For the first time in 20 years, the Marley Brothers—Ziggy, Stephen, Julian, Ky-Mani, and Damian—have been reuniting on stages across the US for their much-anticipated Legacy Tour, stopping by the North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre in Chula Vista, CA.
Fans of all ages and backgrounds showed up, so excited to see the brothers pay homage to their father, Bob Marley, with a setlist that was absolutely loaded with classics that nearly everyone in the world appreciates and enjoys. This tour is a great reminder to us fans of how much Bob Marley and his family has influenced the reggae music community and people’s lives for generations, not just through their music, but also culturally as figures of peace and unity — fighters for human rights. It was a pleasure to see such a large crowd of different ages and cultures come together.
The way the Marleys continue to unite people will never stop impressing me.
The Marley Brothers seamlessly blend their father’s iconic sound with their respective styles, choosing “Natural Mystic” to start the show. The next song, “Get Up, Stand Up”, immediately got everyone out of their seats with fists up in the air!
Following that flow of empowerment, the upbeat “Iron Lion Zion” had the entire crowd bouncing along; the blend of Damian‘s fiery crooning and Ziggy’s smooth vocals creating a more lively vibe. When they started “So Much Trouble in the World”, the audience slowed down a bit to connect more to such a thought-provoking song — still highly relevant to today’s issues.
The grooves continued with “Coming in From the Cold”, a warmer and more comforting song of inclusion and healing, in which Ziggy‘s lead vocals were particularly moving, with each brother dancing behind him in stride.
Next, Julian took the lead with a dynamic rendition of “Positive Vibration”, with Stephen following right after with “Rebel Music (3 O’Clock Roadblock)” — each of them channeling their dad’s spirit brilliantly.
The crowd was then treated to a beautiful version of one of Bob’s most beloved songs — “Three Little Birds”.
You don’t even need to know it by heart; it’s so catchy and repetitive that by the second chorus, everyone is singing along. How can you not instinctively smile as big as you can and sing the famous lyrics?? “Don’t worry // About a thing // ‘Cause every little thing // Is gonna be all right!”
Next, the brothers played that song, you know, the one that makes couples pull each other close, while everyone else can’t help but sing along: “Is this love? Is this love? Is this love that I’m feeling?” Whether you’re in a relationship or rolling solo, “Is This Love” easily hits every time.
Ky-Mani took the lead on “Buffalo Soldier” — a song that’s more than just fun, it’s an anthem for so many. But when “Jammin’” came on, the crowd went absolutely wild, as if it were this big, shared jam session between the brothers onstage. Also, because we know this song commands you to get up and have a good time, no questions asked.
The night’s initial closer, “Exodus”, arrived with its deep, hypnotic rhythm and one final explosion of sound and energy that got the crowd chanting along. But the brothers had a couple more surprises for us, returning for a double encore. As soon as the easily recognizable funky, rhythmic guitar riff of “Could You Be Loved”, people who started leaving came running back to their seats, swaying side to side, tapping their feet, and going all-out all around the venue.
Finally, the brothers closed with “One Love” — perfect send-off.
“Let’s get together and feel all right” is exactly what this concert and tour has been all about, and a sentiment describing how everyone was feeling as the night ended. I know I did, even for days after!
The Marley Brothers absolutely nailed honoring their father’s legacy. You could feel their passion and respect for their father’s message in every song they performed. I’m sure Bob Marley would have been incredibly proud of each of them. They are building their own legacies and it’s an honor to watch them do it. I’m so blessed to have finally been able to see ALL the brothers onstage at once, so, if you haven’t seen them yet, it’s 100% worth it! Check out their Legacy Tour and see when they’ll be near you!
Photography by Olivia Valdes
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