POSITIVE VIBRATIONS is a new Roots Reggae group, also featuring the music of Zairian/Congolese Guitarist/Singer-Songwriter Siama Matuzungidi. Original reggae material is augmented by the familiar grooves of Bob Marley, Lucky Dube, the Skatilites, Gregory Isaacs, Sound Dimension, Willie Williams, the Jamaicans, the Gladiators,  Dennis Brown, Green, Dub/Roots versions of 60′s R&R favorites and much more.   Lead Vocalist/Guitar feature Van Nixon, Siama Matuzungidi Lead Guitar/Vocals, Bass Guitar/Vocals Ike Russell, Keys/Horn Arranger Tim Siefkus, and Drummer/Percussionist/Vocals and band leader mick laBriola. To complete our full ensemble we work with a variety of Trumpet and Saxophonists in addition to Sound Engineer/Sound Designer Artist, Tom Bergum among others, who guarantee a true Dub Mix  extraordinaire. Totally combined, POSITIVE VIBRATIONS creates a riveting exponent of the pure-genuine Roots Reggae genre.

The group in it’s full capacity is a eight piece ensemble, exemplifying the MASSIVE Roots Reggae sound, with a horn section and Dub mix. The group also performs as a four or five piece ensemble for smaller events. Either configuration, POSITIVE VIBRATIONS hosts a thrilling full-throttle, BIG UP,  jam-down Roots Reggae Session !

mick will be up to his usual antics and maniacal disposition at the 39th annual MAYDAY celebration at Powerhorn Park in south Minneapolis.

Starting with the parade, mick will be a drumming hallucination, performing with the Community Band led by Steve Sandberg. 1 pm: Parade begins at the corner of 25th Street E. and Bloomington Ave. S., and travels south on Bloomington to 34th St. E., where the parade turns west towards Powderhorn Park, where the parade ends and the MayDay Ceremony and Festival begins, at approximately 3pm.

mick will then, very exhaustively prepare for the Ceremony as Cue Director for a 200-person pageant that re-tells the story of that year’s parade, with children and adult dancers, puppeteers, a live orchestra and four giant serene puppets who represent the Prairie, Sky, River, and Woods. It culminates in the Tree of Life Ceremony: to the steady beating of drums, a resplendent red Sun Flotilla paddles the Sun from across the lake to the shore where the Tree of Life sleeps, waiting to be reawakened.

After the Ceremony comes to a rousing finale, mick will prepare for his 6-8pm performance on the cement stage next to the Ceremony site for Reggae music with “POSITIVE VIBRATIONS”. Yes mon come check out de riddems and vibrations of Jah Jah Blessings!

mick and Daughter Maya

Reggae with Positive Vibrations; members of the Maroons featuring Van Nixon, Siama Matuzungidi, Ike Russell, Tim Siefkus, Bobby J Marks and yours indubitably!

mick will be contributing his zany & intoxicating blend of  folk-jazz rhythmic concoctions with the lovely KRISTEN LYNN Friday March 15th, 2013.5

5 Points Tiki Lounge  2608 S Federal Hwy Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33316  305-803-9014

Kristen Lynn bio

mick will be joining Ensemble Espanol once again, this time in Delray Beach, Florida on March 5th & 6th 2013. The March 5th concert will take place at the Huntington Pointe Theater located at 6251 N  Oriole Blvd in Delray Beach; 561-496-3801. The March 6th concert will be held at the Huntington Lane Theater located at 7355 Huntington Lane in Delray Beach phone 561-498-0228. Music Direction by Miami based Flamenco Master Guitarist & Vocalist Paco Fonta. Assuring a stunning musical accompaniment for Chicago based, Internationally accredited Spanish Dance Company, Ensemble Espanol!Ole!

Roots Reggae big band with Van Nixon vocals-guitar and mick laBriola drums-percussion-vocals both crazy-men formally of Macumba and the MAROONS. Including bass, drums, guitars, keyboards, trumpet, saxophone and sometimes trombone. Music of Bob Marley, Lucky Dube, Peter Tosh, Skatelites , original material and traditional favorites like Lee Scratch Perry all done in the Reggae, Ska, Nyabinghi and mix up mix up. The focus is Roots Reggae and strictly Roots! De riddems mash up de place, wit de fi ya burn passion of de Caribbean. BIG UP!

The Beau Koo Jacks with mick on the drum throne, will be performing on Mardi Gars Day otherwise know as Fat Tuesday;  Tuesday February 12th 2013  @

Neumann’s Bar

2531 East 7th Avenue
North St. Paul, MN 55109

Mardi Gras is probably the most important musical event out of the entire year on the American continent; presenting a truly unique, multi cultural panorama of the oldest of musical
American Traditions. New Orleans is the birthplace of JAZZ and our link to  America’s rich and exuberant celebration of all cultures in America. Africans, Native Peoples, Europeans, French, Haitian all intermingled to bring to our culture true diversity with this most abundant jubilation. The soulful and exciting vocal work of Van Nixon will make you jump and shout for more bo ba be doo ba, and second line madness.

BKJ will be Performing music by Jessie Hill, Ernie K Doe, Lee Dorsey, the Meters, Fats Domino, Otis Redding, Dr John, Professor Longhair, Robert Parker, Chris Kenner, Earl King, Cab Calloway, Louis Armstrong, The Wild Tchoupitoulas, Allen Toussaint etc etc

Related show

• Artist: ENSEMBLE ESPANOL Center for Spanish Dance and Music-Chicago
• Date: Wednesday, March 6th 2013
• Time: 7:00pm
• City: ENSEMBLE ESPANOL Center for Spanish Dance and Music-Chicago in Delray Beach, Florida
• Venue: Huntington Lakes Theater
• Address: 7355 Huntington Lane Delray Beach, FL 33446 Phone: (561) 498-0228
• Venue phone: (561) 498-0228
• Country: US
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mick will be performing with Ensemble Espanol 2012 China Tour through the Asian Arts Connection in Shanghai. The Tour will run from November 20th through December 1st covering seven cities and performing ten concerts. Cities include Tianjin 11-20th, Hainan Island 11-22 thru 11-24, Hangzhou 11-25, Shaoxing 11-26, Henan Province 11-27 thru 29, Shanghai 11-30 and Dongguan 12-1.

All of these services are available for your enjoyment and education!

In addition to educational formats; Performances, Theater & Dance Accompaniment, Recording, Production, Motivational Therapy, Stained Glass Artist, Artist Interviews and Writing

                                               Mosaic Fest 2010 Minneapolis

                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Percussion Entourage

         “Rhythm Roots Workshop”   Prairie Elementary-Worthington, Minnesota

                                                            Rehearsal  Studio

                                   Songs for Diego, I’m Missing You CD Release 2007

                                       Jeweled Pond 1993 Minneapolis

POSITIVE VIBRATIONS is a new Roots Band  of veteran Twin Cities Reggae musicians.  Covering many former musical projects; including the Maroons, Macumba, Ipso Facto, Shangoya and many more. There is a crucial need for the powerful Roots groove to come back to the Twin Cities. Whether it be Dub, Lovers Rock, Rockers or the vital ONE DROP; audiences can now enjoy, sit back, dance comfortably and ride the magnanimous Bass & Drum riddem!! Dis ere is the essence of  the Reggae Vibration.

Please contact mick for bookings.

Band is also available for backing professional Reggae artists from Jamaica and the international arena.