The Congos & The Gladiators

(JM)

Some say that a Congos concert is more than just music - it's a spiritual experience. And that's no exaggeration. Cedric Myton, Ashanti Roy, Watty Burnett and Talash (the most recent member) have kept the roots reggae. roots reggae flame alive with the same essential line-up since the 1970s, a rarity on the Jamaican music scene. The group's cohesion is felt on stage, where each performance is conducted like a true Rastafári spiritualitymarked by vocal harmonies that have become iconic. The Congos' identity was consolidated in 1977 with 'Heart of the Congos', a mythical album produced by Lee “Scratch” Perry at the legendary Black Ark studios - a record that rightly ranks among the absolute milestones of reggaeTracks like ‘La La Bam Bam’, ‘Congo Man’ or the unforgettable ‘Fisherman’ (named by Rolling Stone as one of the ten best reggae reggae songs ever) revealed to the world a group with a distinctive sound, guided by rasta spirituality and an unwavering commitment to their roots.

Founded in 1967 by Albert Griffiths, the Gladiators were inspired early on by the struggle and resistance symbolised in the film Ben-Hur. This metaphor echoed naturally among the rasta community and in songs like ‘Roots Natty’ or ‘Bongo Red’, which became anthems of 70s roots reggae. But it was with'Trenchtown Mix Up' (1976), released by Virgin, that they achieved international prominence, performing alongside Toots & the Maytals, U-Roy and Jimmy Cliff in Europe and the United States. Now, decades later, Congos and Gladiators are crossing paths for a joint tour that promises not only to celebrate the legacy of classic reggae, reggae but also to reaffirm its relevance and vitality. For those who still believe that music can be an act of faith and resistance.