Yami Bolo to Headline Summer Love Festival in Portland

The last time Yami Bolo performed in Oregon “a few years ago”, he remembers having a good time in the Beaver State. He gets reacquainted with fans there on August 4 when he headlines the Summer Love Festival in Portland. 

Yami BoloBolo, 52, has been a force in roots-reggae for almost 40 years. Whenever he does a show, he says fans can expect songs from different stages of his career.

“From di old to di new, every song is a blessing,” said the singer.

The Summer Love Festival takes place at Morrison Market Stage. Promoted by RAOF Music, it also features A J Brown, Ginjah, Aaron Nigel Smith, Boney Derrington, Vysionaer and Krueshef . 

The New York-based Yami Bolo is known for songs such as When A Man’s in Love, Love my Woman, Put Down Your Weapons and Spanish Lullaby. He credits performing on sound systems in Jamaica early in his career, for an enduring career.

“Dat was di way wi learn di craft. People would move to di music an’ there was more love in it,” he said. “Tings change now….is pure violence.”

As much as he dislikes the high level of violent content in contemporary dancehall music, Yami Bolo is not prepared to judge the artistes.

“Mi like all a di youth dem ‘cause dem doing dem best to feed dem families,” he said.