Bursting forth from their underground status, Groundation has taken the music world by storm. Capturing the essence and drive of true roots reggae, the widely renowned band takes the art form to new heights by blending elements of jazz, funk, salsa, soul and transcendental dub in a progressive amalgam of sound all their own. Whether on their masterfully self-produced studio albums or in their now legendary live performances, Groundation's sound is without category, yet deeply familiar, offering listeners everywhere an access point for musical connection. “Groundation” alludes to the decades-old communal Rastafarian ceremony of “Grounation,” a ritual based on the meditative powers of music. But Groundation is an idea for today, uniting audiences and using the universal vibration of music to help bring about a positive social evolution. With an international following unparalleled in contemporary Reggae music, Groundation has performed for hundreds of thousands of fans around the world. With headlining shows in nearly thirty countries on six continents, along with memorable appearances at some of the world's largest and most prestigious cross-genre music festivals, Groundation has cemented its reputation as an ambassador of American fusion music. Groundation's origins are in the jazz program of California's Sonoma State University where, in the fall of 1998, Harrison Stafford (guitar/lead vocals), Ryan Newman (bass) and Marcus Urani (keyboards) began their artistic collaboration, developing both their musicianship and their global outlook. It was there that Stafford taught the first accredited class in the California state university system on the History and Culture of Reggae Music. Around this core, the group has evolved to include some of the most respected cross-over instrumentalists on the West Coast, along with harmonies from vocalists Kim Pommell and Sherida Sharpe –both from Kingston, Jamaica–giving the band an incredibly full and deep live presentation. 2014 sees Groundation turn its sites back to the homeland with their first coast-to-coast North American tour in over six years. Though the band has not toured the US nearly as much over the past few years due to their meteoric rise in Europe, South America and Oceania, the build-up of energy for the band's return to the States is palpable and these upcoming concerts are certain to be events that are not to be missed.