California Roots Festival: Dirty Heads & Iration - Sunday in Monterey - May 28, 2023

The Elovaters

20 concerts

The Elovaters debuted on the progressive roots scene with their chart-topping 2018 album Defy Gravity. Their music has been featured on CBS and SiriusXM, and they won Artist of the Year at the 2022 New England Music Awards.

Iration

3 concerts

Iration is an alternative reggae group formed in Isla Vista, California, fusing deep-rooted reggae, rock, and pop influences. The band features Micah Pueschel, Adam Taylor, Joseph Dickens, Cayson Peterson, Micah Brown, and Drake Peterson. Since 2008, they have toured nationally, performing at major festivals like Lollapalooza.

Dirty Heads

4 concerts

Formed in Southern California in 2001, Dirty Heads mix hip-hop, reggae, and rock. They are best known for their 2017 hit Vacation, which went viral globally in 2021, and their albums including Midnight Control and 7 Seas.

The Movement

13 concerts

Formed in 2003, alternative reggae band The Movement features Joshua Swain, Jason Schmidt, Gary Jackson, Matt Goodwin, and Kyle Jerome. Their seventh studio album, Ways Of The World, debuted at number one on the Billboard Reggae Chart in 2019.

Matisyahu

17 concerts

Born in Pennsylvania, Grammy-nominated Matisyahu blends reggae, hip-hop & alt rock with spiritual grit; albums Light, Youth; hits “One Day,” “Sunshine,” “King Without a Crown.”

Shwayze

27 concerts

Shwayze is an American artist known for blending hip-hop and alternative sounds with laid-back vibes and relatable storytelling. He released the album Shwaycation and, as an independent artist, launched the premium pre-roll company Shway Sticks.

Long Beach Dub Allstars

2 concerts

Long Beach Dub Allstars are pioneers of the West Coast Cali Reggae scene. Their album Echo Mountain High explores themes from youth and ghosts to police brutality, love, hate, life, death, and mushrooms.

Tunnel Vision

1 concert

Formed in 2012 in San Clemente, California, Tunnel Vision is a surf, reggae, and ska-punk band. They signed with LAW Records in 2018, releasing albums including Days Away and Baja Bound, along with the 2019 EP Shipwrecked, which gained airplay on KROQ.

Kbong

6 concerts

Kevin "Kbong" Bong, raised in Hawaii and based in San Diego, is a multi-instrumental artist. He is known for his key role in reggae band Stick Figure and creates uplifting island reggae, surf hip-hop, and acoustic music. Popular songs include "Livin' Easy" and "Open My Eyes". Albums like "Smile With The World" (2022) and "Spirit Of The Light" (2025) feature collaborations with artists such as Mike Love and Johnny Cosmic.

California Roots Festival

3 concerts

California Roots Festival, founded in 2010, is a premier music and art event known for its vibrant reggae, reggae rock, folk, and hip-hop acts. It is celebrated as one of the largest reggae festivals, fostering a unique community vibe of peace, love, and sustainability. The festival offers a multi-layered experience with live art and a laid-back coastal atmosphere.

Johnny Cosmic

4 concerts

Johnny Cosmic is a Chicago-born reggae artist, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. Known for his reggae fusion style blending traditional and modern sounds, he is a member of Stick Figure and a sought-after producer. He contributed to SOJA's Grammy-winning album "Beauty in the Silence" and collaborated with artists like KBong and Collie Buddz. Popular songs include "Kingdom" and "Lazer Beaming".

DISPATCH

Dispatch, a leading independent rock band known for hits and activism, has eight acclaimed albums, sold-out MSG shows, huge world tours, and a 110K-fan Boston concert.

Kolohe Kai

Kolohe Kai is the Pacific Island reggae project of Oahu-born singer/songwriter Roman De Peralta. Blending ukulele localism with roots reggae, pop and R&B, he released This Is The Life (2009) and the award-winning Paradise (2013) and Summer To Winter (2019).

Thee Sacred Souls

San Diego's Thee Sacred Souls deliver retro-soul, blending Latin R&B, Northern, and Southern soul with doo-wop. Drummer Alex Garcia, bassist Sal Samano, and singer Josh Lane craft hits like "Can I Call You Rose?". Their albums include "Thee Sacred Souls" (2022) and "Got a Story to Tell" (2024). They won Artist of the Year at the 2024 San Diego Music Awards.

DENM

SoCal genre-bending musician, songwriter and producer. Debut LP Slum Beach Denny (2021) topped 25M+ streams and landed Spotify Beach Vibes cover. Produced SOJA’s Grammy-winning Beauty in the Silence; collaborated on “Rage.”

Natiruts

Born in Brasília, Natiruts, originally Nativus, excels in reggae with hits like "Presente de um Beija-Flor." Their debut sold 450,000 copies post-renaming due to a legal issue. Known for tracks "Povo Brasileiro" & "Verbalize."

The B Foundation

Hailing from Southern California, The B Foundation blends punk, reggae, and West Coast hip hop. Known for hits like “Spliffed,” they’ve toured with Slightly Stoopid and Pepper.

Taylor Goodwin

Bham Blues Explosion (Gary, Taylor, Leif & Ryan)