Burning Spear sticks to the roots of reggae

After a little more than three decades in the music business, most artists might think it’s time to kick back a bit and rest awhile on their laurels. But veteran reggae performer Burning Spear still manages to keep the fire alive, releasing new albums nearly every year and crisscrossing the globe playing roughly 100 dates a year.

Adopting his name from the African freedom fighter Jomo “Burning Spear” Kenyatta, Spear (aka Winston Rodney) cut his first record in 1969 shortly after stopping his then-neighbor Bob Marley – the Bob Marley – on a back country road in St. Ann’s Parish, Jamaica, and asked the reggae legend for some advice on getting a start in the music biz. Since then, Spear has kept up a fairly prolific output of spiritually-minded, politically-charged music.

On Sunday, July 11, Spear – backed by his eight-piece Burning Band – will bring the mesmerizing grooves, simple but effective oomping beats, burning brass and uplifting lyrical messages that have made his music both influential and legendary to the stage at the Criterion Theatre in downtown Bar Harbor.

Doors open at 7 p.m. with a TBA-opening act taking the stage at 8 p.m. Spear and his band are set to start at 9 p.m.

Since his early days with Jamaica’s Studio One, Spear has stayed true to the roots of reggae, keeping his sound uncluttered, but suffused with an energy, honesty and intensity that continues to win over new fans and, in 2000, won the artist a Grammy for best reggae album.

Tickets for Sunday’s concert are $25 and are available at the Criterion’s box office, or by calling 288-3441. For more information about Burning Spear, visit www.burningspear.net. George Bragdon can be reached at gbragdon @bangor”dailynews.net.