Biography
Roots Collective is Madison, Wisconsin’s hottest roots reggae band in the finest one drop tradition. This award winning band features a collection of six seasoned musicians that mirror the horn driven reggae beats of Jamaican groups such as The Mighty Diamonds, The Abyssinians, The Wailers & The Skatalites. Formed in 2005, by lead singer/keyboardist Michelle Flood, Roots Collective focuses on playing music with a message that speaks to all people no matter what race, age or background. The players, all from the Madison, WI area have performed with other popular local acts such as Natty Nation, Que Flavor!, Jose & Sumlimes, Tony Brown & Vibe Syndicate.
Making Roots Collective a roots rock reggae force to contend with, and setting them apart from other groups in the area, is the band's three vocalists, as well as the trumpet and saxophone section. Michelle Flood brings her naturally strong and elegant voice to original songs that have won her awards and wowed audiences that have experienced their shows. Don Rembert (guitar), and Sean Nolan (trumpet, guitar), also sing. All three lend their vocal talents to harmonizing on many songs, adding a dimension and depth to the presentation of the music that is not heard or seen elsewhere in the area.
Rising EP, the latest CD, released in September 2009 features five original tunes that feature heavy drum and bass beats, a touch of funk-rock reggae-ness surging underneath lyrics which speak about current times and feelings associated with these times. The EP was recorded live for a television performance. The songs follow a pop structure with technically savvy intros and endings.
The members bring over twenty years of musical experience to stage…and have shared the stage with many heavyweight reggae acts such as: Ziggy Marley, Matisyahu, Eek-a Mouse, Michael Rose, The Abbisynians, Damian Marley, Wailing Souls, Justin Hinds, The Long Beach Short Bus, & Steel Pulse
Roots Collective achievements:
~ Performer at Summerfest 2009, the world’s largest outdoor music festival!
~ Performer at the Monona Terrace “Tunes at the Terrace” (July 2009)
~ Performer at the 20th Annual Marquette Waterfront Festival (June 2009)
~ Performer at the 2009 Lunchtime Live! Downtown Madison music concert series
~ Madison Area Music Award for best world song of the year 2007
~ Nominee for best world song and album of the year in the 2008 MAMA’s
~ Performer at the 2008 SOCO Music Festival at Alliant Energy Center’s Willow Island
List of local venues played:
The Monona Terrace
Memorial Union Terrace
The High Noon Saloon
The Hody Bar & Grille
UW-Steven’s Point
The Majestic Theatre
The Crystal Corner Bar
Mr Robert’s Bar & Grille
The Club Tavern
Quaker Steak & Lube
The Nau-ti-gal
Legends Sports Bar & Grill
and many more….
Bios:
Michelle Flood – Born and raised in Madison, WI Started playing piano at age 5 and studied piano and voice at UW LaCrosse. Left UW LaCrosse in 1994 and was singing at a Madison Karaoke bar when she was discovered by an area reggae musician. Over the next several years Michelle would hone her skills to become Madison’s best reggae keyboardist playing with local reggae acts Blackstarr, OPTA and I-N-I. Vocals featured later in 1999 when she started the funk/r&b/reggae band Basil where she was the primary songwriter/singer/keyboardist. Started Roots Collective after watching a Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers Live DVD saying, “I want to do that again!!” Michelle wears many hats with Roots Collective (singer/primary songwriter/keyboardist, manager, sometimes sound engineer & booking person). Michelle can also be seen singing with the prestigious Festival Choir of Madison.
Don Rembert:
Don Rembert is a seasoned guitar player who weaves his excellent guitar playing into the Roots Collective songbook while also mastering additional instruments ranging from the sax, keyboards to the harmonica. Don also sings with the Roots crew and has been a player with numerous blues and reggae bands from the Madison and Chicago music scene.
Jay McGoldrick:
Jason McGoldrick - Locking into the pocket of the one drop with Johnston is veteran bass player Jason McGoldrick who has earned his chops touring over the past ten years as an original member of Reason for Leaving and is a current member of the popular Sublime Tribute of Jose and the Sumlines.
Peter Johnston
Peter Ras Kikit Johnston - This talented band is anchored by drummer Peter Johnston, from the original Natty Nation reggae group, who drives the Roots Collective train, with his hammer like one drop beat. Johnston, who has earned his chops touring nationally with Natty Nation, also provides the beat behind local musical groups, such as Supa Ranks & His Rockstone High Power and Tony Brown. Johnston now brings his workmanlike approach of laying the reggae foundation to this outstanding hardworking outfit.
Jonathan Hoel
Jon Hoel brings the cool factor to the Roots Collective crew having seasoned his sax leads and fills while leading his own improvisational jazz group Nuggernaut. Hoel works closely with Nolan’s trumpet work in adding to the fat traditional reggae sound that only a tuned in horn section can create.
Degree in Music from UW Stevens Point 2005. Graduated from LaFollette High School Madison WI. Plays in bands Que Flavor!, Nuggernaut and the Jonathan Hoel Quartet. One of the primary organizers for the annual summer event Recreational Rhythms Music Festival benefitting the United Way of Madison.
Sean Nolan
Sean "Stardaddy Deluxe" Nolan is the multi-instrumentalist gunslinger of Roots Collective. Nolan mixes trumpet and guitar work with many songs and has been on the reggae/rock scene since starting out with the Madison based band Reason for Leaving. Sean adds his vocals and songwriting to the RC songbook and plays off the jazz stylings of sax player Jon Hoel. Sean is also a founding member of the wildly popular Sublime tribute: Jose n' Sumlimes. Sean has played the largest music festival in the world: Summerfest 8 times with RFL, and has played all as far west as Omaha, NE, as far south as Carbondale, IL, and as far Northeast as Toronto and is just beginning to heat things up on the world stage with widely e-vailable musical masterpieces between all three musical acts.
Instrumentation
Michelle Flood - Lead Vocals/Keys
Don Rembert - Guitar/Vocals
Jason McGoldrick - Bass
Peter Johnston - Drums
Sean Nolan- Trumpet/Vocals/Percussion
Jonathan Hoel - Saxophone
Discography
Some Live Songs EP (2007 - Live @ High Noon Saloon) Releasing in June 2007
Rising EP (2009)
Links
| http://www.myspace.com/rootscollective |