Groundation

Groundation comes to SPOT/De Oosterpoort in Groningen on 17 June 2026. Founded in the late ’90s in Sonoma County by singer‑guitarist Harrison Stafford, the band operates at the intersection of roots reggae and jazz. Live performances are about pulse and space: one‑drop grooves with syncopation, horns that carry the melody, and expansive passages where improvisation sets the course. Songs unfold in long forms where dub echoes, organ and guitar converse. The lyrics draw on spirituality, the Rastafarian heritage and social themes, with a sound that nods to the Jamaican 1970s while still revealing their North American roots.

Since their debut Young Tree (1999), Each One Teach One (2001) and Hebron Gate (2002) laid the groundwork for their approach: a voice with grit, a tight rhythm section, dialogues between keyboards and guitar, and horns that colour the accents. Subsequent releases include Upon the Bridge, Building an Ark, A Miracle, The Next Generation and One Rock, each recorded with varying lineups centered on Stafford. On stage Groundation stitches their catalogue together with space for the moment: call‑and‑response vocals, instrumental excursions and a groove that keeps propelling the music. In Groningen you’ll hear the band as they prefer to play—between meditation and movement.