Groundation

Groundation will be at Le Bikini in Ramonville St Agne on 6 June 2026. Born in California in 1998 around Harrison Stafford, the band has carved out a singular path since its beginnings: a roots reggae nourished by jazz, driven by a precise rhythm section and brass that like to take unexpected turns. Young Tree and Each One Teach One lay the foundations, and then Hebron Gate, in 2002, opened the door to an international audience.

After lineup changes in 2018, Stafford tightened the ensemble and surrounded himself with musicians who, like him, attended Sonoma State University. The sound remains analog and organic, with finely honed arrangements and harmonies that answer socially conscious, humane lyrics. The band continues its course with an eleventh album recorded at ICP Studio in Brussels and mixed by long-time collaborator Jim Fox (Lion and Fox Studios).

On stage, Groundation plays with just the right tension: roots pulses, jazz flashes, and measured improvisations that allow the songs to breathe without overwhelming them. It’s an opportunity to travel through more than two decades of music and to hear how the group keeps refining its signature, balancing tradition and sonic exploration.