The Black Seeds

“Best Soul Album of 2009” -Dennis Cook of Jambase.com (U.S.A) - Jan. 10’
Originating from Wellington, New Zealand, The Black Seeds have carved out their reputation through platinum selling albums, a masterful 8-piece live show, and a unique sound that fuses infectious grooves and melodies with undiluted roots music. With numerous European festival tours and releases behind them, and a successful 2009 North American release, their following continues to spread quickly around the globe.
Led by the vocals of Barnaby Weir and Daniel Weetman, at its core The Black Seeds music is a boundary-crossing sound fusion of big-beat funk, dub, soul, and afro-beat, mixed with vintage roots-reggae.
Described by Clash Magazine as ‘one of the best reggae acts on the planet’, their legendary 8-piece live show brings the raw energy and good vibes wherever it goes. They now have countless sell-out New Zealand and Australasian tours behind them, and regularly perform at many of Europe’s biggest festivals.
Lyrically The Black Seeds music expresses messages on different levels. Personal triumphs and failures, the fear of love, death, apathy, and relationships, give a personal insight into the lives of the musicians. Ultimately though, their songs are always under-pinned with an underlying positivity and optimism.
“If any band ever carried the spirit of Morphine in their blood, it has to be New Zealand reggae-inspired outfit The Black Seeds. Musically the connection is subtle; vocally, Barnaby Weir exhibits the easeful, country-tinged, downtrodden-but- hopeful tendencies of Mark Sandman. Had that man not passed on a decade prior, you’d think he just reappeared some- where just south of the Shire. Sure, comparisons are awful when dealing with a group as talented as The Black Seeds. This one, however, is an honor--Morphine was a damn good band, and Solid Ground is a damn fine record.” - The Huffington Post - August ‘09
“… The Black Seeds bring harmony and good vibes where-ever they go, moving from their New Zealand base to be- come one of the best live reggae bands on the planet.” - Clashmusic.com (UK) - June ‘08
“The Black Seeds manage to play beyond the normal boundaries of reggae without compromising the music’s heart. While “Rotten Apple” has all the thump of a vintage Parliament-Funkadelic jam , “Afrophone”’s punchy horns and get- on-the-good-foot rhythm recall James Brown and the J.B.s at their peak – and the Seeds manage to pull it all off while retaining their voice. They make the blend of sounds feel absolutely natural. This is not a reggae band dropping a nov- elty funk cover into the middle of a set, this is simply Black Seeds music.” - Jambase.com (U.S.A) – Nov. ‘09

Audio

Year of the Pig
Love is a Radiation
Come to Me

Band Videos

Shows

The Black Seeds, Five Alarm Funk, Tanika Charles, Los Furios, DJ Kemo
at Victoria Curling Club
Sat. June 27th 7:30 PM
Ticket Info
Here at the Victoria Ska & Reggae Festival we believe that Saturday night is a night for one thing – PARTYING. And with that in mind we're going all out for a soulful, punky, dubby Saturday night Funk party. Coming all the way from the land of the long white cloud, New Zealand reggae-funk-rockers THE BLACK SEEDS return to this side of the Pacific for the first time since they blew up Capital Ballroom as part of the festival in 2017. Longtime friends of our festival family and reggae lovers around the world, The Black Seeds are proof that the beating heart of reggae lies with the people, from whichever nation or part of the world they call home. For over two decades, The Black Seeds have been putting in the work and channeling the sound and heart of reggae, making some of the most diverse and dynamic reggae anywhere on the planet. It's been too long since we've seen our friends and we're excited to remedy that soon.

Getting things rowdy-rowdy with The Black Seeds is one of the most powerful live bands to ever blast out of the west coast, FIVE ALARM FUNK. If you've been around the west coast music scene for any amount of time, there's a good chance you've encountered the monster that is Five Alarm Funk. But for the uninitiated: Five Alarm Funk delivers a relentlessly pulsing show that radiates an energy unlike anything you've ever felt. Try not to dance at a Five Alarm Funk show and you will fail, for it is a truly impossible task. When Five Alarm Funk gets in front of an audience there is no choice but to take their lead and follow them into the groovy abyss, a place where feet move, asses shake and bodies sweat.

To keep the proceedings smooth, warm and remind you what love itself sounds like, we're excited to welcome back one of Canada's brightest, most dynamic soul singers, TANIKA CHARLES. Charles has been a roll since the last time she was on our stage, headlining Garden City Grooves 2024. Last year she released the highly acclaimed album Reasons to Stay, winning new fans and garnering seemingly unanimous critical praise. No matter what stripe of music fan you consider yourself, there are few quicker ways to fill your heart than a Tanika Charles set. We're bringing back our old friends, Vancouver's legendary ska rapscallions LOS FURIOSOne of the most high-energy bands Vancouver has ever birthed, Los Furios has been assaulting ear drums (positive) for 25 with their unique blend of punk, ska and reggae. They're gonna get this party blasting across the alkali flats in a jet-powered, monkey-navigated...well, you get the idea. Keeping our feet moving between sets for this Saturday night party is the mighty DJ KEMO. Expect the finest in Latin music, hip-hop, funk, reggae and soul when he's behind the 1s and 2s.