JAMMING: Reggae outfit The Roots Rockers will perform at Baran's Theatre Restaurant on Greenmarket Square tomorrow. The band celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. JAMMING: Reggae outfit The Roots Rockers will perform at Baran's Theatre Restaurant on Greenmarket Square tomorrow. The band celebrates its 30th anniversary this year.
Terri Dunbar-Curran
BACK in the 1980s, reggae outfit The Roots Rockers could be seen on stage at countless festivals, events and celebrations, as well as simply jamming together as often as possible. Now, after having given younger artists the chance to experience the spotlight, they are ready to reconnect with their fans.
The band was formed back in the early 1980s in Strandfontein Village around the time that reggae legend Bob Markey died. ‘There was a Bob Marley frenzy going on,” says drummer and percussionist Trevor “IT” Ebden. “We listened to Redemption Song and realised he was actually talking to us. We needed to help him sing this song.”
So they began to put their words to music, hoping that as a result, the message they had to share wouldn’t see them arrested.
“We’d be jamming on the corner with a guitar and one guy on bongos – harmo-nising. It was a ghetto kind of vibe,” says Trevor, adding that at the time they didn’t realise it was the start of The Roots Rockers, which later took off in 1985. “We were activists, everyone was singing and feeling the spirit of Bob Marley.”
The band gradually grew from a three-piece to a five-piece, performing gigs all over town. From civic centres and political rallies, to all the popular clubs – The Roots Rockers were there and jamming.
“It feels like yesterday because that spirit and urge is still there,” says Trevor. “We can see how far we’ve come and how far we have to go. We can see the winning line.” For the past while their focus has been on gathering material to put on SoundCloud and promoting themselves. So far they have been pleased with the reaction, with many of their “likes” coming from abroad. “We’ve even had requests to do shows in Japan and Dubai, but we want to establish ourselves in our own country. Most people who know us here are from the 1980s. But not the youngsters. We gave them a chance to do their thing, but now it’s our time. We’ve got that spirit and we still have a message.”
As lead vocalist Gavin “IG” Ebden says, their decades-long career has seen them perform with the likes of Bright Blue, Sipho Hotstix Mabuse, and Brenda Fassie. ‘We’ve always been a part of things.” And now fans can look forward to even more live performances.
Catch them at Baran’s on Greenmarket Square on Saturday as they celebrate their 30th anniversary. The band also features bassist and keyboardist Norman “Boss” Mogamisi, lead guitarist Marnie “Brother Mann”, and rhythm guitarist Simon “Ta Si” Kopane.
“We want to drive home the message of African redemption, and the message of Haile Selassie,” says Trevor. “Politicians have forgotten what the purpose is of our redemption in South Africa: uniting all the people all over Africa through the message of ubuntu.”
He says that their sound has changed a lot over the years, but “the roots are still there”. “It still has the old feeling, but more updated beats. So the kids can identify, But it’s not too commercial. People can identify with our sound. Like with bands like Freshlyground and MiCasa, the songs change, but you can still hear it’s them.”
One of the most important messages they hope to share at their live gigs is one of world peace. “It’s only through the guidance and the power of the Most High. God gave us a talent and a song to sing. We must make use of it. It would be wrong not to. Many people would give up. We need to be a beam of light and a beam of hope, especially in these dire times,” says Trevor.
He says that The Roots Rockers never have a shortage of issues to write about. “Music has a very important role. It’s the same as it was in the struggle, but now it’s even more important, because it’s a universal struggle.”
The band is very open to audiences getting involved in their performances. “We don’t want to act like superstars,” says Gavin. “We dance among them. Come with your drums and shakers. It’s a completely interactive live experience.”
“It’s the heartbeat,” aggress Trevor. “We want them to feel what we feel. It’s a fulfilling feeling. We want people to feel inspired to live.”
While the reggae scene changed and grew in the late 1980s and early 1990s, Trevor feels that there has not been much new happening in recent years, and that’s where The Roots Rockers plan to step in and make a difference. They are keen to organise festivals, get the more youth involved, and take reggae back to the streets. Their aim is to make Cape Town the “reggae capital” once more.
l Catch The Roots Rockers at Reggae Explosion 2015 at Baran’s Theatre Restaurant on Greenmarket Square on Saturday at 7pm. Tickets: R40, www.facebook.com/Roots Rockersza