Raggamuffin 2014: Marley's top talent to stir it up at festival

DOUBLE GRAMMY WINNER: Damian Marley is the headline act for Rotorua's Raggamuffin next year. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

International reggae artist Damian "Junior Gong" Marley is looking forward to heading to Rotorua - and bringing some of his friends with him.

The youngest son of Bob Marley is one of the headline acts at next year's Raggamuffin, and admits while he doesn't know too much about the festival, he knows New Zealanders are big fans of his family's music.

It'll be his third visit to New Zealand and while siblings have performed at Raggamuffin, it'll be the first time he's performed in Rotorua.

Damian said that on both his previous visits he'd received a traditional Maori welcome and was looking forward to finding out more about the culture and people.

In turn, he's promising to bring some of the hottest young talent to the stage with performers from Ghetto Youths International - a label he set up along with his brothers for burgeoning young talent.

"I'm looking forward to introducing New Zealand to these young artists. They are very talented, very ambitious and they have some good music there."

He's been touring with the artists for the past couple of years and said he would tell them that New Zealand had a great affection for reggae music.

"During my first visit I was told that at one point each household in New Zealand had a copy of a Bob Marley record."

He said that blew him away as he wasn't aware his dad's music was so loved so far away.

Having a legendary father doesn't faze Damian too much. "For me it is natural. I don't know any other way."

While some might suspect he was herded into the industry, perhaps even pushed a little to follow in his father's footsteps, Marley said that wasn't the case.

"When it comes down to what I do nothing is forced. It's not because I had to."

He said performing was a "dream come true".

"I used to go to concerts as a little child and I'd be so close to the stage artists were literally stepping on my fingers."

Since then Damian has forged his own successful career, making waves since his 1996 release of Mr Marley and his major label debut Halfway Tree, which won him the 2002 Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album.

In 2009 he became the only Jamaican reggae artist in history to win two Grammy Awards on the same night taking out the Best Reggae Album and Best Urban/Alternative Performance for the album Welcome to Jamrock.

Damian will perform a collection of his own music at Raggamuffin, but there'll also be a few of his dad's hits that he performs.

Raggamuffin will be at Rotorua International Stadium on January 31 and February 1. Tickets are available from Ticketmaster on (0800) 111 999, or www.ticketmaster.co.nz. Visit www.raggamuffin.co.nz for ticket specials and time payment options.