Groundation

Groundation is expected on August 6, 2026, at the Mas des Escaravatiers in Puget-sur-Argens. Born in Sonoma County, California, the collective led by singer-guitarist Harrison Stafford shapes a roots reggae informed by improvisation, jazz-derived harmonies and a prominent horn section. On stage, the songs stretch out, the syncopated rhythm locks in the groove, keyboards and guitar answer one another, while dub textures modulate the whole.

The lyrics summon spirituality, Rasta heritage and social issues, in an explicit lineage with 1970s Jamaican reggae transposed to a North American context. From the beginnings of Young Tree (1999) to the landmarks Each One Teach One (2001) and Hebron Gate (2002), up to One Rock (2022), the band has evolved through successive lineups without abandoning its carefully crafted arrangements and open forms.

Honed by tours across North America, Europe and Latin America, Groundation has built a live show centered on collective listening: a tight rhythm, horns at the heart of the sound and improvisational spaces that let the songs breathe. At the Mas des Escaravatiers, that stage-oriented format is on display, between a roots pulse, instrumental dialogues and gradual build-ups.