2024 WRAP UP
Well, we made it! Another year in the books and we would like to thank ALL OF YOU who have stuck with us over the years, through thick and thin, and who help keep the reggae vibe alive and well! After the lows of the pandemic era, it’s been a long road back, but it looks like there’s a light at the end of the tunnel, so to speak, and hopefully, it’s not just another train coming – lol! There were some venues we had to let go of due to safety and health precautions, but during the warmer months, wev’e been able to compensate for that with more outdoor shows, and last year the weather cooperated more often than not.
As most of you know, our new bass player – Melissa Platten – is now firmly established and has made amazing progress, immersing herself into the music and becoming a solid, foundational piece of the band. By her self-motivation and drive, she actually pushes us to become better and to grow along with her, and for that, we are extremely grateful for her energy and passion. As a band that has been together for 30(+) years, we were truly in need of a spark to reignite the creative flame and help it to burn even brighter!
I feel like 2024 was an exceptional year for us. Although we have scaled back our schedule a bit from what it has been in the past, we have still been able to play enough gigs to keep our chops strong and maintain a presence on the live scene. The creative energy in the band has been at a high level with new songs being written and added to our repertoire, and I surely attribute that to everyone re-dedicating themselves to trying to make it the best band we can possibly be and wanting to give our best at each and every show. We know there’s still work to do towards that goal, so by challenging ourselves, we keep that drive alive.
We’ve had the pleasure of sharing the stage with a fascinating variety of talented artists including:
#ShākēGround Band
We got to play at several new venues (for us) throughout the year including:
The private parties and weddings we did took us to Chagrin Lagoons Marina, the Shores of Lake Erie in Sandusky and Marblehead, Lake Farm Park, and Happy Days Lodge at the Cuyahoga Valley National Park!
We have long standing traditions with outdoor venues and events such as Wade Oval, The Massillon Museum (Island Party), Jefferson Rocks West Park, Edgewater Live, Cuyahoga Falls Amphitheatre, as well as the great concert venues we have in the area like The Music Box Supper Club, The Grog Shop, Beachland Ballroom, The Kent Stage, and Brothers Lounge! It’s a great scene and we’re so grateful to be a part of it for over 25 years now.
We’re looking forward to performing at many of these venues in 2025 AND have plans to create a new event in February – The Bob Marley Birthday Celebration which will take place at the Beachland Ballroom on Sunday, February 16th. More information on this will be coming soon, so stay tuned!
We’re also planning a reprise on the Goodtime III this summer! Many of you have been asking when we are going to do the Reggae Cruise again because it was just so much fun! Well, we have Tuesday, June 24th reserved for us, so mark the date now and look for an official announcement sometime in March with all of the details. Our 2025 schedule is taking shape and we’ll be posting the dates on our website as they come in, so check back there periodically for schedule updates.
Wishing everyone a healthy, happy, and prosperous New Year!