Easy Star All-Stars

Formed in the late 1990s as a studio collective for Easy Star Records' earliest releases, the Easy Star All-Stars have steadily evolved into an internationally recognized reggae and dub act. Initially providing backing tracks for vocalists and playing on early label compilations, the group eventually established itself as a standalone recording and touring entity. Guided by producer, arranger, and musical director Michael Goldwasser, the All-Stars combine traditional roots reggae instrumentation with diverse vocal harmonies to create detailed reggae adaptations of classic pop and rock albums. The band achieved a global breakthrough with their 2003 release on Easy Star Records, Dub Side of the Moon, a complete reggae re-envisioning of Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon. The record spent over seven years on the Billboard Reggae charts and set the template for a series of successful tribute albums. The collective subsequently transformed Radiohead's OK Computer into Radiodread (2006), tackled The Beatles with Easy Star's Lonely Hearts Dub Band (2009), and reimagined Michael Jackson's Thriller with Easy Star's Thrillah (2012). In 2023, they returned to the concept album format with Ziggy Stardub, a reggae recasting of David Bowie's The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. Across these projects, the band has consistently collaborated with an array of guest vocalists, including Toots & The Maytals, Luciano, Macy Gray, and Steel Pulse. Beyond their cover projects, the Easy Star All-Stars have built a strong catalog of original material and remix records for the label. Releases like the Until That Day EP (2008) and their first full-length original album, First Light (2011), highlight the collective's in-house songwriting capabilities. Additionally, projects like Dubber Side of the Moon (2010) explore heavier dub territory, featuring remixes of their debut album by various prominent dub producers. Transitioning from their studio origins to the stage, the Easy Star All-Stars have become a highly active live act. Having performed in over 30 countries across six continents, the band frequently appears at international festivals and venues. By translating their complex studio arrangements into a live setting, the collective continues to bridge the gap between fans of classic rock, indie music, and traditional reggae.