Photo by Lesha Patterson.

Formed in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Milele Roots, although from diverse backgrounds, has a keen interest in roots-reggae-intensive music. The group receives critical acclaim for their uncompromising fusion of roots reggae, punk-drenched ska, psychedelic dub, bluesy R&B and funk rhythms.

Milele (Swahili for “eternal”) Roots’ diversity is echoed by the diversity of their fans. The live performances are positive, conscious and upbeat with a contagious groove that permeates the consciousness of the audience. Ted Reynolds of 91.5 WAWL calls the band “Shimmeringly cool, yet funkily hot: one of the many reasons the reggae band is one of Chattanooga’s most popular acts…I’ve never seen a poorly attended Milele show”. (The Pulse, January 07). Milele Roots shows are well received in clubs large and small, as well as parties and outdoor festivals.

Bassist Christian Craan founded the band with a simple formula: Fill the ranks with the best musicians in the area and play reggae for the sheer love of the music. The core instrumental line-up includes Christian Craan on bass, Ivan Garcia on drums, Jonathan Wimpee on guitar and vocals, Jesse Jungkurth on guitar, vocals, and harmonica and Antoine Willamson on vocals and trumpet and Knox Garmany on percussion. The band features a huge array of guest musicians including Robert Waller on trombone, Rob Hoskins on keyboards, Yattie Westfield on drums, guitar and keyboards and many others.

Milele Roots has played premier events in their hometown such as Riverbend, Between the Bridges Festival and the Nightfall concert series. They have played around the southeast in such events as The Greater Good Festival and Jamaica Fest in Pensacola, Florida, the Cookeville Fall Festival in Cookeville, Tennessee and the Jamaican Independance Day celebration in Atlanta, Georgia. The band has played at several college campuses including the University of Tennessee (in both Chattanooga and Knoxville), University of Georgia, Tennesee Tech, and Chattanooga State, Berry College and University of the South - Sewanee. The band has built a solid following through heavy gigging and has shared the stage with such acts as The Wailers, The Violent Femmes, Burning Spear, G-Love and Special Sauce, North Mississippi All Stars, Seirra Leone Refugee All Stars, and Ladysmith Black Mambasa.

The band has recently signed with Focal Point Records out of Atlanta and recorded their debut album, featuring twelve all-original songs. Milele Roots shows are notorious for being musical marathons, often lasting 4 and 5 hours, filled with covers by artists such as Bob Marley, Pink Floyd, Bob Dylan, Jimmy Cliff, Peter Tosh, Johnny Cash, Bruce Springsteen, Toots and the Maytalls and many others. Deborah Gilmore of In The City magazine states “They’re dubalicious and funked up, they have been known to rock the reggae hard and they might even be habit-forming”.