(PR) Ky-Mani Marley has been bringing rock audiences to their feet and earning rave reviews opening the news making Van Halen reunion tour of sold out arenas this fall, proving himself up to the challenge of the unusual pairing. For as the title of his recently released CD Radio implies, the mix of reggae roots, hip-hop, world music, R&B, rock and pop played by the second youngest son of musical icon Bob Marley has broad mainstream appeal.As the Winston-Salem Journal noted on the tours first shows, Startled Van Halen fans in Charlotte and Greensboro gave Marley standing ovations at the end of his sets. This is all the more impressive since many people have never heard of him, much less his dramatic, street-smart music. And as USA Today observed, Marley flashed his own charismatic side by enthralling the crowd with The March, a hip-hop/reggae hybrid song from his new album, Radio, that juxtaposed the war in Iraq with street violence. The topical song that has been captivating audiences on the tour is set to be released as his next single in the new year.
And for Marley, opening the tour fits right in with his mission to make music that can reach fans of most any and every style. I've played in front of big crowds before, but to be able to share the stage with Van Halen, that's where the big honor comes in, he says. It gives me a platform to play some music that a lot of people don't know I have, and the reception is overwhelming.
Ky-mani Marley tour dates (opening for Van Halen and headlining club shows):
12/7 - Calgary, AB Pengrowth Saddledome
12/9 - Edmonton, AB Rexall Place
12/11 - Spokane, WA Big Easy (Headlining)
12/12 - Boise, ID Big Easy (Headlining)
12/14 - Los Angeles, CA Staples Center
12/15 - Santa Cruz, CA The Catalyst (Headlining)
12/16 - San Jose, CA HP Pavilion At San Jose
12/18 - Anaheim, CA Honda Center
12/20 - Anaheim, CA Honda Center
12/22 - Oakland, CA Oracle Arena
12/25 - Aspen, CO Belly Up (Headlining)
12/28 - Las Vegas, NV MGM Grand Garden Arena
12/30 - Las Vegas, NV MGM Grand Garden Arena
1/22 - Oklahoma City, OK Ford Center
1/24 - San Antonio, TX AT&T Center
1/26 - Dallas, TX American Airlines Center
1/28 - Houston, TX Toyota Center
2/1 - Denver, CO Pepsi Center
2/4 - Omaha, NE Qwest Center Omaha
2/8 - New Orleans, LA New Orleans Arena
2/12 - Sunrise, FL BankAtlantic Center
2/16 - Jacksonville, FL Jacksonville Veterans Mem. Arena
2/18 - Tampa, FL St. Pete Times Forum
2/22 - Charlottesville, VA John Paul Jones Arena
3/5 - Cincinnati, OH U.S. Bank Arena
3/7 - Raleigh, NC RBC Center
3/9 - Baltimore, MD 1st Mariner Arena
3/11 - Manchester, NH Verizon Wireless Arena
3/13 - East Rutherford, NJ Izod Center
3/17 - New York, NY Madison Square Garden Arena
3/19 - Hershey, PA Giant Center
3/21 - Pittsburgh, PA Mellon Arena
3/24 - Providence, RI Dunkin' Donuts Center
3/26 - Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun
3/28 - Atlantic City, NJ Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall
3/30 - Saint Louis, MO Scottrade Center
4/1 - Columbus, OH Schottenstein Center
4/3 - Rosemont, IL Allstate Arena
4/5 - Grand Rapids, MI Van Andel Arena
4/7 - Milwaukee, WI Bradley Center
