Denver’s Fillmore was bursting with a blur of red, green, and gold, thick clouds of incense, and a crowd ready to move. The Do The Reggae Tour rolled through Denver with Ziggy Marley and Burning Spear, and by the end of the night, it felt less like a concert and more like a celebration of everything reggae stands for: love, rhythm, and freedom.
Burning Spear hit the stage first, and from the jump (literally), he was on fire. At the “young old age” of 80, the man was hopping, skipping, and dancing left to right like time had no hold on him. Backed by The Burning Band, he laid down beats so primal and hypnotic they felt like they came straight from the earth’s core. There’s no better groove than the one Spear builds, heavy on the drums, thick with bass, and alive with purpose.
The Fillmore crowd soaked it up, wall to wall, faces glowing in the stage lights, everyone moving to that ancient rhythm. “Together we can achieve oneness,” Spear declared between songs, and for a moment, it felt like the whole room actually did. His performance wasn’t just music; it was a full-body sermon. Love, liberation, and the power of the people pulsed through every note.
Then came Ziggy Marley, carrying his father’s legacy with that same effortless warmth and soul. He opened with his own songs: “Love Is My Religion,” “Beach in Hawaii”, before weaving in tributes to his late father, Bob Marley, that hit straight to the heart: “Positive Vibration,” “Is This Love,” and of course, “One Love.” The crowd sang every word, arms in the air, a sea of smiling faces and locked hands.
Ziggy didn’t have to do much; the energy carried itself. He’d step back and let the audience take over entire verses, grinning as the Fillmore sang for him. Between the deep grooves of the bass and the laid-back island strum of the guitars, it was impossible not to sway.
By the time he closed with “Jamming” and “Three Little Birds,” the place had transformed into one big, sun-soaked family. People hugged strangers. Drinks spilled. Everyone smiled like they knew something the world outside had forgotten.
If you’re a reggae fan, you get it: that irresistible rhythm, that peace that sneaks up on you. But even if you’re not, nights like this remind you why the music still matters. It’s not just about sound; it’s about soul.
The Do The Reggae Tour didn’t just bring music to Denver. It brought healing, joy, and a little taste of freedom. For a few hours under the Fillmore lights, everything felt alright.
Keep up with The Ziggy Marley on social media and streaming:
Instagram / Facebook / YouTube / Spotify / Apple Music
Keep up with Burning Spear on social media and streaming:
Facebook / YouTube / Spotify / Apple Music
