Ziggy Marley at the Del Mar Racetrack

Ziggy Marley’s annual visit to Del Mar was an unforgettable event. Del Mar’s summer concert series this year booked huge names like Steel Pulse, Jimmy Cliff, Ozomatli, and the Offspring. Of course, they saved the best for last: Ziggy Marley. Ziggy’s shows are always a guaranteed success at the track, bringing thousands of San Diegan’s together for a night of conscious music. This year’s show upheld this tradition.

San Diego’s own Stranger took the stage in the beer garden while people began placing their final bets at the races. DJ Carlos Culture followed Stranger’s act, spinning for the diverse crowd until it was time for Ziggy’s opener. The month of August delivered a huge blue moon for the show. The police presence was undeniable. More officers patrolled the grounds than any other concert I’ve seen this summer. However, this did not even begin to put a damper on the last big blow out of summer. San Diego had come to ‘Mash up the place’. The track’s main attraction for the weekend was the beer garden and reggae festival.

An energized crowd at the Del Mar Racetrack

An anxious crowd patiently waited through the opening set. Nikka Costa’s music was soulful and fun, but the masses had undeniably gathered for Ziggy. When Ziggy took the stage around 8:30, the entire grounds shook from the hyped up crowd. San Diego wanted to come out, hear good music, and hang with chill people. Mission accomplished. Ziggy’s positive energy and message of love set the mood for a friendly gathering of San Diego’s music enthusiasts. This was not your average San Diego reggae show. Ziggy Marley’s success has put him in a place where he is not only one of the greatest reggae superstars ever- he is one of the greatest musicians ever. His appeal is evident in his honesty. Ziggy’s performance bares his soul to the audience.  His own children made an appearance, dancing along to their talented father’s music on one side of the stage. As Ziggy put it, “This is not just entertaining; this is a mission.”  This made me realize that when he comes to play a show, he is also here trying to create unity in San Diego.

Paloma with Ziggy

Ziggy’s set included some old favorites like “Justice,” “Tomorrow People,” and “Look Who’s Dancing.” He also played some of his newer material like “Wild and Free,”  and “Love is my Religion”. His skanking tune “Black Cat” was a big hit, stirring up the crowd. Marley classics like “Could you be Loved” were sprinkled in between Ziggy’s songs. Ziggy’s band was on point, and backed him well. The immense energy built up in the crowd was obvious. Overall, it was just a fun vibe. The massive collection of people gathered for Ziggy’s mission of love made this show work. I feel like I’ve been to many festivals with a comparable amount of people, and things can get out of hand pretty quick. Fortunately, this show did not have that problem. This show marked the last show of Del Mar’s summer series and was definitely the right way to end the summer with a bang.

After the show, Ziggy Marley invited SoCal Reggae onto his tour bus to speak with him. Ascending the stairs of the Marley bus was a surreal experience. For starters, the bus was huge! When we finally got to the top of the stairs, Ziggy’s manager and his daughter greeted us. My team’s anxiety contrasted with Ziggy’s calm aura. However, I felt surprisingly at home. He calmly waited at the table for his interview. I eased myself on the couch next to him. And here is what Ziggy Marley had to say.

Interview By: Tom Searcy

Camera: Leucadia Bob, Edit: Thomas Persichilli

Pictures By: RollinSD.com