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Beyond your typical nightlife, discover a scene where the music makes you sway to a pulsating beat, friendly relaxed vibes fill the room and hoards of diverse people who seemed dazed by an artistic sound welcome you with open arms and smiles.

A culture that originated in Jamaica during the late 1960’s exists here in Sacramento. Reggae is a culture as well as a genre of music. Several years ago, a Reggae scene began in Sacramento and has remained exclusively underground since.

It has reached numerous parts of the globe. If people can’t understand the words, they can move to the mellow effervescent beats. Matthew Pailes, aka Ras Matthew, a local Reggae artist said, “Right now it’s really big, Reggae is huge in Japan, Germany and France.”

The Jamaican music began with influences from ska music, which is a mix of calypso, American Jazz and rhythm & blues. Since then, it has evolved into other categories such as Reggae Dancehall.

Steve Franklin is also known as Dj ESEF, he is a Reggae/ Hip Hop Dj and is in charge of Reggae Dancehall night at The Capitol Garage.

The culture generally goes hand in hand with Rastafarian religion. Rastafarians have philosophical beliefs that the former Emperor of Ethiopia, Haile Selassie I, is the embodiment of God, said Franklin. People who support the Rastafarian religion call themselves “rastas.”

“Since then there has been a great Rastafari movement. Rastafarian and Reggae culture has become a worldwide phenomenon, ” said Franklin. This phenomenon has reached Sacramento and is growing rapidly. Every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday nights Reggae Dancehalls are held. Wednesday nights “Reggae on the River” takes place at The Blue Gecko located at 1379 Garden Highway. Friday nights “Get Down with the Champion Sound” takes place at The Capitol Garage located at 15th and K Street. On Sunday nights Reggae night goes on at The Blue Lamp located at N Street and Alhambra. On any of these given nights local Reggae artists and supporters come together to share the love of Rastafarian sound. The Capitol Garage on Fridays is most popular amongst the three nights. It is a very intimate low-lit atmosphere. People with their hair styled in dreadlocks or wearing large head wraps, resembling Jamaican style, are grooving and hanging out. Jamaican style is not required, it has evolved greatly and has begun to merge with hip-hop styles and skate styles. The event welcomes anyone who wants to have a good time. The venue consists only of a friendly ambiance and typically gets packed around 11:00 p.m. Local Reggae artists such at Dj ESEF, Ras Matthew and special guests are usually performing songs or spinning Reggae tracks. These artists have been contributing and working together for years to keep the phenomenon going and growing. Surrounded by exotic musical instruments, a smiley-faced Pailes aka Ras Matthew sits down for a personal interview. He said he significantly contributes to the Sacramento Reggae scene. The Sacramento Reggae scene has typically been underground but is definitely growing and he is happy to be a part of the growth, said Pailes. He spins tracks Friday and Saturday nights to packed crowds and considers himself a singer, songwriter, producer, MC, Dj and announcer. Pailes has a CD out titled, “Kings Music,” his songs are available on iTunes. A popular song on the album titled, “Ganja in my Brain” is a “rebel tune” said Pailes. The song supports the Rastafarian idea and belief of the legalization of ganja (marijuana) for relaxation, meditation, spiritual and medical purposes, said Pailes. Generally the content topics in Reggae music are about ganja, spirituality, modern political references, injustice, things going wrong in world, girls and dancing. Beyond soulful music, the decades old Reggae culture greatly exemplifies spirituality and is progressively making a prominent stance in Sacramento and around the world.