Longtime reggae icon Ziggy Marley brings his Do the Reggae Tour 2025 to Wolf Trap on Thursday, September 18. He’ll share the stage with the Jamaican roots reggae hero Burning Spear, a fellow Grammy Award winner. We caught up with Ziggy, 56, while he was at home in California, where he lives with his wife, Orly, and two of their children. Here’s what to expect from the show, the story behind his colorful children’s books, and his pet line of treats and skin care products (Apawthecary) inspired by Romeo, his fluffy Lagotto Romagnolo (Italian water dog).
Are you looking forward to returning to Wolf Trap?
Yeah, man. I love the venue. I remember when we used to go there back in the day as the opening act and I say, ‘Oh, this place,’ and I dream of playing here one day by myself without being an opening act for somebody else, you know?
What can audiences expect from the show?
This tour is special for me, and I hope people understand how special it is because we’re touring with Burning Spear, who is a legend of the music. This tour is the celebration of reggae music. For reggae, it’s going to be a historic tour. I think anyone who comes out will have a story to tell their children and grandchildren.
What might be different from previous shows? Any surprises?
I’m always growing, I’m always new. If you saw me before, I’m not the same person I was. So that’s what’s new. I am new. I am different. We’re celebrating reggae to uplift the spirits of people in the country. I feel the people need some kind of positive energy in our lives right now; we have a lot of negativity and divisiveness so this is one of those shows that will bring people together — have the music be the medicine and inspiration for a better way of life, you know?
What’s the inspiration behind your series of children’s picture books, such as Pajammin’ and I Love You Too?
The children’s books are a natural extension of my family, my family life. The message and ideas we are expressing to the world needs to be given to the children specifically for the children. Children are the future, and the only way we can make the world better is by instilling positive energy and loving energy to the children; that’s part of the mission I am on. But I realized at one point in time, you have to speak to children differently — you need to speak children specifically. And it’s a lighter burden, you can just be more free when you speak with children.
You also have a line of dog products, which we did not expect!
It’s all about giving the dog good, good products, quality stuff, not chemical, just really good, good stuff for treating animals as good as you would treat yourself. Take care of them as you would take care of yourself. That’s the idea behind it, to create stuff that is more friendly to the Earth that you can use on your animals.
You have a lucky dog.
(laughs) He’s lucky, we’re lucky, too. He’s a good boy, a good boy.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Featured image of Ziggy Marley and his dog, courtesy Marley
