‘Reggae Revival’ instigator on tour, heads to Colorado Springs

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO – When a new generation of reggae artists emerged out of Jamaica and into the wider world, they became known as pioneers of a ‘Reggae Revival’ movement. Here in the U.S., names like Protoje, Chronixx, Jah9, Jesse Royal, Kabaka Pyramid, Raging Fyah and Pentateuch are increasingly being recognized but one important name still eludes many. That name is Dutty Bookman, the man who coined the movement’s very name.

Dutty Bookman is an author who, at 29 years young in 2011, had the audacity to pen and publish his own memoir about his transformative, post-university years spent in his homeland. That book, Tried & True: Revelations of a Rebellious Youth, earned Bookman a devoted global following of people who consider him an important voice of self reflection and social awareness. His second book, Fatidic: Selected Duttyisms added momentum to his cult fame. Popularizing an entire creative movement was a watershed moment.

Speaking in auspicious settings like universities and reggae festivals is only one aspect of the multi-faceted Bookman. He is also an accomplished roots dub reggae DJ who tends to deliver trance-induced messages over crucial riddims.

“I actually started selecting music after migrating to the United States because I realized that what people were promoting as ‘reggae’ events actually represented only a watered down pop version of Jamaican or even Rastafari culture. I was coming from weekly visits to Kingston Dub Club every Sunday night. This was an alternate reality,” said Bookman, who felt it his duty to introduce the more authentic vibrations to a new generation of North Americans. “I know what I want to feel, especially if I’m going to pay money to listen to music. So I basically decided to find the people who will be happy to listen to the same edifying sounds.”

On Saturday, August 5, Dutty Bookman’s Fallen Fighters U.S. Tour will make a stop at the One Love Club in Colorado Springs.

A note from Dutty:

Doors opened. I went through.

So far, 2017 has been a very active and progressive year in my quest to travel the globe while sustaining myself and my tribe in the process. In my last email blast in January, I mentioned that doors were opening in my favor. Since then I took on a new role as Tour Manager for Protoje, which has proven to be very fulfilling. I also toured with Chronixx for almost 2 months and gained even more inspiration. Now the summer is upon me with a wealth of fresh experiences, a grateful heart, and also a great deal of exhaustion. But the works must go on!