Capleton Nyack Tickets, 37 a Ny-59, 16 May 2026

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37 a Ny-59

Nyack, NY, US

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Doors open: 22:00

Price: US $100.00

Concert in your area for Reggae.

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Capleton biography

Capleton is a reggae/ dance hall musician from Jamaica who holds a profuse catalogue to his name. His integrative use of hip-hop and classic roots music places him amongst contemporaries like Shaggy and Sizzla, but his outspoken political and religious ideologies put him in a category of his own.

Clifton George Bailey III most frequently refereed to as Capleton (but also King Shango, King David, The Fireman, and The Prophet) was born on 13 April 1967 in Islington, St. Mary, Jamaica. In his youth Capleton quickly became enamored with dancehall music and by age 18 he sought out his own music career, moving to Kingston to work as a DJ.

Capleton’s “semi-big break” came in 1989 when he caught the attention of African Star owner Stewart Brown who allowed him a spot opening in Canada for Ninjaman. His sound struck a chord with many interested in the dancehall genre. Throughout the early 90s he wowed audiences with hits like “Bumbo Red”, “Number One on the Look Good Chart”, “No Lotion Man”, “Alms House”, “Music is a Mission”, and perhaps his most successful release yet “Tour”.

By 1994 Capleton had released three albums and had also captivated the interest of Def Jam Recordings who would go on to sign him. In 1995 he put out his 4th studio album (his 1st through Def Jam) “Prophecy”. As a label renowned for it’s extensive and respected list of hip-hop artists this album unsurprisingly recruited the assistance of rap stars such as Method Man and Lil’ Jon.

His next album “i-Testament” nearly filled up the entire space of the CD featuring 18 songs, which spilled over the 79 minute marker. Like “Prophecy” it also was geared toward a hip-hop market (though it’s sound was predominately reggae)and featured rap legends such as A Tribe Called Quest’s Q-Tip.

Capleton’s 1st compilation “One Mission” closed the 90s and his studio album “Gold” opened the millennium. The 2000s was was an extremely productive period for Capleton. He put out a total of 14 releases from 2000 - 2009, which included: “Gold” (2000), “More Fire” (2000), “Still Blazin’” (2002), “Voice of Jamaica, Vol. 3” (2003), “Praises to the King” (2003), “Reign of Fire” (2004), “The People Dem” (2004), Duppy man (featured with Chase & Status), “Free Up” (2006), “Hit Wit Da 44 Rounds” (2007), “Rise Them Up” (2007), “Bun Friend” (2008), “Yaniko Roots” (2008), “Jah Youth Elevation” (2008), and “Liberation Time (featured with AZAD) (2009). In 2010 he issued his 20th studio album “I-Ternal Fire” and followed it with a U.S. tour as well as several concerts throughout Africa.

Live reviews

There are hundreds of ways to begin a gig and to get the crowd hyped up for the coming show but it's with great confidence that I can say that Capleton has perfected the art. As the house lights drop, the stage is awash with red lights and the David House backing band launch into a rocksteady riddim. The crowd is then treated to a bongo solo before being introduced to the 'dynamic, the mighty, mighy Capletooooooon!'. At this point the horns blast, the bass grooves and the audience becomes a sea of booty shaking and arm flailing. Capleton isn't even on stage as everyone holds their lighters in the air to opening bars of 'Jah Jah City'. Then the man himself charges on stage like a hyper rastafarian version of John Cleese's 'Academy of Silly Walks' sketch. He's dressed in a glittery oversized zootsuit-esque jacket and leaps around the stage like the floor is made of hot coals. We're barely a minute into the first song and the entire capacity of Le Zénith leaps up and down in a frenzy before the song reloads and the energy builds again.
'Quite simply, Capleton is a true master of his craft. He kicks his legs high, whips up the crowd and brings them back down again to an extent that he seems less like a singer and more like some sort of psychedelic deity. Admittedly, his incredibly thick accent makes his between song comments a touch hard to make out but this doesn't stop his every utterance being greeted by a roar and the raising of thousands of lighters.
The band are incredible and feature legendary performers such as Moses I and Jah Thunder but nothing can draw the eye from Capleton himself. On the slower songs like 'Mashing Up the World' he exudes an almost sensual feeling of cool while the harder material like 'Slew Dem' is delivered with an explosive, frantic energy that some well respected punk acts could only dream of. Despite what you think of his politics, Capleton is an artist that is not to be missed. The stage show and the backing band are completely tight and provide the perfect platform for Capleton's charisma and energy to take hold and blow you away.

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