ONE LOVE. Irie Sol will perform at this year's final Sounds Like Summer Concert Series starting on Aug. 28 in Phoenix Park (330 Riverfront Terrance, Eau Claire). The show also marks a celebration of life for two recently passed members of the ensemble, Chris "Junior" Williams and King Ras John. (The two are pictured together, above, during an Irie Sol set at the 2024 Multicultural Festival, by Sol Shine Creative Studio)

As the sun dips below the horizon and paints the Wisconsin ski with fiery hues, area musicians Irie Sol will ignite an outdoor stage they have performed many times — this time in a tender celebration of life for two of its longtime members.

Starting at 6pm on Aug. 28 in Phoenix Park (330 Riverfront Terrace, Eau Claire) Irie Sol will perform at the final Sounds Like Summer Concert Series of the year, alongside Through the Kitchen Hole and Max Strozzi.

The August show will also mark a celebration of life for two of Irie Sol's integral members who passed away this summer: Chris “Junior” Williams and King Ras John.

Junior, a multi-instrumentalist and the “father” of the Irie Sol collective, created the group back in the early 2000s. Irie Sol, as envisioned by Junior, blends authentic Jamaican chat, soulful melodies and dynamic storytelling — all supported by vibrant horns, guitar, drums and bass.

“Eau Claire was the place (Junior) felt his dreams could come true.”

JOEL PACE

BAndleader of irie sol, forever friend of Chris "Junior"
 Williams

King Ras John (left) and Chris "Junior" Williams (right). (Photos by Del Ray Photography)

King Ras John joined Irie Sol a few years ago — following one of the group's Juneteenth performances — drawn to the kinship and connection Junior had cultivated over the years. The two have performed together on-and-off across local stages since, including Volume One's Sounds Like Summer, the Eau Claire Multicultural Festival and many others.

The ever-evolving ensemble has performed at the Phoenix Park summer concert series since its inception in 2006; Irie Sol continues to return year after year with the same mission: spread love through the arts.

Joel Pace, bandleader of Irie Sol and a longtime friend of both Junior and King Ras John, believes the upcoming performance and celebration of life will allow the Eau Claire community to continue feeling the impact Junior had on others — as it is returned back to them through the beauty of music and movement.

“Eau Claire was the place (Junior) felt his dreams could come true,” Pace said. “You could say it was his life’s mission to spread love through music in the Chippewa Valley.”

The Rastafarians often performed together — Junior on the bongos and King Ras John on the djembe — and contributed to both percussion and vocals in the group.

Their combined forces were so powerful that they often compelled audience members to stand, move, and dance, Pace shared. At the end of the day, “they were just instrumental in the band’s transnational message of love,” he said.

After their upcoming performance in Phoenix Park, the Irie Sol ensemble and "family" of fans will take their celebration to The 410 Bar (420 Galloway St., Eau Claire). There, DJ Moses will play reggae classics and friends and family will gather to honor the memories of those who have passed.

All are welcome to attend these two free events in downtown Eau Claire, as the community “honor(s) the lives and legacies of our dearly departed friends and Irie Sol family members.”

Irie Sol has performed nearly every year since the Sounds Like Summer Concert Series began in 2006. The ensemble closed out the season in 2010, pictured above, and will continue the tradition this year. (Photo by Andrea Paulseth)

Irie Sol shares their collective ensemble music and other artistic endeavors online at iriesol.org. To learn more about Volume One’s Sounds Like Summer Concert Series, visit the event webpage online.