Attending a Ziggy Marley concert is the closest thing to a reggae church service you can get, if such a thing officially existed. His talented and humble way of delivering his music leaves many in the audience feeling uplifted and inspired to be alive.
Victoria’s Royal Theatre was pulsating with a full house of music lovers being treated to a rare tour seeing Ziggy performing in smaller cities and ones he hasn’t appeared at before across Canada and the United States.
By the time he was sharing his third song the audience launched the dance party in front of their seats and barely sat down after that.
Marley served up a great blend of his new material along with fan favourites from his days with the Melody Makers (when he performed with his brother Stephen and sisters Cedella and Sharon) combined with many of his father Bob’s most popular songs.
The crowd enthusiastically sang along to Ziggy’s iconic anthem “Love is My Religion,” — The modern day equivalent of his dad’s rally call to humanity “One Love.” Other songs like “You’ve Got to Be True to Yourself” and “Personal Revolution” offer insights into personal growth that can benefit the human family and encourage us to be guided by our hearts in our daily actions and be the best we can be. Ziggy’s lyrics promote values that can improve the quality of life for all.
His eight-member band offered up the sunny and talented sound reggae music is known for. It’s the sound that can pull you away from a bad day at work or help you navigate a gnarly commute safely or put you in a great mood anytime. It’s a timeless sound his father and mother introduced to the world in 1970’s. Ziggy’s own version moves his audience spiritually and brings out the dancer in those listening.
In true Marley fashion, Ziggy’s young children were dancing and hanging out at the edge of the stage as their papa serenaded his receptive fans — just as Ziggy did when he was a child.
Whether you just love getting your dance on to reggae music or you genuinely hear Ziggy’s call to celebrate and protect the best in humanity, his concerts are not to be missed. If you didn’t make it out to The Royal Theatre you can purchase his CD’s or his children’s book and follow him online at ziggymarley.com
By Teoni Spathelfer
