus on family and life beyond the van, the group has re-emerged, recharged and renewed, returning to festival lineups and crafting new material that reflects both their roots, evolution, and the miles they’ve traveled. From sweaty club gigs to headlining festival stages, Sol Seed continues to carry the Pacific Northwest’s deep-roots energy into every venue, inviting audiences into a space of celebration, reflection, and collective uplift. Learn more about Sol Seed online on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter (X), ReverbNation, and at: www.solseedmusic.com Sol Seed – Respect (LIVE)  Sol Seed – Family Tree (LIVE ACOUSTIC)

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