THE HUMAN RIGHTS with special guest JASON WILSON

THE HUMAN RIGHTS with special guest JASON WILSON

Date: Saturday, May 10, 2025
Location: Harmony Hall
Time: 7:00pm
Tickets: Adv $30 Door $40

THE HUMAN RIGHTS
The Human Rights first came together in 2007, around the talents and vision of lead singer and Toronto Reggae lion Friendlyness (Big Sugar, Culture Shock, Truth And Rights), drummer Eric Woolston (Maylee Todd, The Hooded Fang), versatile bassman Tyler Wagler and the band’s original keyboardist Bernie Pitters (Toots & The Maytals, Hit Squad), who passed away in 2023 and in whose loving memory the band continues forward. The band quickly gained a reputation as an up-and-coming original band warming the stage for the likes of The Wailers, Gregory Isaacs, Beres Hammond, John Holt, Freddie McGregor, Sanchez, and other top international Reggae artists. The Human Rights recently had the opportunity to open for American roots-rock legends The Black Crowes at Casino Rama in front of over 5,000 people.

In 2014, much-loved Toronto vocalist Tréson (who has recorded with the likes of Black Uhuru, Spearhead, and Mykal Rose) joined the band, giving The Human Rights a distinctively powerful two-man front line that seamlessly moves between modern roots Reggae, lovers rock, soul, R&B and dancehall vibes. After Bernie’s health prevented him from touring, Canadian keyboard legend Dave Jackson stepped in. The Declaration of Human Rights horn section is the musical icing on the cake, featuring members of The Heavyweights Brass Band, Kune, and Shout - The Band.

The Human Rights have played over 250 festival and club shows across Canada and the United States. Their live highlights include: The New Orleans Reggae Festival, Austin Reggae Festival, Hillside, Northern Lights, Harbourfront Centre, Roy Thomson Hall, The Phoenix Concert Theatre and many other top venues across North America. They have released three full-length albums, including their 2016 self-titled record which was produced by Canadian music icon and Big Sugar founder Gordie Johnson and their most recent LP Reggae Strong (2021) which is dedicated to Bernie Pitters. Their fourth album One People is scheduled for release March 7, 2025.

JASON WILSON
Jason Wilson is an award-winning Scottish-Canadian musician, bestselling historian and television personality. A two-time Juno Awards nominee and CRMA Winner, Wilson has eight books to his name including the OHS award-winning King Alpha’s Song in a Strange Land: The Roots and Routes of Canadian Reggae (UBC Press, 2020) and the national bestseller The Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club (McClelland and Stewart, 2016). Born to Scottish immigrants, Jason Wilson grew up in Downsview, a neighbourhood in Toronto’s northwest corridor and has amassed over 2,500 performances across Canada, the United States, the UK and Jamaica. He has performed and recorded with – among many others – UB40, Alanis Morissette, Sly & Robbie, Prince Buster, Aswad’s Brinsley Forde, Dick Gaughan, Pee Wee Ellis, Jackie Mittoo and Martin Carthy. Jason was also one half of the Wilson & Swarbrick project with the late English folk icon Dave Swarbrick with whom he produced two albums: Lion Rampant and Kailyard Tales. A high school dropout, Dr. Wilson completed his PhD in 2013 and is an Adjunct-Professor of History at the University of Guelph. By extension of his academic career, Jason has been a recurring historical expert on various television programmes and documentaries that have aired on CBC, Discovery, ESPN, Nat Geo, NBCSN, TSN and UKTV.