Announcing: Exodus 40 Live, A Celebration Of Bob Marley’s Landmark Album
Blackbird Presents, in conjunction with Ziggy and Stephen Marley, are bringing Exodus 40 Live, an all-star concert celebration of Bob Marley’s landmark album, to the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles on Wednesday, November 1, 2017. Joining them will be an all-star lineup of rock and soul greats like Tom Morello, Gary Clark Jr., Jim James, Citizen Cope, Aloe Blacc, Don Was, Cyril Neville, and Terence Higgins.
It’s been 40 years since Bob Marley experienced his own personal exodus. It was 1977, and the island nation of Jamaica was undergoing violent political turmoil. At the height of the troubles Bob Marley fled to London after an assassination attempt was made on his life. There, the singer-songwriter recorded one of his most essential and heartfelt albums, Exodus.
Exodus embodies a dual experience — one of political freedom, and of religious expression; themes that are suddenly quite relevant in our day and age. Ziggy Marley, inspired by his father’s struggles, set out to re-release Exodus in early 2017 with Exodus 40 – the Movement Continues, a “restatement” of the record using alternate takes, previously unused vocals and instrumentation from the original album.
“After listening to Ziggy’s restatement of Exodus 40: The Movement Continues, the album struck me as something so powerful and rarely seen live in its entirety,” says Keith Wortman, Founder and CEO of Blackbird Presents. “Bob Marley’s songs, and the songs of Exodus, are more important than ever. I can’t think of any better way to celebrate the 40th anniversary of this iconic album than alongside his family and these incredible musicians.”
From the soulful skanking in “Jamming” to the funky gravitas of “Exodus” to the sweet melody of “One Love / People Get Ready,” these songs have embedded themselves in our collective memory, cultivating a legacy of love and social justice. In 1999, Time declared Bob Marley’s Exodus the best album of the 20th century, and BBC designated “One Love” as the song of the century.
More artists for Exodus 40 Live will be announced in the coming weeks. Tickets for the general public are on sale Friday, September 29 at 10AM PST via Ticketmaster, but you can get pre-sale tickets starting tomorrow, September 28, at 10AM PST at ticketmaster.com. Use pre-sale code: MARLEY. Pre-sale ends Thursday, September 28 at 11:59PM PST.