Capleton and Tarrus Riley to headline Reggae Giants Live! in Newark over Thanksgiving weekend

NEWARK, United States. Reggae stars Capleton and Tarrus Riley will headline the Reggae Giants Live! concert at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) in Newark on Friday 27 November, over the Thanksgiving weekend.

Kacy Rankine, the Jamaican-born chief executive of Roadblock Radio, said the series is presented by RoadblockRadio.com, RoadblockRadio 101.1FM HD3 and CCB INT'L. Doors open at 7pm and the show starts at 8pm.

'King Shango'

"Capleton, also known as 'King Shango' and 'The Prophet', has built a career around commanding vocals and music rooted in Rastafarian spirituality and social consciousness," Rankine said.

He said songs such as "Tour" helped introduce Capleton's sound to international audiences, while his Def Jam albums Prophecy and I-Testament linked reggae and hip-hop through collaborations with artists including Method Man and Q-Tip.

Capleton's New Jersey date follows a successful tour of the United Kingdom, where he played to packed audiences in Bristol, Birmingham and London.

But the artist said a recent appearance in Toronto, where he arrived on stage in a fire truck, produced one of the most talked-about moments of his touring schedule.

"You know, they're still talking about that entrance right now," Capleton said. "This is not a physical fire, this is a metaphorical fire. If the fireman is in the fire truck, the fire can't out."

Riley's range

Riley, who was born in the Bronx and raised in Jamaica, is the son of veteran reggae singer Jimmy Riley. Rankine said he is "celebrated for his expressive vocals and songs exploring love, cultural identity and social issues."

He gained international recognition with the album Parables, which features his signature hit "She's Royal". His catalogue also includes Contagious, Love Situation and Healing, which Rankine said reflects "a musical range grounded in roots reggae and rich vocal melodies."