Berkshire Theatre Group to Welcome Legendary Reggae Band The Wailers

Berkshire Theatre Group presents legendary reggae band The Wailers at The Colonial Theatre on Sunday, February 14 at 8pm. This event is part of the 10x10 Upstreet Arts Festival.

Tickets to The Wailers are $40. Contact the Colonial Ticket Office at 111 South Street, Pittsfield by calling 413-997-4444, or online at www.berkshiretheatregroup.org. Ticket Offices are open Monday-Friday 10am-5pm, Saturdays 10am-2pm or on any performance day from 10am until curtain.

Together with Bob Marley, The Wailers have sold over 250 million albums and have played to an estimated 24 million people across the globe performing an average of 200 dates a year. The anchor of the band is Aston "Family Man" Barrett, who in addition to being Marley's most trusted lieutenant and co-producer, played on countless other classic reggae hits throughout the seventies. The authenticity he brings to The Wailers' sound is indisputable and yet today's line-up combines old school know-how with lead vocals from one of Jamaica's most exciting new singers. The Wailers are undoubtedly the world's premier reggae and world music group who bring high energy shows to fans across the globe.

The band performs varied sets from the extensive Wailers discography including those from Legend. Legend is #46 on Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time." Legend is also the best-selling reggae album of all-time, with over 30 million copies sold worldwide and a 2014 re-release topped Billboard's Top 5-proving the timeless appeal of their music spans generations. On its resurgence in popularity, Aston 'Family Man' Barrett laughs and said, "It only took 30 years. My life with The Wailers has been an odyssey. To be in the top ten is hard for me to even imagine. We've come so far. Sharing this music with so many people around the world was my last promise to Bob and here we are."

The band also performs selections from Exodus named by Time Magazine as the "Album of the 20th Century." In keeping with the band's tradition of touring with album themes, The Wailers have been performing entire sets devoted to songs from the specific albums, Legend, Exodus, Uprising and the album Survival released in 1979.

The current lineup includes Mr. Barrett's young son, Aston Barrett Jr., a multi-instrumentalist who plays bass, drums and organ at varied occasions, helping bring the music forward to a new generation. On drums is Anthony "Benbow" Creary, who recorded and toured with the band in the early years. The two lead singers are Dwayne Anglin, known as Danglin and Joshua David Barrett. Lead and rhythm guitar and backing vocals by Audley "Chizzy" Chisholm. On backing vocals is Cegee Victory and keyboards is Chaka Taylor.

Outside of their groundbreaking work with Marley, The Wailers have also played and performed with international acts like Sting, the Fugees, Stevie Wonder, Carlos Santana, and Alpha Blondy, as well as reggae legends such as Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer, and Burning Spear. As the greatest living exponents of Jamaica's reggae tradition, The Wailers have completed innumerable tours, playing to a fan base that continues to grow and expand as new generations of fans are exposed to the music.

Now well into their fifth decade, The Wailers truly are living legends who embody the nobility, conviction and progressiveness of Bob Marley and his music. Their journey is far from over as the world awaits The Wailers' next move in their "One Love" revolution.

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