Pato Banton News

Central Wisconsin Hub will occasionally post stories from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point's student newspaper The Pointer.

Gene Walker warms up his saxophone. It starts with a beat. Just ask Barbara Cleveland, a medical technologist and circle drummer who, with the help of other rapid-fire hands, pounds out searing rhythms each year at the Hot Times Community Arts & Music Festival in the Olde Towne East neighborhood.

International reggae star and Grammy nominee Pato Banton has often been called 'Mr. Positivity.' 'I've always had a positive message in my music,' the 47-year-old Los Angeles musician said during a phone interview before a performance in Salt Lake City.

A little sibling to Comfest, the Hot Times Community Art & Music Festival has brought a weekend-long party to the near East Side for going on 33 years.

When Patrick Murray was 8 years old he began performing at his stepfather's gigs as a DJ.

It's been a good year for El Paso's Radio La Chusma. Bassist Charlie Villanueva proudly ticked off the list of accomplishments over the past year: They performed at Austin's huge South by Southwest music conference in March, and they also played the Austin Reggae Fest.

Fans of UK reggae great Pato Banton will recognize them as his official touring band.

Paul Toth, an organizer of the 14th annual Island Festival along with Wayne Deering, doesn't really care what meteorologists have to say about this weekend's weather.

5 p.m. June 13, the Waterfront Park World Tent is back with the reggae group Culture featuring Kenyatta Hill with special guest Corey Harris as well as Pato Banton and the Vermont-based group Movement of the People: The Fela Kuti Project, $22-$27; 8 p.m., the sprawling, eccentric ensemble Pink Martini displays its light-hearted approach with opening act Sneakin' Out, Flynn Center, $29-$49.

BuFest, Malibu's own music festival, brings more than 70 acts to the Paramount Ranch for two days of indie, '90s rock survivalists and a bit of reggae.