04 May Friday with Ziggy

Earlier this year, Ziggy Marley took the stage at the Grammy Awards. He performed “Amen” during the Premiere Ceremony and ended up winning the Best Reggae Album category.

“For me, performing at the ceremony, that was pretty cool that was the first time I was doing that,” Marley told SunFest. “I think made it special.”

Despite being his eighth Grammy win, the artist said being on stage was still his favorite part.

Now, he’ll be gracing another stage: Tire Kingdom’s.

“I’m looking forward to the people,” Marley said of the upcoming performance. “Yeah man, it’s always fun.”

The reggae artist released his latest album almost exactly a year ago. Since then, the self titled album peaked at the no. one spot on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart.

Marley also received a new wave of credit for an old project earlier this year. The singer of the theme song for “Arthur,” he performed a revived version of the classic tune alongside Chance the Rapper and Stephen Colbert in January.

“You know, it was always popular from the children. It’s not even new,” the singer said with a laugh. “Because Chance the Rapper liked it, that’s why [it’s popular now]. I like him, I like his philosophy, he does his thing. I like that independent mind.”

The son of legendary Bob Marley, Ziggy Marley and his songs are similarly politically charged at times. Like with his song “See Dem Fake Leaders,” which he released as a free download in March and his foundation, U.R.G.E. that donated bicycles and helmets to a school in Jamaica in January.

But Marley said that activism isn’t because of who his dad was. “It’s because of who I am,” he explained. “This is who I am as a human being. It’s my personality.”

Marley will headline the Tire Kingdom stage, following performances by Yvad and Leilani Wolfgramm.

“You have to come with an open mind,” he said of his performance. “Everybody’s different, come with an open mind and free yourself.”

IF YOU GO

Ziggy Marley performs on Friday, May 5 on the Tire Kingdom stage at 9 p.m.